Grand Jury Panel

Mark Turner, an industry veteran with a wealth of experience exceeding 30 years, holds the role of Founder and Creative Director at Kre8ive Partners.

As the leader of his creative team, Turner contributes an extensive wealth of experience in Art Direction, Typography, Point of Sale (POS) Design, Web Design, and Print. His established track record in the Graphic Design industry has had a pronounced influence, particularly within the retail and private sectors. His expertise in these domains has been instrumental in shaping the creative direction of his organisation.

With an ardent dedication to innovative and forward-thinking design, his passion for the field extends across all aspects of the creative process, but his deepest affection lies with packaging design, where he has consistently demonstrated a penchant for pushing the boundaries and crafting imaginative. This commitment to innovative design for packaging, has been the driving force behind Mark's contributions to the design industry.

Florian Seidl, based in Turin, brings extensive experience to the role of creative design manager at Lavazza.
He oversees Lavazza's corporate design, encompassing a wide array of products, from household coffee and espresso machines to professional office equipment and vending solutions, as well as tableware, accessories, and award-winning packaging. Prior to his role at Lavazza, he played a key role in expanding the Fiat 500 into a diverse range of models and contributing to numerous other projects now seen on the road.
Seidl's expertise in the design field has been instrumental in positioning Lavazza as a notable presence in the realm of modern Italian Design. His creative acumen, honed through years of experience, has not only contributed to Lavazza's remarkable designs but also ensured that the brand's distinctive approach and aesthetic are seamlessly communicated and celebrated both within the borders of Italy and on a global stage.

Shaly Guo is a distinguished designer based in New York, educated at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, known for her distinctively creative and visionary style. She holds the position of Design Director at Fame Fashion House, is a Co-founder of Varena de Bella, serves as an ETFashion Couture Enlightenment Instructor, and is in the midst of launching her personal brand.
Before venturing into her own fashion label, Shaly Guo, she gained valuable experience with globally acclaimed brands like Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Club Monaco, among others. Guo's fascination with vintage toys allows her to blur the lines between the tangible world and fantastical realms.
Guo's designs are celebrated for her inventive edge and boldness, and have been featured in prestigious events such as New York Fashion Week, Austin Fashion Week, and Chicago Fashion Week, in addition to appearing in international fashion publications like Vogue, Sanction, Soleil, and others.

Lichen Ding is an award-winning designer with experience spanning across multiple disciplines and industries, and is dabbled in architecture, interior space, the field of art installations, and service areas throughout culture, hotel, commercial, office, real estate and brand planning sectors.
He has a passion for art since childhood and has always aspired to design for spatial comfort and simplicity. His designs are well received by clients as a blend of inspiration and functionality. With solid knowledge in architecture and interior designs, he started his career working with land developers after getting professional qualifications in his early twenties.
Ding's unwavering tenacity in the realms of architectural and interior design stands as a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence. His portfolio is adorned with groundbreaking projects that showcase not only his creative prowess but also his dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation.

Bo Zhang , Artist, Designer and Curator . founded RE/CRAFT

Since 2023, RE/CRAFT has been committed to connecting sustainable materials, crafts, art, design, and the public. We work with designers, artists, and factories to showcase the greater value of design to society and the public. In recent years, RE/CRAFT projects have been showcased on international design stages including the NYCx Design Festival, Paris Design Week, and Milan Design Week.

Christina Kuo, currently serving as the creative director at Kuuo Living, brings several years of valuable experience from her work in the hospitality and residential design sectors.

Kuo possesses a versatile understanding of various design styles, enabling her to tailor her approach to suit the specific needs of each project. Her creative acumen has allowed her to skillfully engage in a diverse range of exciting ventures. She is wondrously adept at crafting bespoke design strategies that align precisely with the distinctive demands and complexities of each project, all while meeting the preferences of her clients flawlessly.

Her diverse international experience offers a unique perspective to her work, encompassing all facets of hospitality projects from concept to implementation. Her multilingual skills and extensive design background make her a versatile and seasoned talent, with expertise spanning luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retail, restaurants, and high-end residential spaces.

Xiaobi (Iris) Pan is a Lead Designer at Amazon and a globally recognized pioneer in Emerging Technology Design, known for shaping innovative, user-centered experiences at the forefront of digital innovation.

Currently a Lead Designer at Amazon, she leverages technologies such as Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence to reimagine the consumer experience with a focus on both business impact and social good. She is the creator of a sound-interactive installation experienced by over one million participants, an app dedicated to planting 100 million trees by 2025, and a portfolio of industry-leading, next-generation products and immersive experiences.

She is widely regarded as an expert in emerging technology design, bringing a rare blend of strategic vision, technical fluency, and creative leadership to her work. With a strong track record of translating complex innovations into intuitive, human-centered experiences, she continues to influence industry standards and inspire best practices across the global design and technology community.

Yafei Zhang, AIA, LEED AP, is a licensed New Jersey architect and founder of Oakdale Design Studio LLC with over a decade of experience leading residential, corporate interiors and mixed-use projects from concept through construction.

Yafei’s expertise spans the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and design development to construction and post-occupancy evaluation. She leads multidisciplinary consultant teams to deliver high-performance, sustainable interiors for leading corporate clients, including Meta, ensuring projects meet design, budget, and schedule goals.

Her notable projects include Miami Edgeworth, Meta 50 Hudson Yards, the Bund Fosun Center, and the University of Michigan Center for Innovation, reflecting her ability to turn complex requirements into cohesive, high-performing spaces. With strong expertise in Revit and BIM-driven workflows, Yafei drives project efficiency through data-informed coordination and delivery. She also serves as National Education Lead (North America) and Regional Lead (New York) for Women in BIM, advocating for leadership diversity and innovation across the AEC industry.

Jiayuan Wang, a renowned designer specializing in digital media and product design, is based in Seattle. As design director at VSDesign, her diverse portfolio spans healthcare, education, and technology, with key projects at the University of Washington, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and more.

Recognized for her dedication to design excellence and innovation, she has earned over ten prestigious international awards. Her acclaimed work has been widely exhibited, including at the 2024 Kent Summer Art Exhibit, Aquarium - 2024, and the Anacortes Arts Festival, and was featured as the cover design for Issue 27 of "Landscapes in Process" at the University of Pennsylvania.

Jiayuan brings valuable experience from her previous roles as a web UI/UX designer and consultant, specializing in interaction design for cloud-based restaurant management, sustainable e-commerce, and enterprise software. Prior to joining VSDesign, she honed her leadership skills as a lead designer at a startup.

Vargov Anton, the founder, CEO, and visionary designer behind the international brand Vargov®Design, renowned for its innovative approach to custom lighting and decorative compositions.

Vargov®Design is a global leader in designing, producing, and selling bespoke lighting and decorative compositions. His team crafts innovative lighting solutions that merge artistic vision with advanced technology, transforming spaces with unparalleled creativity. His company pushes boundaries by exploring innovative materials, forms, and technologies to craft truly distinctive products.

Vargov Anton's expertise in lighting and decorative design is evident through his role as a juror for multiple prestigious awards, including IAA’s very own MUSE Design Awards, NY Product Design Awards, Rome Design Awards, French Design Awards, TITAN Property Awards and Noble World Hotel Awards. His contributions have earned him widespread respect and recognition, showcasing the value of his work within the industry. His innovative approach continues to inspire and set benchmarks in design.

Xiyao Wang, a licensed architect and member of the AIA, is a distinguished professional known for his innovative and transformative contributions to the field of architecture. With a rich professional background spanning over eight years, Xiyao has honed his skills in some of the world's most prestigious architectural firms and institutions.

Currently serving as an Associate Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in New York, Xiyao leads the design, detailing, and documentation of cutting-edge façade designs for high-rise buildings. His expertise in parametric design tools and advanced 3D modeling techniques has been pivotal in conceptualizing and developing architectural strategies for both domestic and international projects. Xiyao's work is characterized by a deep understanding of environmental regulations, urban constraints, and client needs, which he seamlessly integrates into his design process.

His academic credentials are equally impressive, with a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University and a Master and Bachelor of Architecture from Tsinghua University.

Khaled Elnems, a born and Abu Dhabi-based R&D Innovations Q.C., possesses vast expertise as a jury member on the Committee for International Engineering Invention & Innovation Exhibitions.

Furthermore, he serves as a Co-founder and Head of Delegation for International Innovations Exhibitions in Egypt and the U.A.E, advocating for young inventors and representing them in local and international events.

With a strong focus on supporting women and young marginalized inventors, he actively fosters collaboration, helping them gain international recognition and success. Highly knowledgeable in his field, he is regarded as an expert in innovation development and mentorship, guiding emerging talents to realize their full potential on a global stage.

Moein Jalali, a Ph.D. in architecture, focuses on the development of pure philosophical concepts in architecture. He served as a Professor of Architectural Design in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the university. Moein Jalali's Palemos Villa was nominated for best "Concept Design" in the "Middle East Award 2014." He integrates philosophy and architecture in all designs, particularly evident in Palemos. Moein Jalali also utilizes hypertext and hypotext, emphasizing the intertextuality process in his designs.

Xianlong Deng is a nationally recognized architectural designer with a solid educational background and abundant professional experience. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Wuhan University of Technology and obtained a Master's degree in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

He has previously worked at internationally renowned architectural design firms such as AS+GG, Gensler, SOM, and Genesis AEC. At Gensler, he contributed to numerous large-scale architectural design projects, serving clients including Universal Studios, The Bally’s, and Vista Property, among other well-known companies and developers. Projects he was involved in include the Kinzie & Morgan mixed-use development, Grand Rapids mixed-use development, Los Angeles Universal Studios Security System planning, and a confidential casino hotel design. At Genesis, he contributed to laboratory and pharmaceutical factory projects, serving global pharmaceutical clients such as Merck, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. At AS+GG, Xianlong is fortunate to be a critical member of a world-leading company renowned for its design excellence and innovation.

With all the professional experience, Xianlong also has unique input on affordable housing, commercial space planning, and complex government office projects. His project works have been exhibited in Chicago Build Expo and XuPeichen Art Gallery, awarded in MUSE Design and IDPA Awards etc, entitled his original artistic and business contribution to the architectural field.

His exceptional achievements earned him the prestigious Platinum Insignia from the IAA Jury Committee, distinguishing him as part of the select few elite jury members recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the industry.

Xuechen Chen is a New York-based architect and multidisciplinary designer known for her innovative and dynamic approach to design. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Psychology from Pratt Institute and a Master of Advanced Architectural Design from the University of Pennsylvania. Over the years, Xuechen has worked in several international architecture firms, contributing to a wide range of large-scale projects, particularly in mixed-use and high-rise developments internationally. These experiences have honed her expertise in navigating the complexities of urban environments.

Her design philosophy is deeply influenced by the interplay of urban dynamics and social experiences, which she skillfully integrates into her work. As the founder of X.C Studio, Xuechen leads a practice that specializes in civic and cultural projects, embracing a personalized design approach that extends across architecture, interior design, and visual arts. Through X.C Studio, she strives to enrich the cultural and civic life of communities.

A biography will be available soon.

Vasil Velchev has amassed over a decade of experience as a graphic designer within global organizations. Initially, his foray into product design was more of a hobby, but as his creations gained international recognition and garnered awards, his confidence in his ideas grew.
Several years ago, He initiated the MAGMA project, a platform aimed at consolidating his diverse creations under one umbrella. The project's name is symbolic, representing the designer's belief that every original idea should remain in a constant "liquid" state, continuously evolving to explore its full potential and staying vibrant until it transforms into a tangible product.
Velchev also serves as a valued member of the Grand Jury for prestigious awards. His remarkable talent has earned him approximately 25 international awards across various categories, with a primary focus on furniture design, recognized by design awards worldwide.

Zhou Yi graduated from Nanjing University and has over a decade of in-depth experience in the design industry. After gaining extensive international work experience and pursuing advanced studies abroad, Ms. Zhou chose to return to her hometown of Jiangyin and founded Dayi Design. She focuses on exploring the relationship between people and space in Jiangyin — a city rich in historical heritage and unique geographical context. With a modern perspective, she is committed to interpreting the essence of local culture and connecting with younger generations through innovative visual language.

With her distinctive female perspective, deep understanding of local design language, and a creative approach that blends surrealism, Zhou Yi’s work has received widespread acclaim. Despite the relatively short time since founding DAYI Design, she has successfully led numerous high-quality design projects, showcasing exceptional independent thinking and creativity. She has quickly emerged as a prominent designer in the Jiangyin region.

Xin Wei is the Founder and Design Director of the DUDC Design Center, the Founder of the UXGO Conference, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Interaction Experience Design Professional Committee of Zhejiang Province, and a Board Member of UXPA (China), East China Chapter.

Previously, he contributed to the design of large-scale digital products at Alibaba Group and DiDi Global, serving millions of users. His work centers on creating meaningful, human-centered experiences by integrating design strategy, interaction design, and visual communication. Drawing on experience across industry, education, and professional organizations, he actively advances user-centered design practices and fosters innovation within the design community.

He is highly regarded for his expertise and excellence in user experience and interface design, consistently delivering thoughtful, impactful solutions that elevate both user satisfaction and business outcomes. His ability to bridge creative vision with practical execution ensures ideas are transformed into scalable, real-world results.

Vonj Tingson, serving as the president and chief campaigns officer of PAGEONE, heads a globally recognized group of public relations companies that have garnered numerous accolades and awards.
As President and Chief Campaigns Officer at PAGEONE, Tingson plays a pivotal role in steering the strategic direction of a collection of globally acclaimed public relations companies. His leadership is integral in driving innovative and successful campaigns, earning the group multiple prestigious awards and recognitions. In his role, Tingson exemplifies a blend of visionary leadership and expert campaign management, which has significantly contributed to the group's notable achievements in the public relations industry.
His dedication in his leadership role at PAGEONE is evident in his relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in public relations. His passion for crafting impactful campaigns and strategies has not only led the group to earn global accolades but also set new standards in the industry.