Jury Alumni

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  Norio Fujikawa

  Creative Director, Astro Studios, Inc.

  2017 Transportation Jury Member

  Norio Fujikawa is an award winning industrial designer currently working as a Creative Director at Astro Studios in San Francisco, where he has designed products for many of the world’s leading companies. Microsoft, Intel, HP, P&G, Samsung, Disney, Nike, and Nissan have all benefitted from Norio’s keen eye for innovative design. He has worked across a wide range of businesses and industries that include consumer electronics, home goods, appliances, toys, equipment, and automotive. Norio has also mentored start-ups with his 20 years plus of knowledge in developing products, brands, and experiences.
  
  
  Born and raised in Chicago, Norio studied at the Institute of Design. At the heart of it all, Norio is an artist. When he isn’t designing, he is either professionally illustrating or hanging his paintings in better art galleries around San Francisco. Norio has also been a semi-professional tumbler, and is a fully-professional fish monger.

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  Meredith Gannes

  Design Manager, FCA US LLC

  2018 Transportation Jury Member

  Meredith Gannes began her automotive design career in Shanghai and she has continued to explore the different facets of automotive design over the past decade. As a design manager in the advanced color and materials studio at FCA US, she oversees interior color mastering and program information for all NAFTA vehicle programs. She spends the majority of her day working with FCA designers and suppliers to execute color and material for vehicle production. Additionally, Gannes manages a separate team that creates documents illustrating FCA vehicle interiors for internal and external use. Most recently, Gannes designed the color and materials for the latest Jeep® concept car, the YunTu, revealed at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. She also worked on the new Jeep Compass, as well as variations of the Fiat 500.
  
  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in fashion and textile design from Michigan State University and her Master of Science in business administration from Wayne State University. She is passionate about design and enjoys working with her team of color, material and finish designers. When she is not working, she loves traveling and immersing herself in different cultures.

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  Sharon Gauci

  Executive Director of Design – Global Buick & GMC, General Motors

  2024 Transportation Jury Member

  Sharon Gauci a native Australian, was appointed to Executive Director of Design – Global Buick and GMC on October 1, 2021. An experienced design leader, Gauci has held a variety of different global roles. Prior to her current appointment, Gauci was the Executive Director of Industrial Design at General Motors, a role held since January 2018. In June 2020, Sharon joined GM’s Sustainability Office, where she was one of seven executive leaders working across the organization to implement strategies supporting GM’s Zero Emissions vision.
  
  In her current role, Gauci is responsible for leading studios to create the visual expression and design strategies for Buick, GMC and GMC Hummer trucks, cars, crossovers and SUVs across all of GM’s markets.
  In her previous role, Gauci oversaw the redesign of the GM logo, introduced globally in January 2021—only the fifth change in the history of the brandmark.
  
  Gauci is the first recipient of Good Design Australia’s inaugural Women in Design Award in 2019, the first female keynote speaker at Wards Auto Interior Conference in 2018 and the first female to be included as a core judge for the Australian Design Awards in 2005, at the time a 50 year award program. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design in 1993 from Swinburne University in Melbourne.
  
  Gauci worked at both Ford Motor Company and BMW Australia before joining GM Holden in 2004.
  In 2021, she commenced service as a Board of Trustees member for PRATT Institute, a global leader in higher education situated in New York City.
  
  Throughout her extensive design career including regional roles and advanced design, Gauci has worked on many global vehicles including trucks, performance cars and mobility solutions such as the award winning ARIV e-bike, Brightdrop and Cruise Origin. Most recent vehicles include the Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, Cadillac Escala, Buick Avista and Avenir – which won the Eyes on Design C&T award.

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  Demian Horst

  Programme Director - MFA Transportation Design, Umeå Institute of Design

  2016 Transportation Jury Member

  Demian Horst is since 2009 Programme Director for Transportation Design at Umeå Institute of Design (UID), Umeå University, Sweden. UID provides one of the world’s most highly ranked design educations and Demian started in his current position as the youngest director for a masters programme in the history of the school. Prior to this he has worked several years at General Motors in Germany, had a strong cooperation with Saab Automobile during his master studies, developed applied research together with Volvo Truck Corporation and also dedicated a few years in his early career to designing busses and coaches. Demian holds an MA from UID in Sweden and a BA acquired in his native Brazil.
  
  At the Umeå Institute of Design he is also a member of the leadership group, holding strategic collaboration matters as his main responsibility. Being very aware of the importance that transportation has on quality of life, his task is to promote the generation of new knowledge on the subject and to continuously develop the best conditions to educate highly skilled, responsible and creative transportation designers for the industry of the future.

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  Cara Kim

  Multidisciplinary Creative

  2023 Transportation Jury Member

  Cara Kim is a multidisciplinary creative based in New York City with 11 years of experience coming from the automotive industry. Born in South Korea and raised in Detroit, she studied automotive design at College for Creative Studies. Her experience includes working with companies like Audi, GM, Faraday Future, and Autodesk. Having pivoted to automotive interior design from exterior design early in her career, she values a holistic approach in mobility product design. She is excited to partake in the competition as a jury member to see the fresh perspectives of next generation designers and discuss design with the jury team. Despite her career background as a car designer, she does not own a car but relies on subway trains and her motorcycle at the moment.

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  Shel Kimen

  Co-Director of Design Thinking, Ford Motor Company

  2022 Transportation Jury Captain

  Shel is Co-Director of Design Thinking for Ford. Her role is to grow the capability, its tools and mindsets, across the company. Her work has also touched the Maverick, New F150, Mach-E and more. She has practiced human centered design and creative leadership for 25 years, with side hustles in performative art and music, community development, and a social benefit company. She often takes on transformation roles where the playbook has yet to be written. Shel is committed to inclusion and anti-racism in all its forms. She advocates a post-scarcity mindset, collaboration, curiosity, reflection, rest, and joy.

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  Hannah Lueptow

  Design Researcher & Strategist, Questtono

  2019 Transportation Jury Member

  Hannah June Lueptow is a design researcher and strategist at Questtono in Brooklyn, New York. She utilizes in-depth user engagement to solve experience based design challenges across a wide spectrum of product categories. Excited about understanding people’s relationship with the products around them, Hannah works to develop empathetic user experiences in disruptive tech spaces. Hannah has conducted international research projects in India, China and Indonesia and has worked with companies such as LG, Ford, Anheuser-Busch InBev, leading mixed reality companies, and more. In her spare time, Hannah designs and slipcasts functional objects out of her Brooklyn-based ceramic studio.

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  Kasia Lys

  Lead Senior Designer, FCA US LLC

  2018 Transportation Jury Member

  Kasia Lys is a Lead Senior Designer in the Advanced Color and Materials studio at FCA US LLC. While Lys is responsible for overseeing the selection of exterior body paint, trim and wheel finishes for all FCA US brands, she spends the majority of her time with the Ram Truck brand. From research to material development, she oversees design and creation of all colors and materials used within the interiors of the Ram Truck model lineup. She recently completed work on the all-new Ram 1500 unveiled at the 2018 North American International Auto Show.
  
  Lys earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design with a minor in textile design from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. She enjoys a hands-on approach to design and appreciates highly crafted products and spaces.

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  Ken Mak

  Co-Founder, daCompany

  2017 Transportation Jury Member

  Ken Mak is co-founder of daCompany, an upcoming start-up delivering insights for cannabis patients into their consumption to disrupt the medicinal distribution model. He is concurrently developing With Eaze, a housewares company emphasizing clean solutions for the home. His work has spanned across industrial design, software development, product management and product marketing.
  
  In addition to these ventures, Ken is principal of Orenga Design, a product consultancy in San Francisco helping technology companies deliver innovative user experiences. He is currently leading industrial design for Cisco's Unified Computing System’s division, responsible for a $4B portfolio. Prior to this group, he was Senior Creative Lead for Cisco's flagship Telepresence system, garnering a Red Dot Best of the Best Award.
  
  Over the past 15 years, he has released 75+ products in the electronics and hard goods space for the likes of HP, Sony, Google, Disney, Black & Decker and a multitude of startups, earning iF Design, R&D 100, and CES Innovations Awards.
  
  Ken holds a Bachelor of Science from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has been a senior lecturer at the California College of Arts in San Francisco.

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  Lindsey Maxwell

  Vice President, Teague

  2024 Transportation Jury Captain

  From prototyping on the shop floor to Vice President of Teague, Lindsey Maxwell holds over twenty years of experience in the aerospace industry. Lindsey leads an interdisciplinary team of over 125 researchers, designers, and engineers at Teague’s Aerospace Studio, and she has been integral in taking the company’s legacy of human-centered design in aviation and expanding it to urban air mobility, space habitats, space travel, and other passenger experiences.
  
  Lindsey is an art lover, design nerd and travel aficionado. But above all, she’s passionate about people. Her greatest strength is building deep partnerships with industry leaders to shape the future of their business and utilize design to create competitive advantage.
  
  Lindsey holds the position of Board Chair of IDSA, the most established Industrial Design Association in the world. Prior to being elected Chair, she was the Co-Chair of the National Women in Design Committee for IDSA. She cares deeply about elevating women in the design industry and continues to support IDSA Women in Design, as well as her own group, Women in Design Executive Team, which offers camaraderie and support for women in design leadership.
  
  Outside of work, Lindsey enjoys being on or near water, remodeling her 1950’s midcentury home, and movie night with her husband and two kids.

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  Ben McGinley

  Director of Design, LiveWire, Harley Davidson

  2023 Transportation Jury Captain

  As a designer and design leader at Harley-Davidson, Ben has been at the forefront of electric motorcycle design while also having the opportunity to make an impact on new and existing internal combustion spaces through a mixture of evolution and reinvention.
  
  Now, as director of design for LiveWire, Ben and his team focus entirely on the challenge of reinventing motorcycling for the electric future – transforming everyday experiences into urban adventure and beyond by creating soulful products and product experiences that build the new brand and enrich the lives of riders.
  
  In his free time, Ben spends his time reading about sustainable architecture, out in nature, or with his collection of (mostly not running) vintage motorcycles.

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  Lisa McNally

  Engagement Lead, Lacuna Technologies

  2020 Transportation Jury Member

  Lisa McNally works at the nexus of transportation, technology, and social impact. Lisa has dedicated her career to designing programs that promote sustainable and equitable access to critical commodities such as clean energy and shared mobility—everyday services that significantly improve quality of life—especially for those who need it most.
  
  As Engagement Lead at Lacuna Technologies, Lisa helps cities make better use of streets and curbs through open technology while optimizing the benefits of emerging mobility for the public good.
  
  Bringing expertise in smart cities, livable communities, and climate change policy, Lisa has designed and delivered programs that provide meaningful solutions for everyday users of our built environment. Lisa holds a MS from the University of Oxford, as well as a BA in Anthropology and BS in Environmental Policy from UC Berkeley.

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  Craig Metros

  Designer, Artist, Maker, Educator, Consultant

  2023 Transportation Jury Member

  Craig Metros is an accomplished automotive designer with more than 35 years of experience. He began his career at Ford Motor Company in 1985 and throughout his tenure, he led the design and development of multiple car and truck programs in countries around the globe. In 2014, Metros was appointed Design Director of North America where he oversaw the design and styling of all North American vehicles including the Mustang, F-Series trucks, the Ford GT race car, and the rebirth of the Bronco.
  
  Since retiring from Ford Design in 2020, Metros has taught Transportation Design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, and sits on CCS’ Alumni Board. He frequently serves as a design patent consultant and design expert witness and creates mixed-medium art influenced by motorsports, hot rods, and NASA.

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  Eric Noble

  Professor, Vehicle Technology, Art Center College of Design

  2016 Transportation Jury Captain

  Eric is founder and president of The CARLAB, an advanced automotive consulting firm which helps manufacturers and suppliers plan and design new vehicles. Founded in 1999, it is the most influential auto product consultancy in North America, serving carmakers from Nissan to Ferrari, Toyota, VW, Honda and Subaru, in addition to industry suppliers such as Continental, global auto clubs and the energy industry.
  Eric is also Professor of Vehicle Technology at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where most of the world’s top car designers are trained.
  He is a frequent media commentator and analyst on the auto industry, and a member of the Motor Press Guild.
  In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Noble is a longtime environmental volunteer with the Sierra Club, and enjoys surfing and off-road camping with his wife and two sons.

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  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.

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  Francis Pollara

  Director, Strategy and Development, Urban Movement Labs

  2022 Transportation Jury Member

  Francis Pollara is a strategy and innovation executive known for leading transformative work for industry-leading organizations spanning across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Prior to co-founding Urban Movement Labs, he joined Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office as the entrepreneur-in-residence tasked with establishing a model and organization that could augment city governing authority to design and deploy transportation tech solutions in real urban conditions. Francis is an investor and four-time founder with expertise in scaling organizations commercializing products, and establishing structure in startup and core corporate management functions. Francis holds an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a Bachelor of Fine Arts double major in Product Design and Digital Media from Art Center College of Design.