Jury Alumni

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  Lyndsey (Vincent) Archer

  Founder & Creative Executive, Studio Archer (Formerly LVincent Studios)

  2024 Built Environment Jury Member

  Lyndsey's journey in design began at Walt Disney Imagineering, where she spent over a decade contributing her creativity to projects like EPCOT World Celebration, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Shanghai Disneyland Resort and World of Disney flagship retail. Her expertise in crafting immersive experiences across retail, hospitality, and attractions has earned her recognition, including a coveted spot in Design:Retail Magazine’s “40 under 40.”
  
  In October 2021, Lyndsey embarked on a new adventure, co-founding Studio Archer and taking her lessons learned in themed entertainment design to the masses “beyond the berm.” From luxury hospitality to landmark sporting venues, Lyndsey aims to inspire, engage, and delight guests of all ages and backgrounds with her adventurous designs & artistic approach.

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  Sal Agosta

  Vice President of Architecture and Design, SimEx Iwerks

  2024 Built Environment Jury Member

  With over 25 years of experience at SimEx-Iwerks, Sal has honed his expertise in architecture and design to perfection. He is Vice President of Architecture and Design, Responsible for crafting captivating attractions found in top theme parks, museums, zoos, and aquariums globally, Sal’s drive for innovation and commitment to quality has positioned them as a respected leader in the industry. Based in Toronto, Sal finds inspiration in the city's vibrant atmosphere and thriving creative community.
  
  "Design aficionado who finds inspiration in every corner of the globe. Whether it's a unique architecture or a simple piece of street art, I am always seeking new ways to incorporate creativity into my work. When not immersed in design, you can find me hitting the pavement on my bike or going for a run."

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  Laura Allen

  Senior Lecturer, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London

  2015 Built Environment Jury Captain

  Mark Smout and Laura Allen are Senior Lecturers at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Their work takes two routes, architectural competitions, where the particular rigor of the competition brief, site and program provide the basis for new investigations and, conceptual design projects which test out the agenda and methodology of the design research practice. They focus on the dynamic relationship between the natural and the man made and how this can be revealed to enhance the experience of the architectural landscape.

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  Dani Arps

  Interior Designer, Dani Arps LLC / Artisan

  2021 Built Environment Jury Member

  Opening her eponymous firm Dani Arps LLC in 2014; Arps is an interior designer who designs office spaces for top startup companies throughout NYC. She has worked with the Founders and CEO’s from buzzy startups like Daily Harvest, SeatGeek, Codecademy, and General Assembly; to create over 250K sqft of striking and of the moment designs that cater to their unique needs. She will be launching her new business venture, Artisan, which combines design, brokerage, and project management, this year.
  
  Featured in many publications like Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, and Interior Design Magazine; She was named by top design publication, House Beautiful, as 2019’s ‘Next Wave Interior Designer’ and awarded as 2017’s ‘Star on the Rise’ by the renowned Decoration and Design Building.

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  Judith Baehner

  Founder, Het Groenlab

  2022 Built Environment Jury Member

  Judith Baehner, concept maker and plant-architect, is the founder and owner of Het Groenlab. Fascinated by nature and the relationship of humans with nature. she is a plant-guru, plant-poet, designer, and teacher. She combines her experience as a plant expert with being a stylist and editor for magazines with her passion for plants to create inspiring and inventive green experiences. Her designs, articles, books, pictures, videos, lectures, workshops, and plantings are stylish and personal. Judith wants to inspire you to love all things green as much as she does. She wants to show you how easy it is to grow plants and enjoy them. All across Europe she leads projects, talks and workshops in which you can really feel her passion and her story. Alongside the work in the ‘lab’, Het Groenlab helps individuals and companies create green living and working spaces for a happier and healthier lives. The plantings made by Het Groenlab are about cultivating personal spaces, and are planted with love and care.

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  Dror Benshetrit

  Principal, Studio Dror

  2018 Built Environment Jury Captain

  Dror Benshetrit is a designer, thinker, dreamer and futurist. He began his career as an artist and has since amassed an award-winning portfolio of product design, interiors, architecture, master planning and city planning—all before the age of 40. Together with his team of designers, artists, architects, researchers and communicators, he tackles ambitious pursuits to foster authentic connections and improve people’s well-being.
  
  His holistic practice—named one of the most innovative companies in design by Fast Company—intentionally works across all scales, blurring boundaries with each project.
  
  Studio Dror is one of the only practices to bridge Architecture, Design, and Art, and the results are always avant-garde: current endeavors include an innovation lab for the future of nature and humanity, large site-specific installations, a book entitled ‘Dror Dreams’, and The Lookback, an immersive entertainment venture replicating an astronaut’s experience standing on the Moon looking back at Earth.
  
  Collaboration is the cornerstone of his approach: he partners with best-in-class specialists and brands and organizations that share the same spirit of innovation to test the limits of convention and bring profound ideas to life. As a result, Dror’s connections and network includes highly influential people in the worlds of Art, Real Estate Development, Fashion, Design, Academia and Politics.
  

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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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  Lesley Braxton

  Principal, Perkins & Will

  2020 Built Environment Jury Member

  Having moved 8 times to 8 different states before the age of 17, Lesley learned at a young age to embrace change, optimism and the cultures of many. This influenced her path as an architect and interior designer to take a wide angle view and operate as generalist in a seemingly very specific world. She designs across higher education, science & technology and corporate markets, ultimately blending influences of each sector into the next. This blurring helps her bring clients bold ideas deeply rooted in place and project understanding. Lesley is the glue that holds complex teams together by bringing nationally recognized, award winning design leadership, and an empathetic, hands on approach.
  
  Lesley is a frequent guest speaker and critic at local universities. She is also a dedicated mentor to many young women, helping them develop careers while giving her a deeper look into their cultures. Lesley also has a deep love for art and travels the world with her family drawing and painting; Both of her children held paint brushes before the ever holding a pencil.

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  Archie LEE Coates IV

  Co-Director, PLAYLAB, INC.

  2019 Built Environment Jury Member

  Archie Lee Coates IV is a co-founder and partner at PLAYLAB, INC., a New York based creative studio that uses art, architecture, and graphic design to initiate ideas around themes that interest them. Past projects include 30' inflatable flowers for Midtown Manhattan, a re-brand of America for SFMOMA and a compilation of all the times Joaquin Phoenix has walked in his films, titled Walking Phoenix. In 2011, he co-founded the quarterly publication CLOG, and in 2010 he co-founded + POOL, an initiative to build the world’s first water-filtering floating pool in New York with Family New York. Archie is also a thesis faculty at School of Visual Arts’ Design for Social Innovation program, where he teaches how to bring ideas to life.

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  Jim Cramer

  Founder, The Design Futures Council

  2020 Built Environment Jury Member

  Jim Cramer is the founder of The Design Futures Council. He also founded the journal Design Intelligence. He is the author of six books on design management including Small Firm Success and Lessons From The Future both released earlier this year, 2020. His best seller book, How Firms Succeed is now in its 6th Edition. Cramer is the past CEO of The American Institute of Architects and recipient of over 80 design awards and honors.

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  Giorgio de Mitri

  Creative Director, Sartoria Comunicazione

  2016 Built Environment Jury Member

  Giorgio de Mitri is an italian creative director who founded Sartoria Comunicazione, one the most relevant independent communication firms woldwide. He is also the publisher of CUBE and the founder of Fondazione de Mitri, a nonprofit artistic and cultural organization located in Modena, Italy. Among other projects in 2015 he co-curated The Bridges of Graffiti exhibition, a collateral event of the 56th Venice Biennale.

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  Victor Ermoli

  Dean of the School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design

  2020 Built Environment Jury Captain

  Victor Ermoli is currently the Executive Director of eLearning and Dean for the School of Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, a member of the Industrial Design Society of America and the Design Futures Council. He is currently responsible for the Industrial Design, Design Management, Service Design, Design for Sustainability, Interaction Design, Marine Design, User Experience (UX) Design, and Creative Business Leadership programs at SCAD. He has created with his team more than ten academic programs, including Service Design (Only one in the United States), Industrial Design, Design Management, Design for Sustainability, User Experience (UX) Design, Accessory Design, and Luxury Fashion Management; just to mention few. In addition, he is responsible for the management and direction of the eLearning Department for the whole University. This department develops and administers all the online courses and degrees offered by SCAD

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  Nina Etnier

  Co-founder, Float Studio

  2021 Built Environment Jury Member

  Nina Etnier is the co-founder of Float Studio, a design firm focusing on workplaces since 2013. She studied graphic design, marketing, and psychology at American University, then moved to London and shifted her focus towards interiors, completing her graduate degree in Interior Spatial Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2009. Along with her business partner, she was named Contract Magazine’s 2019 Designer of the Year, and her history managing large scale projects and developing specific architectural details and custom furniture allows her to create spaces that are faithful extensions of brands.

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  Erich Fox

  Producer, Executive Team Director, Gentilhomme

  2024 Built Environment Jury Captain

  With nearly three decades of experience, Erich stands as a seasoned professional in the dynamic realm of technically challenging projects. His extensive portfolio boasts successful leadership across the globe, encompassing diverse ventures such as theme-park attractions, large-scale exhibits, experiential and environmental activations, restaurants and public spaces.
  
  Erich's expertise lies not just in project execution, but in his role as a guiding force. His primary focus is on meticulously navigating clients and partners through the intricacies of project planning. Whether it's aligning the design vision or establishing a robust foundational project plan, Erich ensures precision and alignment in every step of the process.
  
  Based in the vibrant city of Toronto, Erich finds joy in the simple pleasures of life. Outside the dynamic world of project management, he shares his home with his wife and dogs. Erich's leisure activities reflect his creative spirit, indulging in drawing and model-making. His green thumb finds expression in gardening, and he embraces an active lifestyle by embarking on long-distance bicycle rides. Beyond the boardroom, Erich's passions reveal a well-rounded individual with a zest for both the creative and the outdoors.

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  Eva Franch

  Chief Curator and Executive Director, Storefront for Art and Architecture

  2017 Built Environment Jury Member

  Eva Franch is a New York based architect, curator, educator and lecturer of experimental forms of art and architectural practice. In 2004, she founded her solo practice OOAA (Office of Architectural Affairs) and since 2010 is the Chief Curator and Executive Director of Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York. Franch specializes in the making of alternative architecture histories and futures.
  
  Franch has lectured internationally on art, architecture, and the importance of alternative practices in the construction and understanding of public life at educational and cultural institutions including the Royal college of Art and the Architecture Association in London, Arts Club of Chicago, Cooper Union in New York, Hong Kong University, IAAC in Barcelona, Izolatsia in Kiev, Kuwait University, SVA in New York, San Francisco Art Institute, Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam, University of Manitoba, UT Sidney, Oslo School of Architecture, Princeton University, SCI-Arc in Los Angeles , and Yale University among others.
  
  In 2014 Franch, with the project OfficeUS, was selected by the US State Department to represent the United States Pavilion at the XIV Venice Architecture Biennale. Franch has taught at Columbia University GSAPP, the IUAV University of Venice, SUNY Buffalo, and Rice University School of Architecture.
  
  Recent publications by Franch include Agenda (Lars Muller, 2014) and Atlas (Lars Muller, 2015) both as part of OfficeUS. An upcoming publication, the OfficeUS Manual will be published in 2017.

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  Jeffrey Franklin

  Co-Director, PLAYLAB, INC.

  2019 Built Environment Jury Member