Meghan is an Austin transplant who can’t imagine calling another city home anymore. An educator and creative at her core, Meghan is passionate about being a part of a team where she can make a difference, design unique experiences and learning opportunities, and collaborate with amazing human beings on the daily. This is her first year with ADW and she’s thrilled to be a part of this celebration of the Austin creative community.

Currently, Meghan is a project manager for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Meghan’s past professional experiences include building business...

Lillian Hartman is a User Experience (UX) Designer passionate about human-centered design. She started her UX Design career in 2020 by graduating from the University of Texas at Austin's UX Bootcamp. Before graduation, she started working at a local, small business as the first UX Designer. Using her background in customer service, administration, and hospitality, Lillian creates designs with empathy and a mind for structure.

Lillian first heard about Austin Design Week through her UT connections and wanted to help cultivate Austin's creative community. She joined the Communications...

Emily was born and raised in West Texas and migrated south for college. She graduated with a BFA in Studio Art from Texas State and has been in the great ATX area since then.

She has been working on a creative team for 8 years in the student housing industry and loves seeing all the changes in marketing as digital opportunities emerge, and the traditional marketing outlets evolve to keep up.

In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, cooking, antique shopping, gardening, and hanging with her two cocker spaniels; Kallie and Kolton.

Lauren Salguero is an Associate Director of Product Design at T3 with over a decade of experience in designing and building digital products. She is also a UX Mentor at DesignLab.

Lauren recently returned to Austin after living in San Antonio for ten years. While in San Antonio, she served on the board of AIGA SA and organized many design community and printmaking events.

Outside of work, Lauren enjoys hikes with her husband and two dogs, Murder Bear and Birdie.

Canan (say “Jannan”) is the media director at Clay Imports, a web-based company that specializes in the design, production and, direct to consumer, sales of handcrafted tile. Canan has joined ADW events since the beginning. In fact, some of her most rewarding collaborations stem from connection made during ADW! This year, Canan’s goal is to create even more space for others to make connections that can advance their businesses and enrich their creative purposes. As the PR Lead, and identifying as part of a small BIPOC owned and operated business in Austin, Canan wishes to spread the word...

Michelle is a freelance graphic designer who believes in creating a fun, gate-free creative environment for all. She loves thinking about marketing design and modern branding for food, hospitality and events. Design aside, life is best when her iced tea supply is abundant and her fridge is stocked with pickles and olives.

Kathleen See is an Account Manager with 10Fold Communications, where she leads her teams to deliver on national press coverage and secure industry recognition for their technology.

She was first introduced to Austin Design Week in 2016 and finally found her way back as the Communications Project Manager for the 2021 event. Kathleen has eight years of experience in non-profit communications and technology-focused agencies.

She hails from Mississippi with a B.A. in Communications from Mississippi State University. Outside of work, you'll find her strolling through Brentwood with...

Christian Helms is the founder and Creative Director of Helms Workshop, an independent, multidisciplinary creative agency. Specializing in full-scale brand development and design with a focus on CPG, hospitality and outdoor lifestyle. We build strategic and spirited brands that delight, entertain and inspire.

Clients include Jack Daniel's, Blackberry Farm, Boulevard Brewing, Howler Bros, New Belgium, Chinook Seedery, Sierra Nevada, Southern Comfort, Tecovas Boots Austin Beerworks, Modern Times Beer,...

Joie is a Director of Product Design at Realtor.com, with over 16 years of experience in the digital design space. Though her career started as a web designer/developer, she spent the majority of her career specializing in interaction & visual design (UX) for mobile apps.

She loves problem solving and is passionate about the role design and tech can have in making people's lives easier. She has worked with a wide range of clients in sports, health, finance, logistics, energy, and travel. Prior to her current role, she led a...

With a well-cultured background in architecture, interior design, and brand strategy, Gerardo works with some of Austin’s largest developers. He’s on the front lines of creating the vision for how the urban, cultural, and architectural landscape is transforming in Austin.

As a member of the steering committee for Gensler’s Community Impact Program, Gerardo helps steer the firm’s vision for community impact by focusing efforts and resources on initiatives ranging from non-profit collaborations, mentorship programs, and community engagement events.

Gerardo is the founding...

Dr. Julie Schell is the Assistant Dean of Instructional Continuity and Innovation in the College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. She is also an Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Design and Creative Technologies and the College of Education, where she teaches classes on design pedagogy, learning, education and supervised teaching. Dr. Schell is an expert in the science of learning and pedagogy. She has written and spoken widely on how to help people learn using research-based principles from cognitive and learning science. She applied this expertise as the...

Chris is all about changing perceptions when it comes to spaces, furnishings and facial hair. His focus is on creating responsible, richly layered designs that tell the unique story of each client. He mostly claims to be a southerner, with roots in Texas and Virginia, and he’s no stranger to a good bourbon and a long afternoon nap.

Chris co-founded McCray & Co., an Austin-based design studio specializing in interiors for home and hospitality, in 2011. Notable projects include many fine Austin...

Elizabeth Gibson is the founder and owner of nationally recognized jewelry boutique which focuses on smaller, independent jewelry collections. Collections feature Austin-based designers, and include fine, fashion and bridal jewelry. Eliza Page has been recognized as "Austin's Best Jewelry Store" by Austin Fashion Week, and has been featured in publications such as LUCKY, Conde Nast Traveller, SELF, InStyle, Texas Monthly, WSGN, WWD, and many more.

Elizabeth is also the Founding President of the...

Calvin is the founder and Principal of Qubicle Design— a Service Design practice in Austin.

His day to day routine brings focus to the practice’s ability to deliver high quality design and design education. Currently, Calvin is focused on the future of education, which includes facilitating innovation workshops and conversations around the world. His philosophy on innovation starts with thoughtful observation and capturing deep insights from the experience owner. Those skillsets come in handy as a design thinking coach at the Stanford d.school, where he’s worked with global...

Jen is a queer, Asian-American brand and product designer based in NYC. She’s spearheaded digital experiences for eCommerce, mHealth, fashion, education, and job-matching platforms for agencies and freelance clients — synthesizing research insights through storytelling for startup stakeholders while identifying key business opportunities.

She works on social justice projects rooted in LGBTQIA+ issues, race relations, youth empowerment and women’s advocacy for Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls; and previously, for media outlets including The Heart, Venus Zine and...

Elizabeth is a design leader at Automattic, focused on improving the core WooCommerce experience. She brings 10 years of human-centered design, innovation, and product strategy to transform complex B2B and enterprise software into simple, human products.

Elizabeth found her love of design after graduating with a degree in Politics from NYU. She then went on to complete her MFA in Communications Design at Pratt Institute. She's lived and worked in Madrid, London, and New York City, envisioning the future of products and services for companies such as IBM Watson, Ericsson, Experian,...

Passionate about brand design for e commerce and female entrepreneurship, Amelia has worked in social media for 5 years.

Getting her start on accident when she launched a sandal brand and their instagram got her noticed by another startup, landing her a job as a social media manager.

Currently she spends her days at Facebook as a community manager using content to drive engagement amongst various communities and changes pace at night to run her Facebook ads agency Wayfinder.Amelia loves how design can truly empower others and bring a magical experience to the end...

Nicole is an Education Designer with IBM, where she helps to plan and execute onboarding programs for designers and design interns.

Her background is in people operations, program management, and tech education. Prior to joining IBM, Nicole worked with the adult learners of General Assembly’s full-time immersive programs, coaching them in their job search journeys as they changed careers. Nicole is passionate about learning and development and creating operational efficiencies, using her people-centered and process-oriented approach along the way. Whether it is brainstorming...

Lyric Metroplos is a UX designer & researcher and social media strategist. She considers herself to be a lifelong student. After graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she unknowingly stumbled upon the world of UX. As she obsessed over the design industry, she began to uncover that this was the field that combined her passion for research as a conceptual artist, her empathy from working in the service industry, as well as my ultimate goal of making the things we do as humans, on a basic level, enjoyable. She takes pride in approaching social media through the...

Grayson is a problem solver and ambitious mofo with a deep love for design, interiors, collaboration, Trixie, and/or Katya. After getting his start in fine arts, working for almost every non-profit theatre in Austin, he brought his storytelling talents to the tech industry. As a product designer, his work varies from creating custom content to high fidelity prototypes, and everything in between.

Previously Grayson was the program manager for ORANGE magazine. An Austin lifestyle publication with over 130k annual readers. ORANGE’s mission is to promote meaningful dialogue within the...

Maddie Huey is a Senior Product Designer at H-E-B Digital, where her team creates trustworthy, people-centered digital products that empower Texans to better care for themselves and their families. She is the design lead on the H-E-B Digital Pharmacy team, working with a team of designers to enhance pharmacy customers’ digital experiences.

Maddie has worked in digital healthcare for over 5 years – empowering clinical professionals to provide the best care and delivering seamless customer experiences to patients in their most vulnerable moments.

With 10 years experience in the entertainment industry, Emily has solidified herself as a professional of marketing, brand partnerships and event management.

Emily has worked as Marketing Director at Luck Reunion, Special Projects Manager at SXSW and Associate Marketing Manager at C3 Presents. Throughout her career, her passion has been creating unique experiences for brands and event attendees.

Born and raised in Texas, she attended the University of Texas and has a BA in Public Relations.

Outside...

Jessica is a multi-passionate consultant with a professional background as a small business and nonprofit strategist. A local Austinite and an avid traveler, Jessica is passionate about making the world--and Austin--a smaller place through connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. Current projects, passions, and affiliations include serving as Managing Director for the Austin Smart City Alliance and the Austin Forum for Technology & Society, as well developing business strategies and leadership development programs for a wide variety of companies and organizations.

She is a...

Alejandra (Alex) Del Taylor is a bilingual art director, graphic designer, and illustrator with a passion for poking holes and bridging gaps. She earned her Bachelor’s in Fine Art at SCAD-ATL and has more than 8 years of experience in Advertising. Her passion revolves around leveraging her skills to create lasting change within her community and empowering others to do the same.

Currently, she is working hard on the AIGA ATX Board as a co-chair for the Changemaker Series. When she's not volunteering her time you can find her laugh crying in a body of water or stuck in a Netflix...

Jennifer (Houli) Houlihan is an educator and freelance designer with expertise in UX design and research, facilitation, and content. Currently, she’s an instructor for the 12-week immersive program in user experience design at General Assembly Austin. Raised in Alaska, she has served in creative leadership for more than 30 years, working with non-profit organizations and social impact businesses across the country. An award-winning speaker, Houli has presented and lectured on topics from the nuts and bolts of successful database conversions to networking skills for introverts in classrooms...

Kayla Shay is a visual designer currently working with brand and product design experiences. From a young age, she's been completely enamored with art, technology, and people-- always learning how these things come together to speak to one another. She's been a volunteer for ADW since its inception in 2016, and wanted to give back even more to a wonderful community of designers. She's currently working as a Visual Designer at T3 and spends her days daydreaming, creating, and petting her husky, Luna.

After relocating from Boston in 2019, David’s first real introduction to Austin was when he volunteered during the tail end of ADW ’19 where he found an opportunity to support a community that inspired him.

David is a career Technology Project manager, where he has led digital and business transformations across the globe. Recently, he has started a smart home installation and automation company.

Outside of work, David can be found in front of a stove, grill, or live fire where he loves to cook for his family and friends.

Camilla Ferrero Rodriguez is a bilingual graphic/digital designer who enjoys bringing creative strategies to the branding industry.

Camilla started her career in Costa Rica working for design studios with a focus in digital design, re-designing websites and proposing brand strategies. She later decided to pursue professional growth by moving to Austin, Texas where she continues to network and learn from other designers about UX/UI design.

To give back to the community back home, Camilla uses her skills to volunteer at a non-profit that helps teenage girls in Costa Rica. She...

Matt Michalak, Assoc. AIA, is a Technical Designer at Gensler, a global architecture and interior design firm dedicated to creating a better world through the power of design. His day to day work is rooted in caring for and expanding the life giving qualities of urban environments by designing resilient buildings and public spaces that help provide opportunities of upward mobility for everyone.

Matt is a leader within Gensler’s Mixed Use Practice Area focusing on residential, commercial and retail projects, such as The Grove in North Austin, a legacy-quality mixed use neighborhood...

Elise, a Texas native turned New Yorker, has recently returned to her Southern roots by way of Nashville and now to Austin. Elise spent the last two years with Dream Hotel Nashville from initial construction phases to successful launch; landing clients like the NFL Tennessee Titans, Nissan, and the Billboard Top 100 Awards along the way. Prior to her Nashville move, Elise was Event Sales Manager at the Time Hotel in Midtown, Manhattan.

At 18, Elise started her career in the Fashion Industry, living in Hong Kong, London and New York City. Fashion gave her the...

Tulsi is a UX researcher at Blink who loves applying her systems-thinking perspective from mechanical engineering and manufacturing to understand how people use products and services. After graduating from Duke University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, she spent 5 years as a Manufacturing Engineer leading product quality and systems design improvements in the energy sector. Driven by the belief that human-centered design should be applied across all stakeholders - including those responsible for assembling products - she went back to school, earning her MS in Design Impact from...

Abydjana is a freelance User Experience Designer and Co-Host of the “Hello UX Podcast, a podcast targeting people pivoting into UX. She has worked to provide branding, creative vision, UX research and UI designs for fin tech, events, and digital agency startups. She has a BA from Tufts University in Bio-Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Brain Sciences.

Currently, she is focused on exploring the cross section between UX Design and Event Planning to help create experiences that build community and foster meaningful conversations that diversifies the design field. It’s important...

Madison Scullin is a brand strategist specializing in concept and campaign development for brands who embrace big ideas. As the Head of Strategy for Austin Design Week, Madison develops multichannel brand strategies that grow the perception and awareness of the brand throughout the Austin creative community. Driven by a core belief that authentic storytelling is what makes brands memorable, she creates content strategies that evoke emotion and activate community. She daylights as a Brand & Content Strategist at Favor Delivery, where she defines and implements cohesive brand strategies,...

Alexis Simon is a WELL AP consultant with 9+ years of marketing and business development experience. She is originally from Mexico City, but she stayed in Austin after she graduated from UT. Hook ‘Em! She first volunteered with Austin Design Week in 2018. In 2019, she hosted the #ADWGameChangers event and curated a panel of empowered female entrepreneurs to discuss interior design through the lens of wellness. This year, she is embracing change and exploring new ways to engage a larger audience through social media platforms. She loves sushi, her cat named Jay-Z, and her fiancé, who she...

With a background in PR, marketing, and editorial writing, Sam is dedicated to thoughtful storytelling and enthusiastic about all things content. She currently works with creative brands, small businesses, and publications to develop and execute content-driven communication strategies as a freelance writer and marketer. Sam is also the founder of Movers + Makers, a blog and event series dedicated to inspiring and connecting creative, entrepreneurial women. In her free time, you can usually find her reading, frequenting local businesses, or hanging out with her dog, Charlie.

Michele is a Registered Architect and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional with over 20 years of experience in architecture, urban design and construction, specializing in sustainable design and operations. She leads urban design initiatives that advance smart, sustainable real estate development and infrastructure at the building and district scales. Michele coordinates partnerships with downtown business owners, stakeholders and city leaders to create vibrant, walkable, activated spaces. She also assists in advocacy efforts for development...

Leslie Ann Barrientos is a multidisciplinary Designer, Painter, and Photographer with a background in design research and business strategy. Working as a Service Design Strategist at ServiceTitan, she takes on a holistic view to designing sustainable impact by integrating research insights into the implementation of interfaces, digital services, and new programs.

Living in Mexico City part-time, she takes inspiration from the city’s vibrancy, architectural geometry, and spiritual energy. She is currently working on a painting exhibit about intentional living showcasing her journey...

Alisha Moore is a UI/UX product designer, problem solver, and storyteller. Through the use of human-centered design practices, she finds thoughtful solutions to users' problems. She believes all solutions are rooted in empathy, compassion, and a thorough understanding of users' problems and needs.

Alisha is an advocate of elevating the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color) in the tech industry, specifically in the field of design. She is currently the Design for Good Director for AIGA Austin and co-produces the...

Michael Hsu, FAIA, IIDA is the founder and principal of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, a fully integrated architecture and interior design firm. MHOA was founded in 2005 and has studios in Austin and Houston.

Following graduation from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, Hsu worked at OMA in the Netherlands before returning to Austin where he has practiced since 1998. Hsu is currently the Texas Society of Architects 2021 Austin Chapter Director, as well as a member of the University of Texas School of Architecture’s Advisory Council. He is a Past President...

Brian McMullen is a brand strategist and operations specialist who cut his teeth as one of Uber’s first employees. Spending just over 7.5 years at the company, Brian helped to operationalize Uber’s community management role and then its global brand design functions before moving into brand strategy. Currently, Brian is putting all of his design thinking and patience to the test by learning video game development in Unity. Having taken on a design-related role at Uber without formal design experience, the support he received from the design community was key to Brian’s personal and career...

Amanda Woodward grew up on Marco Island, Florida, and worked as a graphic designer for Artis-Naples, a center for visual and performing arts before joining Hai Hospitality in 2015. When she’s not at work, Amanda enjoys practicing yoga, painting, and playing her ukulele. Casa de Luz is her favorite spot in Austin. Cuc Gach Quán in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is her top eatery in the world.

Matthew leads a team of designers, researchers, and writers who are focused on creating amazing experiences while providing creative vision and design strategy at the executive level. He establishes best practices and puts processes in place to ensure efficiency and excellence which are translated through his team’s work. With a strong focus on ethics, education, and diversity, Matthew fosters a collaborative, inclusive team that focuses on a set of core values, including empathy, efficiency, and excellence.

Born in Banes, Holguin, CUBA. Ricardo’s genuine passion for service has allowed him to serve under various professional organizations and fundraise over $4,000 to establish The Pay It Forward Scholarship dedicated to alleviating the financial burden of architecture students at his HBCU, Tuskegee University. Ricardo is a dedicated and respected Associate member of the AIA Austin chapter where he serves on the Board of Directors as Membership/Community Building Commissioner. Formerly Chapter President with AIAS at Texas A&M University, his service includes the Hip-Hop Architecture Camp...

Robert is a Service & Interaction Designer at the global design consultancy Fjord, where he helps the digital services of multinational enterprise clients become more human-centered, profitable, and sustainable. He has proudly attended Austin Design Week since its inception, and is optimistic about the ability of design to solve pressing problems like environmental protection, transportation, and personal wellness. He enjoys bicycling, camping, and thunderstorms, but not all at once. Learn the benefits of reducing car trips in your life at his workshop this year, “Roads are for...

Isaac is a Junior Account Strategist with experience in public relations across tech, finance, food and beverage brands. His passion for creating and implementing stories for his clients has led him to place these narratives in Elite Daily, USA Today, Forbes and more. He’s excited to work with Austin Design Week to help further their mission and introduce ADW to new audiences.

Isaac lives in Chicago but enjoys all things Austin (especially the breakfast tacos).

Erika Morgan is a Senior Director with 10+ years of experience in public relations across tech, finance, healthcare, and consumer brands. With an innate passion for storytelling, she leads campaigns that speak to the essence of brands. One of her favorite hobbies is decorating and design and she is thrilled to help spread the word about Austin Design Week.

Erika lives in East Austin with her husband and two dachshunds Sophie and Penny.

Katie Kahler is an Integrated Brand Strategist with 7+ years of experience building social/digital campaigns, influencer networks, and real time activations across verticals including CPG, Fin Serv, Tech, and B2B. Her love of the ATX creative scene lead her to Austin Design Week and she is excited to explore new ways to bring these events to a larger audience.

She loves the internet, Micheladas, and long hikes with her dog, Gaspode.

Marisa is a PR strategist, specializing in media relations and brand storytelling. In her current role at Praytell, she works closely with national media to curate meaningful coverage, landing pieces for clients in publications like the New York Times and Huffington Post. She’s excited to be working with Austin Design Week to continue exploring the role between media and brands to find new ways to expand brand dialogue among consumers.

With a background in web development and design, Britney Jo has worked as a Front End Developer, Web Dev Instructor, Freelance Designer and, most recently, landed in Creative Recruiting. Whether it’s teaching others to bring their ideas online by learning to code or finding badass talent and placing them with brilliant companies, her passion lies in helping other people find theirs.

Britney Jo was a SXSW speaker in 2017, 2018, and 2019. She has been on numerous design/developer panels, as well as, moderated many panel discussions in the design community.

Outside of work you can...

After tripping into design 20 years ago, I realized somewhere along the way, that I loved to share shit I’ve learned. So 5 years ago I co-founded Austin Spark League, an education program for high-schoolers where we help them find their passions, explore what they might be interested in, and what careers pay well - that intersection is the Spark.

On the side, I’ve started a couple of tech consulting businesses, have done design leadership at small and big tech (IBM and now Facebook), and generally get drawn into building cultures of design from these places.

I’m a design...

Kaley is a UX designer, strategist, and educator based in Austin, TX. Her day job involves collaborating on and internal design system strategy for IBM Cloud. Prior to working as a designer, she spent a decade in the education space both locally and internationally, embedded in communities around the world. Kaley believes that the true power of design lies in it's ability to bring people together and empower community problem solving.

While not quoting podcasts or taking on new hobbies, Kaley likes to volunteer with some of her favorite organizations – Creative Mornings, and of...

Erinn was born and raised in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL, but has called Austin, TX home since graduating from the University of Florida as a double Gator. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Italian Studies and her Master of Arts in Mass Communication with a specialization in Social Media.

While in school, she learned the ins and outs of social media and communications and had the opportunity to work with several startups along the way. She currently works full time as the Social Media Specialist for Lifesize doing all things social media and content creation and is...

Mark moved to Austin from in 2004 creating Mark Odom Studio, an award winning studio revolving around like-minded individuals producing both residential, commercial, & public art projects throughout the Texas region. Prior to m(ødm), Mark worked in Dallas, San Diego, and Hawaii on various urban infll, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use high rise developments with a primary focus on context and site-appropriate design. Mark has fifteen + years of experience in the architecture and construction industry and focuses the studio on collaborative efforts in quality design, material investigation,...

Kerry O'Connor is Austin's Chief Innovation Officer. She joined the City of Austin on March 24, 2014. Previously, Kerry worked at the U.S. Department of State, where she established an innovation unit called the Research and Design Center in the Office of the Secretary of State, which offers research, consulting, brainstorming facilitation, and strategic design services. She developed and managed an employee idea generation program, helped architect sustainable management reforms, coordinated logistics for the Pittsburgh G20 Summit, served as an executive staffer, and improved programs and...

Guliz Sicotte is the Director of User Experience for Magento, an Adobe Company. In this role, Guliz oversees the UX design, research and documentation for Commerce Cloud, Order Management, Business Intelligence, and Marketplace products. She joined Magento from Volusion, where she lead the UX design for commerce platforms and built a successful design and marketing services division. Prior to spending a decade designing experiences in commerce, Guliz has held several roles in agencies designing marketing experiences for enterprise software companies. She is passionate about Design Thinking...

Stacey Chang is a designer, an unintentional academic, and an unapologetic ringleader for new creative solutions to age-old dilemmas in health. Until 2014, Stacey was the Managing Director of the Healthcare practice at IDEO, the global design and innovation firm. He left to found the Design Institute for Health at the University of Texas at Austin, a first-of-its-kind institution, dedicated to applying design approaches to solving systemic health care challenges as an integrated part of an operating health system and a medical education and training program. As Executive Director of the...

Nina Means is an alumna of the International Fashion Design program at FIT and has designed for Rebecca Taylor, American Eagle Outfitters, and H by Halston for QVC. In 2016, Nina started her namesake label,

Nina Means, sold in specialty stores and online. As Director of the Austin Community College Fashion Incubator, she is developing a real-to-industry experience that provides students and fashion startups with the necessary educational experience and technology exposure to work efficiently in the fashion industry. The program also provides emerging fashion businesses the product...

Sameera is a designer and educator living in Austin, TX, originally from the Dutch island of Curaçao. She is currently a Design Director at thoughtbot. She writes and speaks about Responsive Web Design, Diversity and Inclusion in Tech, and design research and process on her blog and on The Pastry Box Project (2015, 2018). She shares her thoughts on the web in the documentary, What Comes Next Is The Future and formerly wrote a monthly column for net magazine print and online. She makes playlists and travels a lot. She also cooks and dines out and photographs it all.

Danielle is passionate about empowering designers, through education and community building. She is currently the CEO of Women Talk Design, a new social enterprise on a mission to see more women speaking on stage.

She co-founded Austin Design Week in 2016 while she was the Regional Director of General Assembly in Austin, an education institution that empowers individuals to pursue the work they love through education and opportunities in design, tech, business and data. At General Assembly, Danielle...

Design Strategy Lead for Client Services at IBM

Amber Atkins is a Lead Design Strategist at IBM Design for Services where her team delivers on delightful experiences for clients who are curious about becoming a design lead entity and breaking free from "business as usual". For almost 10 years, she has helped build communities for creative education and design as the Vice President of Education and Mentorship for AIGA Colorado and now in her role on the AIGA Austin board. Amber believes in the power of what a diverse group of humans can do when they challenge one another to think -...

Partnerships & Events Manager, Vapor IO

Candice has over a decade of experience spanning marketing, advertising, sponsorship development, partnerships, programming, artist and event management. Candice has worked in magazine publication, music/film festivals and global productized events.

In 2011, she helped to open and run artist-owned record label, The Noise Company. In this role, Candice realized her passion for finding innovative platforms to support artists. She took her drive for fostering creative communities to education and startups to General Assembly where she...