The Jury

Monica started her career at DreamWorks Animation where she honed her unique artistic style. Now as IMG Models’ first signed illustrator, Monica is emerging as a leading tastemaker in fashion while she continues to elevate her talents in illustration. You will find Monica showcasing her signature style and doing capsule clothing collections, book illustration, package design, digital campaigns as well as on the red carpet for various events. Monica’s client roster spans brands in media, clothing, consumer products and publishing. She has recently worked with Vanity Fair, Gap, Google, Facebook, Netflix, Sephora, TIME, Sprite, Peloton, TOMS, Simon & Schuster, and Adobe. 

Anne Asensio is a designer. She held executive roles in design management and innovation strategy at Renault, General Motors, and now Dassault Systèmes. There she founded the Design Studio, a multidisciplinary team in innovation strategy by design, design research, design management and consultancy. Combining nature-inspired and technological approaches, Anne aims to leverage the value of design for users, citizens and humans’ well-being, respectiful of our planet and environment. Anne Asensio has won several design and innovation awards and plays an active role in strategic boards for companies and design schools throughout the world. She is also Regional Advisor for the World Design Organisation.

Roland Bechmann is a director and partner at the Werner Sobek architectural practice in Stuttgart. He studied civil engineering at the University of Hanover and has been with Werner Sobek since 2000. Roland Bechmann heads the business development and competitions department, the bridges division, and is responsible for the firm’s design department. At Werner Sobek, he initiated the internal Triple Zero Task Force, which deals with all aspects of resource-efficient and climate-neutral construction and advises architects, clients and investors worldwide on their projects and acquisitions.

Manuel Bickel studied environmental engineering (Dipl.-Ing.), worked at the engineering and consultancy firm Fichtner from 2011 to 2018, and was awarded a PhD in 2020 from Leuphana University Lüneburg on the topic of ‘Viable Communication Systems’ in the context of the energy transition. Since 2018, he has been conducting research at the Wuppertal Institute on the design of sustainable product-service systems, focusing on sustainability assessment, resource efficiency, ecodesign, circular systems, digitalisation and industry. He also regularly undertakes teaching assignments at the University of Wuppertal in the Industrial Design programme.

Didier Chincholle is Head of Experience Design at Ericsson, where he manages a multi-award-winning team of UX designers in Stockholm. He began his journey in France, where he earned a master's degree in Architecture and Design. He then ventured into the Aerospace industry, where he contributed to the design of astronaut equipment and graphical user interfaces for Air Traffic Controllers. In the late 1990s, He transitioned to the mobile phone industry, joining Ericsson in Sweden. He spent a couple of years in various design roles, starting at Ericsson Research and then moving and eventually leading UX design teams in different Ericsson business units.

Lukas Cottrell is Managing Partner at the Peter Schmidt Group - the largest German design agency. His tasks as a strategist and designer include developing holistic and meaningful design solutions. He has extensive experience in marketing strategy, brand development, design management and digital transformation. Lukas Cottrell can build on more than 20 years of professional experience, which includes projects with many international blue-chip clients from the financial services, telecommunications, technology, mobility and FMCG sectors. 

Andreas Diefenbach has been Managing Partner at PHOENIX Studio Stuttgart since 2019. Having studied industrial design at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart and the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, he has several years’ experience in building and leading interdisciplinary innovation teams in a global context. As part of a team, he has developed innovation strategies, design languages, and award-winning products and services for many renowned international companies. His personal career is closely intertwined with the development of PHOENIX. Since 2009, he has held various positions and roles, as well as serving on several advisory boards and associations.

Associate Professor in Industrial Design, University of Aveiro | Executive Board Member, Cumulus Association

Teresa Franqueira is a designer, has a PhD degree at Politecnico di Milano and was the International Coordinator of DESIS Network – Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability from 2022 till 2025. She founded and led a research group on Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability (ID+ DESIS Lab) for eight years and directed the Design Factory Aveiro as its executive director and scientific coordinator from 2016 to 2022. Teresa is member of several editorial board, of scientific committees in national and international Design Conferences and jury of international design competitions. She teaches across Europe and Asia and has been the local coordinator of european projects for social innovation, circular economy and sustainability.

Teresa has been invited as a keynote speaker in national and international conferences and has organise several workshops worldwide. She has been supervising PhD and Master students within the topics of Design for Social Innovation, Design for Sustainability, Product Design and Service Design. Her work is characterized by a deep commitment to integrating design methodologies with interdisciplinary collaboration, aiming to create meaningful impact and drive positive change in communities worldwide. Through her extensive publications and participation in international conferences, Teresa Franqueira aims to influence the design landscape, inspiring both professionals and students alike.

After studying Political Sciences and Marketing Management, Alain Gilles studied Industrial design in France. He opened his own studio in 2007 in order to pursue his own dreams and develop his personal approach to product design, furniture design and art direction. He collaborates with international brands such as Ligne Roset, Bonaldo, Buzzispace, Greenmood, XL Boom, La Chance, Vincent Sheppard, Modular Lighting, Miniforms. He has received numerous international awards for his work and was named “Designer of the Year” in 2012 by the Biennale Interieur.

Evan Jerry is Canadian-born designer and artist. In 2018 he established Studio ANANSI, a design practice that represents a reflection of modernity with a nod to the Afrocentric elements that have been missed or masked in contemporary design. The studio draws its name from Anansi, a prominent figure in West African and Caribbean folklore known for taking the form of a spider and revered as the god of storytelling and knowledge.  Evan's childhood exposure to Anansi's tales and his global adventures equipped him with a profound tool to interpret the world, gaining a unique perspective on culture and storytelling while furthering his curiosity to understand our connections. Motivated by these folklores—Evan endeavors to craft new narratives through sculptural and architectural objects. Studio ANANSI's innovative work has involved collaborations with esteemed brands like Collection Particulière and TRNK New York. Its projects have been showcased in internationally acclaimed publications such as Interior Design, Wallpaper*, Azure, Design Milk, Architectural Digest, and Sight Unseen. Furthermore, the studio has made significant appearances in global design exhibitions, including the prestigious London Design Festival.

Born in Lagos Nigeria, Charles attained his architecture diploma and a masters degree in urban design from the Oxford Brookes University, followed by work experience in various architectural practises in London, Paris and Zurich.Based in Zurich, and working in the fields of architecture, interior, product, furniture and lighting design, his studio has won more than 50 international design competitions. His plywood armchair SKETCH was acquired for the permanent collection of both the Vitra Design Museum and the Denver Art Museum. His chair Assemblage was acquired by the Studio Museum in Harlem. Charles was professor of architecture at the Berne University of Applied Sciences from 2008 to 2026.  In 2023, Charles was listed in the New York Times as one of the 10 notable Furniture designers from across the African Diaspora. 

Marius holds a distinguished academic background in Architecture and Industrial Design, with studies completed across Germany and Japan. He began his professional career in the sporting goods industry at Adidas, where he went on to establish himself as a leading Innovation Designer during an extensive tenure in New York. Throughout this period, he developed deep expertise in Virtual Reality Design and Artificial Intelligence, positioning himself at the forefront of design innovation within the industry. In 2023, Marius transitioned into the luxury fashion sector, joining Moncler in Milan as Head of Footwear Design and later on as Head of Concept & AI Design. He has since taken on a new role as Concept Designer at Prada Linea Rossa, where he is focused on shaping and expanding the sport segment of the iconic Prada universe. Known for his strong leadership capabilities and a distinctly multidisciplinary approach, Marius brings a rare combination of technical precision, creative vision, and cross-cultural perspective to every project he undertakes.

Juliet M. Kavishe is an advocate for African design futures with over 18 years of practice, research, and design advocacy across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. A Professional Interior Architect and design educator, her work explores the relationship between material culture, craftsmanship, and contemporary African expression. She is the Founder of FORMALL Design Research Lab, a platform advancing design-led research, archives, experimentation and future imaginaries. Juliet has held leadership roles within international design institutions, serves regularly on global design juries, and was recognised as one of South Africa’s Top 100 Design Voices and recipient of the AMPS Critical Futures Award.

Tina Kortmann is an architect with over 20 years of international experience in architecture and urban planning. Her areas of expertise range from urban mixed-use projects and workplace environments to cultural buildings, characterised by a particular interest in inclusive, community-oriented design. She is an Associate Director at UNS in Amsterdam and a member of the Global Leadership Team. Alongside her practical work, she is involved in design juries, mentoring and international networks such as ASF International.

Design book author, university lecturer & keynote speaker – founded her interior design studio ‘JOI-Design’, today a European leader in creating meaningful hospitality destinations together with husband & partner Peter Joehnk. The studio now has three talented partners to continue Corinna and Peter’s forty-year legacy whereas the couple remains active in their redefined role as brand ambassadors & senior advisors and more involved in the partner office: ‘JOI-Design India’ – while also investing their time for projects closer to their heart, such as the new creation of the ‘Green Hospitality Conference’.

Professor Laurent Lacour is Managing Partner at the renowned design studio ‘hauser lacour’, which includes major branding and corporate design projects for companies such as Siemens, Swiss Re, Münchener Rückversicherung AG, De Gruyter Wissenschaftsverlag, Fraport AG and the Deutsche Börse Group. The studio's portfolio also includes projects for cultural institutions such as the Cologne Philharmonic and the Max Planck Institute in Florence. Laurent Lacour has taught at various universities and has been contributing his extensive experience as a full professor in the Department of Design at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences since April 2011.

Birgit Mager is co-founder and president of the International Service Design Network and editor-in-chief of Touchpoint, the international journal of service design. Since 1995, Birgit Mager has held the first European professorship for "Service Design" at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany, and since then has continuously developed the field of Service Design in theory, methodology and practice. Her numerous lectures, publications and projects have strongly supported the implementation of a new understanding of the economic, ecological and social function of design in the field of services. In 2020 she received the Sir Misha Black Award for outstanding contributions to design education. Since 2024 she is a visiting professor and member of the advisory board at the Sapienza University of Rome in the PhD program Service Design and Public Sector.

Wiebke Meyer-Lüters is Creative Director and co-founder of studio tülü. Based in Hamburg and Dortmund, the design studio works internationally for brands, institutions and cultural projects. Together with her team, she develops brand identities, digital presences and design-driven systems for clients such as HYROX, MYMARINI and the LWL. Her perspective on design was also shaped in New York, where she completed her Master’s degree in Design and Entrepreneurship.

Aracely Nevarez is an architectural leader with more than 30 years of experience in award-winning, large-scale mixed-use, residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the United States. After expanding Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture’s national presence and concluding her tenure as an equity partner, she is pursuing her next chapter while remaining committed to creating spaces that inspire, empower, and enhance everyday life. She has also served as a juror for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), reflecting her dedication to design excellence and innovation.

Silvia Olp is on the advisory board of the aed e.V. in Stuttgart, she was a founding member and for many years on the board, the last five years as chairwoman of the aed. She is the initiator of the aed neuland competition for young talent. As Silvia Olp Public Relations, she is active as a consultant for PR and marketing activities for the design-orientated industry as well as design agencies and architecture firms. She was Head of Communications at Phoenix Design and PR and Marketing Director at burkhardt leitner modular spaces for many years. She has also worked as a studio manager for well-known photographers, including Staud Studios.

Julia Pültz is the Global Marketing Manager at Vestre, based at the company's Oslo headquarters. She is also a member of the Global Impact Council, contributing to its strategic direction. She previously led the European business. With over 20 years' experience in marketing and sales, she brings a broad, practice-driven skill set to the role. Her previous position on the management board of an international architecture and building-detail magazine further highlights her significant industry presence.

Creative Director, Mamba Studio

Design is the lens through which I understand life. As a Mexican designer based in Madrid, I’m passionate about the intersection of design, psychology, and storytelling. At Mamba, we specialize in branding and packaging design, crafting visual narratives that connect with human behavior through neuromarketing. Always curious, I’m committed to pushing the boundaries of design, enhancing creativity, and continually evolving in the field.

Patrick Speck was born in Brazil and graduated in Industrial Design from PUCPR in 2000, followed by a Master’s degree in Product Design and Engineering from the same institution. Between 2000 and 2006 Patrick worked for Electrolux Home Products. In 2006 Patrick joined GROHE. Throughout the years, he held several senior positions in the design department, supporting the brand around the globe and leading projects from concept to production. In October 2018, Patrick was appointed VP of Design Transformation. Since January 2020, Patrick is Leader LIXIL Global Design EMENA, increasing his responsibility with regional design leadership for LIXIL’s Design Studios in Düsseldorf and London. He is based in London, and leading the GROHE and Cobra brands, assuring the brands remain well-defined, authentic and with a unique sense of purpose. In this function, he reports directly to Paul Flowers, Leader LIXIL Global Design, Executive Vice President and in a dotted line to Leader LIXIL EMENA. His list of achievements includes several Intellectual Property files (Brazil, Europe and the US) both for Electrolux and GROHE.

Prof. WU is the Director of China Intelligent Urban Planning Co-creation Center for Yangtze River Delta Agglomeration (CIUC), Councilor of Shanghai Government, Member of Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Development Experts’ Committee, Vice President of Urban Planning Society of China, Vice President of China Association of Building Energy Efficiency, Vice President of China Green Building Council, and Standing Vice Chair of Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association. He had served as the Vice President of Tongji University from 2011 to 2021 and is currently the Member of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, Chairman of the Sub-Committee of Urban and Rural Planning Professional under the Ministry of Education and Chair of World Urban Planning Education Network (WUPEN). Prof. WU is the Chief Planner of Shanghai World EXPO 2010, Chief Planner of Beijing Sub-Center Urban Design Comprehensive Plan, and the Chief Planner of more than 150 urban planning projects. He is the pioneering figure in urban planning theory and methods in both China and world. 

Mr. William Wu (Wu Jian) is VP Design at Haier Group, leading global design team covering multiple brands. He joined Haier in 2001 as industrial designer. During his career Mr. Wu has multidisciplinary practices span product design, brand communication, design strategy, graphics and design management. From 2006 he worked a long time in North America to develop local product series to accelerate local business. As the head of Haier innovation design center from 2010, he contributes to lead the design team to deliver world-class design service both to this appliance giant and other independent manufacturers in China. Mr.Wu developed a brand-new user experience centered working flow and unique visual brand language to express global brand language and create inspired smart living experience for global consumers. All efforts greatly supported Haier to be No.1 major appliance manufacturer globally and one of the most famous brands from China.