We can’t be everywhere design happens but last night we dispatched our Bay Area emissary Christopher Simmons to absorb the “Convergence of Craft and Design” panel sponsored by the shiny new American Craft magazine.

Design and Craft converged and diverged again as American Craft editor Andrew Wagner unveiled the new design and editorial direction of the 66-year-old American Craft magazine Friday night (sneak peek at the new logo, courtesy of my crafty iPhone). While other institutions have recently shied away from the C-word (and others just got MAD), The former Dwell editor thinks that craft is about to come into its own (again). Panelists Shoshana Berger, Sam Grawe, Donald Fortescue and Laura Thomas agreed, as did, we assume, the standing room-only crowd that turned out to wish the magazine well.

American Craft relaunches in September.