Jury Alumni

• 

  Inês Ayer

  Creative Manager, Google Deepmind

  2026 Visual Communication Jury Captain

  A humanist designer with a 360º approach to problem solving. Ines uses design as a shifter of society, through visual identity, concept and community. Recognized by Forbes for the list of 30under30. Born in Sao Miguel Island in the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America, she graduated in 2016 from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon in the Communication Design course, where in the final year she was part of the development team of the finalist exhibition and collaborated with the atelier TVM designers. In 2017 she left for Berlin to do an internship at Superunion.
  
  Currently she is based in New York working as a Creative Manager at Google Deepmind, having worked previously at AKQA, Instrument for Google projects and at Pentagram. She is also developing project Aliquoti, focused on reducing neonatal mortality for BIPOC women in the U.S. She keeps her scope of interests broad with a keen interest in culture and engineering biotech. Advocating to generate discussions about democracy, climate change and social equity. Inês is also a member of Global Shapers Lisbon, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.

• 

  Inês Ayer

  Creative Manager, Google Deepmind

  2026 Branding & Identity Jury Captain

  A humanist designer with a 360º approach to problem solving. Inês uses design as a shifter of society, through visual identity, concept and community. Recognized by Forbes for the list of 30under30. Born in São Miguel Island in the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America, she graduated in 2016 from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon in the Communication Design course, where in the final year she was part of the development team of the finalist exhibition and collaborated with the atelier TVM designers. In 2017 she left for Berlin to do an internship at Superunion.
  
  Currently she is based in New York working as a Creative Manager at Google Deepmind, having worked previously at AKQA, Instrument for Google projects and at Pentagram. She is also developing project Aliquoti, focused on reducing neonatal mortality for BIPOC women in the U.S. She keeps her scope of interests broad with a keen interest in culture and engineering biotech. Advocating to generate discussions about democracy, climate change and social equity. Inês is also a member of Global Shapers Lisbon, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.

• 

  Montana Cherney

  Head Innovation Coach, International Baccalaureate

  2026 Design for Social Impact Jury Captain

  Montana is a creative strategist and design leader with a track record of advancing innovation in education, healthcare, financial services, government, and public and social services. She has worked across four continents—partnering with communities, system stakeholders, innovators, governments, and policymakers—to create inclusive, community-led solutions ranging from digitally-enabled financial savings products for smallholder farmers to brand and service delivery strategies for HIV prevention, co-designed with girls and women in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• 

  Julia de Bono

  CEO and Studio Director, Designworks LA - a BMW Group company

  2026 Transportation & Mobility Jury Captain

  Julia de Bono is CEO of Designworks, BMW Group’s global creative consultancy. She has led the design of visionary concept vehicles including the BMW Vision Next 100, Mille Miglia Concept, and 3.0 CSL Hommage. Formerly the head of BMW’s Concept Car Team and Global Design Strategy, she now drives cross-industry innovation—advancing AI-augmented creativity, circular product ecosystems, and future mobility experiences for BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and external partners across technology and transportation.

• 

  Joachim Froment

  Designer / Creative Director, Futurewave

  2026 Sports & Outdoors Jury Captain

  Joachim Froment is an award-winning Belgian designer based in Brussels and Copenhagen (IF award, Rado Star Award, Bolia award, CES innovation award). He graduated with a Master's degree from the Royal College of Art in London.
  
  Founder and Creative Director of Futurewave, he leads a team of 25 creatives and technologists to help companies bring forward-thinking products to the market (Bespoke Flos, Engelbrechts, Adidas, Duvel, 100% light, Decathlon, Cohabs, etc.).
  
  Joachim Froment is a product designer and artist whose creations aim to ally poetry and industry.

• 

  Roman Gebhard

  Managing Partner, FLUID Design GmbH

  2026 Consumer Technology Jury Captain

  Roman Gebhard is managing partner and co-founder of FLUID Design (formerly LUNAR Europe), a Munich-based design and innovation consultancy founded in 2006. FLUID helps organizations humanize technology through strategic, human-centered design.
  
  With experience across LUNAR Design in San Francisco, frog in New York, and Siemens Design / Designafairs in Munich, Roman brings a rare blend of industrial-, UX, and interface-design expertise - paired with strategy and insights that turn complex challenges into elegant, people-first solutions.
  
  He earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Industrial Design from Art Center College of Design and has led workshops at the Design University in Lund, Sweden.
  
  Roman leads multidisciplinary teams to create user-centric products, services, and experiences for clients in health, consumer tech, and critical industries. His approach combines the agility of a boutique studio with the rigor and scale of enterprise programs, ensuring innovation remains grounded in real human needs.
  
  His work has been featured in major professional publications and recognized with numerous international design awards. Being active in the global design community, Roman has served as a juror for the iF Design Award, IDSA Design Awards, and the Spark Design Award. As a leader and evaluator, he champions thoughtful, impact-driven design that improves everyday life.

• 

  Irene Guerrieri

  Architect and designer for kids, Irene Guerrieri

  2026 Toys & Play Jury Captain

  Born in Rome in 1968, she lives and works in Sarnico (BG), in northern Italy. She took a degree in architecture with a dissertation in industrial design focused on a children’s park project as inspired by Pinocchio’s fairy-tale. From that moment onwards her interest in design and, more specifically, for children has been developing in increasingly practical terms through important collaborations with several well-known firms working in the same field. She teaches this topic at University and Design Schools in Italy and abroad. A large production of house furnishings, interior design accessories, illustrated books and toy-books contributes to complete her professional profile. She has won numerous prizes in design and illustration fields, has published many educational toys and children books, and contributed many important magazines of the sector. In May 2021, she released her book "The toy and its design - From concept to realization. A guide for the designer" published by Franco Angeli. In June 2022, “Shapes and Colours in fairy tales. How a toy can be born from a story” was published by Erickson.

• 

  Zhaoxiong Han

  Architectural Designer, Gensler

  2026 Built Environment Jury Captain

  Zhaoxiong Han is an architectural designer at Gensler’s Los Angeles office. His work spans core and shell office buildings, workplace, education, and adaptive reuse projects, with a particular interest in how architecture can renew existing contexts while forming meaningful cultural and spatial relationships.
  
  In addition to practice, Zhaoxiong contributes to the broader architectural community as a juror for international competitions such as TerraViva and Archiol, where he brings a critical perspective to evaluating emerging design ideas. His ongoing engagement in design discourse allows him to remain attentive to evolving cultural and environmental questions and to participate in shaping the conversations that define contemporary architectural practice.

• 

  Scot Herbst

  Creative Director, Partner, Herbst Produkt

  2026 Lifestyle Accessories Jury Captain

  Scot is the Creative Director and Partner at Herbst Produkt, a design consultancy created with his father, American design pioneer Walter Herbst. The studio features a dynamic mix of work across consumer technology, healthcare and lifesciences, consumer packaged goods, furniture, and autonomous vehicles. From nimble startups to established Fortune 100 global brands their work coalesces a multidisciplinary team that includes ID, HF, UX, digital, brand, packaging, engineering and CGI,
  
  Over the years the team at Herbst has won numerous global design awards and been featured in design and business publications including The Wall St Journal, Business Week, Wired, Inc. and Fast Company and their designs have been showcased in MoMA and numerous design exhibitions. Today their diverse client/partner roster includes Google, Logitech, Brita, Crate & Barrel, Burts Bees, Dolby, the Home Depot, Clorox and others.
  
  In addition to his role at Herbst, Scot is also the Chief Product Officer at Slice Inc., an innovative brand of ceramic bladed hardware that Scot helped build and grow and was recently acquired.

• 

  Scot Herbst

  Creative Director, Partner, Herbst Produkt

  2026 Tools Jury Captain

  Scot is the Creative Director and Partner at Herbst Produkt, a design consultancy created with his father, American design pioneer Walter Herbst. The studio features a dynamic mix of work across consumer technology, healthcare and lifesciences, consumer packaged goods, furniture, and autonomous vehicles. From nimble startups to established Fortune 100 global brands their work coalesces a multidisciplinary team that includes ID, HF, UX, digital, brand, packaging, engineering and CGI,
  
  Over the years the team at Herbst has won numerous global design awards and been featured in design and business publications including The Wall St Journal, Business Week, Wired, Inc. and Fast Company and their designs have been showcased in MoMA and numerous design exhibitions. Today their diverse client/partner roster includes Google, Logitech, Brita, Crate & Barrel, Burts Bees, Dolby, the Home Depot, Clorox and others.
  
  In addition to his role at Herbst, Scot is also the Chief Product Officer at Slice Inc., an innovative brand of ceramic bladed hardware that Scot helped build and grow and was recently acquired.

• 

  James Krenisky

  Sr. Technical Marketing Manager, Autodesk

  2026 Furniture & Lighting Jury Captain

  Mechanical Engineer based in Greenville, South Carolina. He began his career in industry specializing in thermal design for high-performance lighting fixtures. Today, he serves as a Technical Marketer for Autodesk, focusing on Fusion and Inventor, where he blends engineering expertise with product storytelling to support customer adoption and innovation.

• 

  Jon Marshall

  Partner, Pentagram

  2026 Home & Living Jury Captain

  Jon Marshall is an industrial designer working across products, environments, packaging and digital experiences. Currently a partner in Pentagram's London office, where his work includes product design and strategy for Pigzbe, Graphcore and Yoto, exhibition design and installations for Uniqlo and Google as well as packaging for Heights. Previously co-founder and director of Map Project Office where he created products and experiences for global brands like IBM, Virgin Atlantic and Google as well as startups like Kano, Beeline and BleepBleeps

• 

  Brandi Parker

  Founder/Owner, Parker Brands, LLC

  2026 Sustainability Jury Captain

  Brandi Parker is a Brand-Level Sustainability Consultant, who broke from twenty plus years in the agency world to focus on good, sustainable brand work. Starting Parker Brands has helped fuel creative, radical collaboration with diverse teams. After all, a sustainably designed future must be multidisciplinary, humane and optimistic. She often finds herself acting as a bridge between design and sustainability; bringing each topic to the other. Her specific expertise in brands and consumer packaged goods extends to printing, structure & manufacturing, materials, sourcing, marketing, strategy, messaging across business verticals and sectors. She also has a public speaking platform that spans across podcasts, webinars, conferences and keynotes.

• 

  Arvi Raquel-Santos

  Sr. Staff UX Manager, Google

  2026 Apps & Platforms Jury Captain

  Arvi is a San Francisco-based designer and educator with over 20 years of experience in product and brand design. Currently, he is a Sr. Staff UX Manager at Google, where he leads the App Foundations team for the Google Search app on iOS and Android, contributing to the mission of making the world's information universally accessible and useful.
  
  Previously, Arvi has worked with a broad range of organizations, from startups to global tech giants like Meta, Fitbit, and Instacart. He crafts beautiful, delightful experiences and is passionate about building design teams that solve complex problems. Arvi is driven to design products and services that connect people, inspire creativity, and empower transformative change.

• 

  Arvi Raquel-Santos

  Sr. Staff UX Manager, Google

  2026 Interaction Jury Captain

  Arvi is a San Francisco-based designer and educator with over 20 years of experience in product and brand design. Currently, he is a Sr. Staff UX Manager at Google, where he leads the App Foundations team for the Google Search app on iOS and Android, contributing to the mission of making the world's information universally accessible and useful.
  
  Previously, Arvi has worked with a broad range of organizations, from startups to global tech giants like Meta, Fitbit, and Instacart. He crafts beautiful, delightful experiences and is passionate about building design teams that solve complex problems. Arvi is driven to design products and services that connect people, inspire creativity, and empower transformative change.

• 

  Stephen Simantiras

  Head of Creative, Canfield Scientific

  2026 Medical & Healthcare Jury Captain

  Stephen Simantiras is an award-winning industrial designer and creative leader who is passionate about transforming ideas into impactful products and experiences. With over 17 years in the design industry, he has focused on blending creativity, strategy and empathy to deliver human-centered design solutions.
  
  As current Head of Creative at Canfield Scientific, Inc., Stephen leads the Industrial Design and UIUX initiative to further accelerate the brand grow a team of a talented designers. He focuses on harmonizing form, function, and user experience to build a stronger brand language and fuel creative innovation.
  
  Previously, he spent more than a decade at HS Design Inc. (Ensera Design), growing from Industrial Designer to Director of Design. During that time, he led multidisciplinary teams through every stage of development, from research and concepting to prototyping and production. Through this he collaborating closely with clients and his team of designers to bring novel ideas to life. Stephen has designed and developed products for a wide range of industries, including consumer goods, consumer medical devices, and first kind healthcare solutions.
  
  Additionally, he has served over a decade as an adjunct professor of design at Kean University. Here he taught industrial design principals, model making, CAD, rendering, and animation.