Jury Alumni

• 

  Rhys Newman

  Global Head of Design & User Experience, ABB E-Mobility

  2024 Commercial Equipment Jury Member

  Rhys is the Global Head of Design & User Experience at ABB E_Mobility. He previously worked as a consultant and led multi-disciplinary Design teams at Google X's Everyday Robots, Casper Sleep, NOKIA, and Lego. He co-founded his entrepreneurial venture, OMATA in 2015.
  As a Design Leader, he has a reputation for building happy and motivated studios where designers want to work, creativity is the priority, and innovation happens. He is obsessed with nurturing cultures of creativity, optimism, and the value of Design and Designing as a perspective and a practice.
  Rhys has a Master’s Degree in Product Design from the Royal College of Art in London, and a First Class Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK. He has been a part-time lecturer at Art Centre, Pasadena; Goldsmiths University, London; Denmark Design School, Copenhagen; and the Royal College of Art, London. He has also served on the jury of numerous competitions, was Chair of the IDSA IDEA Awards, and has multiple patents.

• 

  Pierce Otlhogile-Gordon, Ph.D.

  Equity Innovation Studio Director, Think Rubix

  2024 Speculative Design Jury Member

  Dr. Pierce Otlhogile-Gordon is an innovation catalyst, researcher, facilitator, and evaluator, impassioned by the space between transformation and liberation.
  
  As the Director of the Equity Innovation studio at Think Rubix, a Black-led social innovation consultancy. Dr. Gordon serves as a shepherd for Equity Innovation to shape our collective future.
  
  He’s taught courses in design, evaluation, international development, and equity across four continents, co-designed partnerships, products, and services with local and international changemakers to support social change, and researched the complexity, evaluation, and emergence of design and innovation across the world.
  
  What can we build together?

• 

  Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman

  Founder & Principal, Interwoven Design Group

  2024 Sports & Outdoors Jury Captain

  Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman is a highly accomplished design professional working at the intersection of design and technology with a focus on wearable product, smart textiles and soft goods. With a background in performance apparel, product design and consumer products, she is a pioneering researcher in design methodologies and smart materials, and is Professor of Industrial Design at Pratt Institute. She is the author of Smart Textiles for Designers: Inventing the Future of Fabrics; has published many articles; and speaks internationally on design, innovation and the future.
  
  With over 25 years of corporate experience in athletic, medical, wearable, and consumer product design, she has held positions as Design Director for Fila, Champion and Nike and has been a key influencer in shaping innovative products. As the founder of Interwoven Design Group, she has led the creation of award-winning projects, including the Apex Exosuit for HeroWear, the Perci Emergency Preparedness V est, and the upcoming GLDN PNT padel collection. For the Core 77 Design Jury in the Sports and Outdoor category, Rebeccah emphasizes her extensive corporate background. Her dual role as a design leader and academic, coupled with her commitment to diversity in design, positions her as a valuable contributor to the evaluation of sports and outdoor design.

• 

  Sabine Pannetrat

  Founder, Furiously Sustainable

  2024 Transportation Jury Member

  Sabine Pannetrat, founder of "Furiously Sustainable", is a creative expert in Color, Materials and Finishes (CMF) Design and Sustainability. She possesses a dual educational background in both materials engineering and industrial design, having received training in France and Canada.
  
  In over 20 years of international automotive design experience, she has worked for Renault, Citroen, Toyota, Lexus, Aston Martin and for over a decade at DS Automobiles - a young French luxury automotive brand part of Stellantis.
  
  She managed the creative CMF design aspects for a wide range of concept and production cars. Additionally, she served as the Creative Director for the DS Automobiles Brand identity during its initial years, overseeing flagship stores, showrooms, artwork, lifestyle products, co-branding, and more. Later, she took on the position of CMF Design Director at DS Automobiles.
  
  Also assigned the task of focusing on sustainable design for DS Automobiles, she spearheaded the development of the DS "SustainObility" design strategy alongside her team. Her passion lies notably in Sustainability in Materials & Design, as well as in broader areas such as collective intelligence and organizational transformation. She was one of the inaugural Collective Intelligence Leaders for Stellantis, contributing to efforts aimed at breaking silos and enhancing the company's performance.
  
  Whether within a company or as a consultant, her (furiously) passionate commitment lies in assisting companies with their Sustainable Design transformation. She eagerly lends support in researching innovative and sustainable CMF, crafting comprehensive global sustainable design strategies, and fostering organizational evolution to streamline the implementation of sustainable design projects. Very knowledgeable about traditional & avant-garde manufacturing processes of materials, she also campaigns for greater recognition of craft as a sustainable value.
  
  On a personal note, she loves learning new languages and indulging in bikepacking.

• 

  Phoenix Perry

  Design Researcher, University of the Arts, London

  2024 Speculative Design Jury Member

  Phoenix Perry specializes in developing accessible machine learning tools, founds value-driven creative coding organizations, and creates games that explore our collective interconnectivity. As the founding Course Leader for the MSc in Creative Computing at the University of the Arts London, Phoenix Perry blends embodied gaming, inclusive design, and advanced machine learning in interactive systems. She holds a PhD in Computing from Goldsmiths where she focused on Disability Led Game Design. Founder of the Code Liberation Foundation, Perry has empowered over 6000 women to explore computational creativity with games. She also creates tools and open-source resources for game designers and artists, most notably InteractML. Her installations and games work has shown at museums and festivals such as Wellcome Collection, Somerset House, A Maze, Indie Cade, and GDC

• 

  Praveen Prabhakar KR

  Human Factors Design Engineer, Metaphase-Noble, part of Aptar Pharma

  2024 Health & Wellness Jury Member

  Praveen is a Human Factors Engineer with a Master's in Kinesiology, focusing on Cognitive and Motor Neuroscience and a foundation in I&C Engineering. Praveen's professional passion lies in the intersection of technology and healthcare, using biomechanics, neuromechanics, and a blend of quantitative and qualitative methods to understand people, their strengths and limitations and design user-friendly medical devices. In his role at Aptar Pharma, Praveen is instrumental in consulting on medical device design projects, ensuring they are accessible and effective. His enthusiasm for technology extends to incorporating AI and cutting-edge innovative methods to optimize medical device design, functionality and user experience. As a tech geek, Praveen is always exploring the latest technological advancements and their potential applications in healthcare. Outside of work, he is passionate about outdoor activities and fitness.

• 

  Anthony Prats

  Product Lead, Robotics & Automation, Stealth Startup

  2024 Commercial Equipment Jury Member

  From creating lovable robot sidekicks to defining the future of food, Anthony Prats is a product and design leader with a decade of experience building category-defining hardware and software products. He got his start at Anki, helping to bring their Cozmo robot to life, built a molecular beverage printer at Cana, and explored the future of human-robot interaction at Google. He currently leads robotics and automation efforts at a stealth startup in the food space.

• 

  Anthony Prats

  Product Lead, Robotics & Automation, Stealth Startup

  2024 Robotics Jury Member

  From creating lovable robot sidekicks to defining the future of food, Anthony Prats is a product and design leader with a decade of experience building category-defining hardware and software products. He got his start at Anki, helping to bring their Cozmo robot to life, built a molecular beverage printer at Cana, and explored the future of human-robot interaction at Google. He currently leads robotics and automation efforts at a stealth startup in the food space.

• 

  James Pryor

  Creative Director, Touch

  2024 Home & Living Jury Member

  James Pryor is the co-founder and creative director of Touch, an agency that stands at the forefront of sustainable innovation in packaging and product design. His agency collaborates with renowned FMCG brands like Mondelez, PepsiCo, Colgate Palmolive and Nestle, pioneering future-proof solutions for brand growth. James leads Touch's design and innovation team, managing everything from conceptual exploration to design for manufacture. He frequently liaises with clients, presenting Touch's latest works and proposals.
  Under James's guidance, Touch has achieved significant milestones, including the award-winning Carlsberg Export redesign and the creation of Häagen-Dazs' Loop reusable packaging system. His commitment to sustainability has led to the elimination of thousands of tonnes of packaging waste and enhanced the recyclability and reusability of numerous products. James's innovative contributions are also evidenced by his numerous patents for major clients.
  A passionate advocate for sustainable design, James is a regular speaker at global industry events and has contributed to the European Packaging Design Agency Boost Book. He holds a master’s in consumer product design from Coventry University and has a rich background in design and innovation, having worked with agencies like Impact, 1HQ and 3T.
  Beyond his professional life, James enjoys travel, movies, reading, and photography. He is also an avid guitarist and musician. His greatest joy comes from spending time in the High Wycombe with his wife, Rachel, and their two children, Madeline and Michael.

• 

  Fernando Ramirez

  Co-founder and Designer, Common Object

  2024 Furniture & Lighting Jury Member

  Fernando Ramirez is a designer dedicated to exploring the intersection of sustainability and community and how it drives value in design. Specializing in industrial design, furniture design, and environmental design, he has left his imprint on diverse projects, collaborating with both major corporations and innovative startups. His deep commitment to sustainability propels him beyond conventional boundaries, driving him to explore pathways that lead into the realm of regenerative thinking.
  
  As a co-founder of Common Object, a design studio aligned with his values for people and the planet, Fernando has forged a path guided by these principles. At the core of his studio's philosophy is a "planet- centered" design approach, empowering companies to take steps toward sustainability while fostering more inclusive connections with people. Their versatile portfolio spans industrial, furniture, medical, and interiors. A notable aspect of their work involves community projects, actively participating in co-design workshops specifically crafted to empower and uplift communities.
  
  Common Object's experience in sustainability has led to the studio's regenerative design experiment, Okaterra—a project that focuses on creating regional supply chains that collaborate with farmers to create materials for furniture. Since its release, Fernando and his design partner, Justin Beitzel, have seamlessly integrated workshops and talks into their studio flow. They are diligently working to share this thinking and posing the question, “Can the future of product design be regenerative?”

• 

  Meghan Romero

  UX Design Lead, JP Morgan Chase

  2024 Interaction Jury Member

  Meghan is a UX Design Lead at JP Morgan Chase, where she uses service design and collaborative design techniques to improve customer and employee experience. Prior to Chase, she designed new products in the healthcare industry to support nurses and patients and also worked in K-12 and higher education in a number of roles. Meghan lives in northern Delaware with her husband and enjoys Saturday morning yard sales, travel, margaritas, and talking about whatever tv shows she has been watching recently.

• 

  Meghan Romero

  UX Design Lead, JP Morgan Chase

  2024 Apps & Platforms Jury Member

  Meghan is a UX Design Lead at JP Morgan Chase, where she uses service design and collaborative design techniques to improve customer and employee experience. Prior to Chase, she designed new products in the healthcare industry to support nurses and patients and also worked in K-12 and higher education in a number of roles. Meghan lives in northern Delaware with her husband and enjoys Saturday morning yard sales, travel, margaritas, and talking about whatever tv shows she has been watching recently.

• 

  Nichole Rouillac

  Founder + Creative Director, level

  2024 Sports & Outdoors Jury Member

  Nichole is Founder and Creative Director of level, a West Coast, women-led industrial design shop based in San Francisco. The level studio is on a mission to create a global positive and progressive influence through smart, thoughtful design.
  
  Nichole’s work at level has helped create new industry categories and propelled products into the global spotlight. The studio’s portfolio encompasses the likes of Microsoft, Google, Logitech, FitBit, North, HTC, AliveCor, Tempo and Nex.
  
  level’s work has garnered wide recognition, including design awards such as FastCo., IDEA, Red Dot, iF and Spark. Notably, level was recognized as #03 in FastCompany’s Most Innovative Design Companies of 2021.
  
  Nichole remains committed to creating a diverse, inclusive industry. She has dedicated her career to balancing motherhood and empowering the next generation of female designers through mentorship, having served as chair of IDSA’s Women in Design from 2017-2021. level are active members of the Diversity in Design (DID) Collaborative, initiated in June 2021 to foster systemic change by increasing diversity and improving conditions for Black creatives across the design industry.

• 

  Bryce Rutter

  Head of Consulting Services | UX, HF, ID, Noble Aptar Pharma

  2024 Health & Wellness Jury Member

  Dr. Rutter is Head of Consulting Services for Nobel, and Aptar Pharma company. He is a worldwide expert in the research, ergonomics and design of handheld medical devices, products, and packaging. Aptar acquired Metaphase, a design consultancy specializing in research, human factors, and industrial design founded by Dr. Rutter in 1991. His leadership and vision has consistently delivered award-winning, innovative breakthrough designs for several of the world’s most prestigious and influential Fortune 500 brands having earned 120+ Global Design Excellence Awards, 115+ patents, 2 products included the Museum of Modern Art, several designs in the Chicago Athenaeum’s Good Design Museum Collection, 2 Edison Innovation Awards, and a Design of the Decade Award. Dr. Rutter has been profiled, an invited guest, and interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, CTV, IdeaCity, CityTV, The Chicago Tribune, The Ottawa Citizen, The Globe & Mail and Business 2.0. Dr Rutter holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Master Degree in Industrial Design and Ph.D. in Kinesiology, specializing in motor hand function, both from the University of Illinois.

• 

  Shani Sandy

  VP, Experience Design, IBM

  2024 Lifestyle Accessories Jury Member

  Shani Sandy is an artist, multidisciplinary designer, and executive who believes in the transformative power of design. Shani serves as VP, Experience Design at IBM leading design-driven innovation. Her mission is advancing human-centered design with an emphasis on crafting desirable and usable products, services, and experiences alongside cultivating the design culture. Prior to joining IBM, Shani was the Executive Creative Director at S&P Global, where she led the enterprise-wide creative agency, and the creative strategy, communication design, and ux practice areas. From launching her independent design studio in 2002, to present day, Shani continues to explore the many possibilities of a creative calling.
  
  Shani holds a BA in Art History and BFA in Painting and Computer Art from Tufts University along with an MBA from the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. She also attended AIGA & Yale School of Management, Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders.
  
  Shani is actively engaged in the creative and design community, speaking, teaching, and mentoring others and has a passion for nurturing emerging talent. She has been honored by several design institutions including GDUSA and the Design Management Institute and has served as a juror for AIGA, the Service Design College, and America by Design. Her work appears in Stanford University’s Black Graphic Design History Collections.
  
  Shani resides in Brooklyn, NY.

• 

  Shani Sandy

  VP, Experience Design, IBM

  2024 Tools Jury Member

  Shani Sandy is an artist, multidisciplinary designer, and executive who believes in the transformative power of design. Shani serves as VP, Experience Design at IBM leading design-driven innovation. Her mission is advancing human-centered design with an emphasis on crafting desirable and usable products, services, and experiences alongside cultivating the design culture. Prior to joining IBM, Shani was the Executive Creative Director at S&P Global, where she led the enterprise-wide creative agency, and the creative strategy, communication design, and ux practice areas. From launching her independent design studio in 2002, to present day, Shani continues to explore the many possibilities of a creative calling.
  
  Shani holds a BA in Art History and BFA in Painting and Computer Art from Tufts University along with an MBA from the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. She also attended AIGA & Yale School of Management, Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders.
  
  Shani is actively engaged in the creative and design community, speaking, teaching, and mentoring others and has a passion for nurturing emerging talent. She has been honored by several design institutions including GDUSA and the Design Management Institute and has served as a juror for AIGA, the Service Design College, and America by Design. Her work appears in Stanford University’s Black Graphic Design History Collections.
  
  Shani resides in Brooklyn, NY.