Ben Gaffney is the Vice President of International Design Development for L. Ercolani, the 100-year-old U.K. design brand, and Founder of AileenJames, Retail and Design Partners. Ben is an industry veteran who has collaborated with Norm Architects, Design Within Reach, Menu A/S, HNI Group, and Atlason studio to bring innovative design solutions to a global market. Prior to his work with L. Ercolani and AileenJames, he was the Head of Product Development for Design Within Reach.

David Kennedy is the Vice President of Sales at Bernhardt Design, the globally renowned design brand. A life-long design enthusiast, David is an experienced executive having spent over 20 years’ in luxury furniture sales, design and manufacturing. Prior to joining Bernhardt Design, David has held executive positions at Design Within Reach / Herman Miller, DEDON, Brown Jordan and Century Furniture. David is a former ASID national board member of and serves as a corporate advocate of Be Original Americas.

Hlynur V. Atlason, leads his eponymous design studio ATLASON, based in Manhattan. Leading a team of world-class strategists, innovators and designers, practicing a method of design, deeply informed by research, brand and craft. ATLASON delivers strategy, design innovation and manufacturing expertise, guaranteeing everything imagined, can be made.

ATLASON/studio, his own product design firm founded in 2004, has since built a comprehensive portfolio of furniture, consumer lifestyle products and packaging in collaboration with MoMA, DWR, Ercol, Umbra, Artecnica, Estée Lauder, Microsoft, and Stella Artois.

Hlynur is an adjunct lecturer at School of Visual Arts, Products of Design Masters Degree Program, NYC.

Steven Harrington is a Los Angeles–based designer and cofounder of design firm, National Forest. Steven is best known for his bright, iconic work that encourages a two-way conversation between the artist and viewer. Embracing a multimedia approach, Harrington’s portfolio includes large-scale installations, limited-edition books, product designs, graphic design, illustration, fine art and sculptures. Alongside his commercial work, Harrington has exhibited artwork in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Barcelona, Tokyo, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Brussels, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Montreal, Melbourne, and Dallas. Recent work examples include an installation at the MIMA Museum in Brussels, a product collection for Nike, A category launch
for BAPE, and a permanent outdoor sculpture for Loft 1 Korea.

Ongoing sample clients include: Apple, Google, Hypebeast, Moleskine, Nike, International Olympics Committee & Bape.