Jury Alumni

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  Ishmael Adams

  Principle Designer, Microsoft

  2023 Home & Living Jury Member

  Ishmael strives to create products and experiences that are empathic and fueled by observation, intuition, and collaboration. He has been a pivotal part of the entire process, from research, concept development, production, and manufacturing liaison. Ishmael has accumulated many skills and experience over his extensive career. He has worked with some of the most renowned companies and various industries, from sporting goods to consumer tech, and collaborated with inspiring and dynamic startups. Ishmael focuses on bringing new and unexpected solutions to products and experiences and is passionate about creating holistic design solutions for all. Since joining Microsoft Windows and Devices team, over a year ago, Ishmael has led projects across a variety of categories and new horizons. Prior to joining Microsoft, Ishmael was design lead at MNML based in Chicago, where he led projects for Bang & Olufsen, Logitech, Adidas, Samsung, and many more startups.

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  George Aye

  Co-founder, Greater Good Studio

  2023 Design for Social Impact Jury Member

  George co-founded Greater Good Studio to use design to heal, to be just, to be restorative, Previously, he spent seven years at a global innovation firm before being hired as the first human-centered designer at the Chicago Transit Authority. Since founding Greater Good he guides clients and teams through complex projects that honor reality, create ownership, and build power. He speaks frequently across the US and internationally. George holds the position of Full Professor (Adj) at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

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  Tiffany Beers

  Head of Engineering, Gaming Audio, Sustainability & CMF, Logitech

  2023 Sports & Outdoors Jury Member

  Tiffany is a driven and curious innovator who brings game-changing products, experiences, systems, and strategies to life on behalf of the brands. Tiffany manages a large team of multidisciplinary engineering and Innovation professionals.
  
  Tiffany has 21 years of experience in the product & process innovation space including consumer goods (Nike, Saysh, Rubbermaid), Automotive (Tesla, amateur motorsports racing), and consumer electronics (Logitech G, Astro Gaming). She has been granted over 35 US patents and has worked alongside some of the top footwear designers, athletes, and entertainers in the world. She also successfully made the transition from the plastics industry to the footwear industry and is currently in the consumer electronics and gaming industries.
  
  Tiffany has spent over 15 years in the footwear space with Nike, Saysh, and her own Youtube Channel reviewing sneakers. She served as the lead Innovator on the Nike Hyperadapt, 2016 Nike Mag (auto-lacing), Air Jordan 29, Tom Sachs Collection 1, Air Yeezy 1, Air Raid Paranorman, Coraline Dunk, and many more Nike Products. For Saysh, she helped in starting the brand by bringing in designers, factories, and various partners to build the product, she also developed their first two products, The Saysh One and the Olympic track & field spike competed in by Allyson Felix in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she won both a gold & a bronze medal.
  
  Tiffany is experienced in product development from concept thru mass production of consumer goods. Tiffany has been featured in Wired Magazine (Oct ‘16), Netflix-Abstract the Art of Design, The Today Show, The New York Times, and the book “Sneakers” for her innovative work on Nike’s Electro Adaptive Reactive Lacing (EARL) Technology.
  
  Tiffany grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and studied at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College for her Bachelor of Science in Plastics Engineering Technology.

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  Kaitlyn Benoit

  Design Director, Rivian Automotive

  2023 Lifestyle Accessories Jury Member

  Kaitlyn started her career at KitchenAid small appliances where she focused on building out the ecosystem around the Stand Mixer including attachments and specialty bowls. From there, she headed to Smart Design, taking a user-centered approach to work for clients like OXO, Gatorade, Leesa, Merck, Shark, Ziploc, Frabill, Tropicana, and Caboodles. Most recently, she led the ID team at Rivian Automotive where she and her team expanded the vehicle’s ecosystem through a suite of Adventure Products, Chargers, and vehicle accessories.
  
  When she’s not designing, you can find her exploring art museums and local running trails, seeking out the perfect cup of coffee, or whipping up a new piece of clothing for her next adventure.
  
  Kaitlyn holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Notre Dame. She is currently taking time off to travel.
  

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  Nootan Bharani

  Associate Director, Design & University Partnerships, Arts + Public Life

  2023 Built Environment Jury Member

  Nootan Bharani is a fierce champion of the continuum of communities and a thoughtful leader of processes to shape places where people want to be. An architect with a deep background in environmental sustainability, Nootan has a propensity toward existing buildings and in-between spaces, and has spent most of her career in non-traditional practice, working directly with neighborhood partners on projects at a wide variety of scales. Nootan is currently the Associate Director of Design and University Partnerships at Arts + Public Life, and a lecturer in the Humanities Division, at the University of Chicago. Previously, Nootan was Lead Design Manager for Place Lab at the University of Chicago where she was thought and practice leader for building projects. Prior to coming to the University of Chicago, she was Managing Director for CB&I Sustainable Design Solutions of Illinois. Nootan is also a volunteer in Chicago Public Schools where her children attend, co-leading initiatives for caregivers of students with disabilities.

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  Kim Bost

  Product Design Manager, XD Leadership Team, Netflix

  2023 Interaction Jury Member

  Kim is a seasoned design leader and has worked at companies like The New York Times, Etsy, and Dropbox. She brings a unique blend of passion and strategic thinking to create industry-defining experiences. As part of the XD leadership team at Netflix, she collaborates with a stunning team of designers to entertain the world.
  

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  Brendan Boyl

  Partner, Founder of the IDEO Play Lab, IDEO

  2023 Toys & Play Jury Member

  Brendan Boyle is a Partner at IDEO, a global design and innovation firm. He’s also an adjunct professor at Stanford. He is the founder of the IDEO Play Lab, a board member of the National Institute of Play, an award-winning author of the Klutz Book of Inventions, and an acclaimed speaker on the joy of innovation. Brendan believes that play is the key to innovation and frequently speaks to creative leaders, entrepreneurs, and students about the importance of playful exploration and risk-taking. Under his leadership, the Play Lab has invented and licensed over 225 consumer products including the best-selling Jumperoo, Elmo Calls, and Pictionary Air.

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  Jaye Buchbinder

  Director of Product, Emeco

  2023 Furniture & Lighting Jury Captain

  Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Jaye studied Sustainable Engineering at Stanford and currently works at Emeco in Product Development and Sustainability, where she chairs out of recycled materials. She lives and surfs in Venice Beach, California.

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  Dylan Buffington

  US Marketing Manager, Pas Normal Studios

  2023 Transportation Jury Member

  Dylan Buffington is an experienced creative professional in design and marketing with over a decade of industry experience. He started his career as a freelance designer, working with clients from various industries to develop branding, marketing collateral, and industrial design. Later, he moved to a full-time role as a Lead Creative at Specialized Bicycles, where he honed his skills in visual communication and brand strategy. Dylan has been serving as Creative Director for various companies, focusing on creative leadership and management, developing high-performing projects from concept to completion, and creating innovative marketing campaigns that drive business growth.
  
  Currently, Dylan is the US Marketing Manager at Pas Normal Studios, a leading Danish cycling apparel brand. He is responsible for developing brand, retail, and activation strategies. Dylan's expertise in design and marketing, combined with his passion for the industry, has allowed him to drive business success and push the boundaries of what is possible. He is a skilled communicator and collaborator with a deep understanding of the power of design to connect with audiences and drive business growth.
  

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  Natalie Candrian

  Creative Director, OMORPHO, SAYSH

  2023 Sports & Outdoors Jury Captain

  Natalie Candrian is a Swiss designer, living in Zurich, Switzerland and is currently creative design director at fitness brand OMORPHO and footwear brand SAYSH. Her career has been focused on the world of sport, creating footwear, apparel and accessories for the world’s largest brands and iconic athletes.
  
  Candrian worked with icon Allyson Felix to design and develop the SayshOne, followed closely by SayshSpike, a bespoke track spike for Felix, worn during Tokyo 2021 Olympics where she earned two medals becoming the most decorated female track & field athlete in history. Candrian began her career at Adidas where she designed the signature TMAC 1, 2 and 3 basketball sneaker for icon Tracy McGrady. His signature TMAC 1, 2 and 3 are still being reproduced today having sold with more 1.5 million units.
  
  At Nike she joined the exclusive Explore design group reporting directly to the President, designing innovative concepts relating to consumer and product experiences. Working closely with athletes she changed the game of tennis with the release of Maria Sharapova’s “little black dress”. Sharapova won the US Open title that year.
  
  Natalie is named FastCompany’s 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2022.

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  Krystina Castella

  Professor, Industrial Designer and Author, Art Center College of Design

  2023 Toys & Play Jury Captain

  Krystina Castella has practiced as an industrial designer, consultant, and is a Professor at Art Center College of Design. Her work centers around designing for play, the intersection between design and ethical business, sustainable materials and manufacturing and entrepreneurship. She is founder of the Design Entrepreneur Network (DEN) a consulting group specializing in design strategy where she has assisted over 500+ start-ups, social enterprises, and organizations since 2004.
  
  She is also author of 12 books including award-winning cookbooks, children’s books, and a textbook Designing for Kids: Creating for playing, learning, and growing. She is a contributor to National Public Radio.
  
  Krystina worked in-house as a designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, FOX Children’s Network, Generra Sportwear, RTKL, and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. She founded several licensing and manufacturing companies that internationally distributed products she designed, including furniture, toys, clothing, stationery, housewares, and soft goods. The Museum of Modern Art, Fortune Magazine and Oprah Winfrey have all praised Krystina’s creative achievements.

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  Miri Chan

  VP of Branding & Visual Design, Enlisted

  2023 Packaging Jury Member

  As VP of Branding & Visual Design at Enlisted, Miri leads a team of visual designers to solve business challenges with design excellence. Originally hailing from Hong Kong, she's our constant source of all things cool. Her insights into consumer audience behaviors and brand strategy keep her team focused and challenged every day. She has led and designed branding and packaging projects for Fortune 500s and emerging startups alike—including Jabra, Diamond Crystal Salt, Linksys, Jaybird, Nestle, and PAX.

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  Marcelo Coelho

  Faculty, MIT Department of Architecture

  2023 Lifestyle Accessories Jury Member

  Marcelo Coelho is Head of Design at Formlabs and Faculty at the MIT Department of Architecture. Spanning a wide range of media, processes, and scales, his work explores the boundaries between matter and information, fostering new forms of collaboration between human and artificial intelligence.
  
  Marcelo’s work has been exhibited internationally, including places such as the Rio 2016 Paralympic Ceremonies, Times Square, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and Ars Electronica, and can be found in museums, private collections, and millions of products sold all over the world. Recognition for this work includes two Prix Ars Electronica awards, Design Miami/ Designer of the Future Award, Red Dot Design Award, and Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award. He holds a doctorate degree from the MIT Media Lab.
  

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  Jessica Covi

  Head of Design Identity, Design Media & Design Events, BMW

  2023 Lifestyle Accessories Jury Member

  Jessica Covi is an Austrian-born industrial designer who specializes in experiential and holistic product design. After her master's studies at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, and working in Zurich, Switzerland, Jess moved to New York City to work as an industrial designer at the design firm, frog design. Before joining BMW Group she worked as a design consultant and creative director, with clients such as Google, Hyundai, Unilever, and Anheuser Bush inBev across industries including hospitality, architecture, consumer goods and retail.
  
  Before joining BMW Group she worked as a design consultant and creative director, with clients such as Google, Hyundai, Unilever and Anheuser Bush inBev across industries including hospitality, architecture, consumer goods and retail. She provides creative vision and leadership for multidisciplinary teams creating innovative products and experiences at the junction of design, culture, and product realization.

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  Jonas Damon

  Industrial Design Consultant, Office for Design

  2023 Lifestyle Accessories Jury Member

  Jonas Damon is an industrial designer and creative director, collaborating with startups and established companies through his New York City-based consultancy Office for Design. Jonas engages with a wide range of industries, including technology, personal care, furniture & lighting, architecture & construction, food & beverage, and retail & hospitality, interested in outcomes that explore aspects of discovery, engagement, and play.
  
  Prior to Office for Design, Jonas held leadership positions at Starbucks, where he founded the company's first internal industrial design team, frog design, where he led the firm's North American industrial design and mechanical engineering teams, and an earlier iteration of Office for Design.
  

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  Elle De Freitas

  Founder + CEO, Wonderkind

  2023 Packaging Jury Member

  Wonderkind is a marketing, design and photography studio built specifically for consumer brands!
  
  We are a team of 25 gals down in Austin, TX obsessed with brands and the experiences they give their consumers. We specialize in social strategy, content marketing, and design.
  
  We've worked with brands like Hippeas, Bulletproof, Torchy's, MOSH, Sunlife, Yasso, Minimalist Baker, Culina, and 200 more!