This commentary details the experiences of an interprofessional collective with a shared interest in learning design in higher education. In building collaborations across our institutional boundaries in Ireland and the United Kingdom, we share insights for developing an emerging critical and creative research identity through the lived experience of learning design practice. With a common goal to progress instructional design and technology research beyond its current boundaries, we encourage practitioners and researchers to work together fluidly to shape our field for more socially just post-digital learning futures.