Jury Alumni

• 

  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.

• 

  Mikki Brammer

  Journalist

  2020 Tools & Work Jury Member

  Mikki is an Australian writer, editor, and photographer based in New York City by way of Barcelona and Paris. Currently a contributing editor for Surface and Metropolis (where she was previously editor-at-large), she has covered all things design and architecture for many publications including Architectural Digest, AFAR, Details, Dwell, ICON, and Luxe Interiors & Design.

• 

  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.

• 

  Raquel Breternitz

  Design Leader and Strategist

  2022 Interaction Jury Captain

  Raquel Breternitz is an award-winning design leader + strategist with a resume spanning service with the USCIS and as Elizabeth Warren’s Design Director to private sector credits at the New York Times, Pivotal Labs, and IBM. She has also spoken at Lesbians Who Tech, PluralSightLIVE, Wonder Women in Tech, and O'Reilly Design.
  
  Raquel’s work and speaking topics are connected by a passion for accessibility and inclusion, research-driven design thinking, and a hunger for tackling complex and challenging problems. She believes in strong, empathetic leadership for empowered, creative design teams. Outside of her day job, she loves to write, illustrate, make comics, and take pictures of her cat.

• 

  Peter Bristol

  Director of Industrial Design, Oculus

  2017 Design Concept Jury Member

  Peter Bristol's work blends form with function in uniquely appropriate ways making products that are inherently recognizable. His designs have been recognized across multiple genres with a broad array of patents and awards. Peter is currently director of industrial design at virtual reality company Oculus. Parallel to Oculus, Peter partners with design focused companies to create furniture, lighting and other goods.

• 

  Emily Brooke

  CEO and Founder, Blaze

  2016 Consumer Product Jury Member

  Emily Brooke founded Blaze in 2012 in London, England, with the vision of becoming world leaders in urban cycling technology.
  
  After starting reading Physics at Oxford University, Emily left to pursue design in Brighton and Milan. There she created a radical innovation set to drastically improve cyclists’ safety and started her own company, Blaze, to make it a reality. The Laserlight tackles the greatest cause of fatality, being caught in the blind spot, or a vehicle turning across an unseen bike, by using a laser to project the symbol of a bike ahead of a cyclist. It gives the bike a bigger footprint on the road and prevents divers in front turning across its path.
  
  Three years on and after a successful Kickstarter campaign, Blaze have a team based in East London, manufacturing in China, and have raised approximately £1.5M in investment from the likes of the Branson Family and Index Ventures. Their flagship product, the Laserlight, is shipping to more than 52 countries and in 2016 it will be incorporated into all London’s Santander cycle hire scheme bikes. The new Burner back light will launch in Spring 2016 after becoming one of the most successful bike light campaigns in the history of Kickstarter.

• 

  Sarah B. Brooks

  IBM Distinguished Designer, Strategic Foresight, IBM

  2022 Design Education Initiative Jury Captain

  Sarah leads a Strategic Foresight practice within IBM design. Her 20+ years of research and practice center on the personal and organizational capabilities individuals and teams need to confidently navigate uncertainty, imagine, and work toward regenerative and equitable futures. She is an intrapreneur who has operationalized design education and practice across enterprise, startup, non-profit, Federal Government, and community contexts. She lives by the ocean in Montauk, New York with her husband Freddie and their dog, Juno.

• 

  Matt Brown

  Designer, Extraordinary Facility

  2024 Emerging Technologies Jury Member

  Matt Brown is an independent designer based in Los Angeles. Most of his work is in early-stage invention and prototyping in software and hardware for new products, services, media and environments. Recent clients include Google X, R&D at The New York Times, and The Berggruen Institute. He also runs Extraordinary Facility, a small design studio focused on learning and play.

• 

  Alexis Brunkow

  Architecture & Design Manager, Knoll

  2022 Home & Living Jury Member

  For more than 17 years, Alexis has held a multitude of roles within the design and architecture industry, spanning editorial writing for a home and garden publication, marketing, consulting and client relations. Currently, Alexis serves as Senior Manager at the Diversity in Design (DID) Collaborative, which was initiated in 2021 to foster systemic change by increasing diversity and improving conditions for Black creatives across the design industry. DID is a group of companies united by a common belief in the critical role that diversity plays in creating strong, impactful businesses and innovations in the design world and beyond. Alexis lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs, and is passionate about sustainability, supporting local businesses, and empowering youth.

• 

  Melissa Bruntlett

  Co-Founder, Modacity

  2015 Transportation & Mobility Jury Member

  Melissa Bruntlett is co-founder of Modacity, a multi-service consultancy, focused on inspiring healthier, happier, simpler forms of urban mobility through words, photography and film. She is a regular contributor for Momentum Magazine, The Vancouver Courier, Vanity Buzz and most recently Grist. Melissa is very active in her community, advocating for walking, cycling and public transportation improvements, and works as producer and project manager for Modacity's film campaigns. Her most recent work includes developing a marketing campaign for a Transit Referendum in the Metro Vancouver area. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and two children, and makes riding a bicycle or walking throughout her beautiful city a daily activity.Follow her on Twitter at@mbruntlett.

• 

  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.

• 

  Dylan Buffington

  US Marketing Manager, Pas Normal Studios

  2023 Transportation & Mobility 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.
  

• 

  Jenifer Bulcock

  Founder/Owner, Peoplemade LLC

  2024 Interaction Jury Member, 2024 Apps & Platforms Jury Member

  Jeni is an experience design strategist based in New York City. Born and raised in Australia, she established a design business at the age of 24, which thrived in Australia and Canada before she embarked on a new journey in New York City a decade ago.
  
  Driven by a keen interest in strategic decision-making, Jeni transitioned into design and research roles within consultancy and in-house settings. Her experience encompasses both Customer Experience (CX) and Employee Experience (EX), where she has spearheaded strategic design initiatives and digital transformation programs across various industries. Her portfolio boasts an array of national and global brands, including Samsung, Meta, Square, IKEA, AIG, Better.com, and KraftHeinz, among others.
  
  In January 2023, fueled by her entrepreneurial spirit, she founded Peoplemade LLC, a Service Design and UX Research consultancy.
  
  Outside of work, Jeni finds joy in taking her dog on long walks and hosting dinner parties featuring seasonal produce sourced from farmers' markets.

• 

  Max Burton

  Founder and Chief Designer, Matter Product

  2015 Consumer Product Jury Member

  Max Burton, the founder of Matter, is a product and interaction designer with over 2 decades of experiences. From housewares to digitally enabled products, he is inspired by participating in the creation of the future that melds technology with art and humanity.Prior to forming MatterÖ, Max worked as the Global Executive Creative Director for Product Design at frog, the Creative Director of Nike's Tech Lab and the VP of Design at Smart in New York. His work has been exhibited at the MoMa in New York, the Design museum in London and the Chicago Athenaeum.

• 

  Jason Busschaert

  Director of Industrial Design, Stanley Black & Decker

  2018 Open Design Jury Member

  As Director of Industrial Design at Stanley Black and Decker, Jason's role is to provide global leadership in the definition, design, and development of industry leading power tools and outdoor power equipment.
  
  Jason has been a catalyst, integrating new technology to support adjacent design functions all with a goal to optimize the user experience. These efforts further enhance and differentiate the strong brands of Stanley Black and Decker. Prior to working for Stanley Black and Decker, Jason started his career at Canadian Design Consultancy DW Product Development, working with and supporting various clients across a diverse set of markets and industries.
  
  Jason has been recognized with several design awards, most recently receiving a 2015 IDSA IDEA Bronze award for DEWALT’s first entry into Professional Outdoor Equipment.