Ross Lovegrove

Ross Lovegrove is an acclaimed industrial designer, renowned for his innovative approach to organic design and sustainability. Born on July 16, 1958, in Cardiff, Wales, Lovegrove studied industrial design at Manchester Polytechnic and later earned his Master of Design from the Royal College of Art in London. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with some of the world’s leading brands, including Sony, Apple, Kartell, and Vitra.

Lovegrove’s work is characterized by its fluid, sculptural forms and his pioneering use of advanced materials and technologies. His designs often draw inspiration from the natural world, resulting in products that are both aesthetically captivating and environmentally conscious. Among his notable projects are the iconic Go chair, the Biophilia Collection for Vondom, and the Solar Tree urban lighting installation.

A visionary in the field of design, Lovegrove’s contributions extend beyond product creation to encompass architecture and art. Through his unique blend of art, science, and nature, Ross Lovegrove continues to shape the future of design with a profound emphasis on sustainability and innovation.

Michel Rojkind

Mariana Cabugueira

Founder of Mariana Cabugueira Studios, an Architecture and Design Studio that hybridized the practice of Architectural design for physical and digital environments.

Mariana is an Architect with a Master in Architecture and Urbanism from the school FAL in Lisbon and the Politecnico di Milano; and an Architectural Designer with a master in Architectural Design Research from the AA-DRL school in London. 

In 2017 Mariana joined Zaha Hadid Architects after graduating from the AA School. As a Senior Architect she was part of the Competition Cluster for 5 years and the architectural designer of winning projects such as Navi Mumbai Airport and the Tower C in Shenzhen. In 2022 Mariana accepted the role as Lead Architect at Wilder World, directing the Architecture Department that is responsible for the digital-build of the metaverse City, Wiami. In 2023 Mariana held the role of Art Director of Wilder World until founding her own Practice, Mariana Cabugueira Studios, a teaching and practice platform for evolutionary architecture and digital design.

Hanaa Dahy

Hanaa Dahy is an architect, researcher, and educator known for her pioneering work in sustainable architecture and innovative material development. Born in Egypt, Dahy earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture and Urban Planning from Cairo University. She later pursued a Ph.D. in Building Technology at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, where she is currently an Assistant Professor and leads the BioMat group at the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design.

Dahy’s research focuses on the integration of bio-based materials and digital fabrication techniques in architectural practice. Her work aims to reduce the environmental impact of construction through the use of renewable resources and cutting-edge technologies. She has developed several groundbreaking materials, including bioplastics and biocomposites, that offer sustainable alternatives to conventional building materials.

In addition to her academic and research pursuits, Dahy has contributed to numerous international projects and exhibitions, showcasing her innovative designs and sustainable solutions. Hanaa Dahy’s visionary approach to sustainable architecture and material innovation continues to influence and inspire the field of architecture globally.

Reza Daneshmir and Catherine Spiridonoff (Fluid Motion Architects)

Reza Daneshmir and Catherine Spiridonoff are the co-founders of Fluid Motion Architects, an architectural practice known for its contemporary and innovative design solutions. Based in Tehran, Iran, their firm has international recognition for its dynamic approach to architecture, blending cutting-edge technology with cultural and environmental sensitivity.

Reza Daneshmir, born in Tehran, studied architecture at the University of Tehran, where he developed a keen interest in modernist principles and their application in the context of Iranian culture. Catherine Spiridonoff, originally from Canada, studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal, bringing a diverse perspective to their collaborative work. Together, they established Fluid Motion Architects with the vision of creating spaces that are both functional and inspiring.

Memo Akten

Memo Akten is a multi-disciplinary artist, musician, and researcher from Istanbul, Turkey, currently based in Los Angeles. He creates Speculative Simulations and Data Dramatizations investigating the intricacies of human-machine entanglements, and the tensions between ecology, technology, science, and spirituality. For more than a decade his work has been exploring Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and our Collective Consciousness as scraped by the Internet, to reflect on the human condition; studying intelligence in nature, intelligence in machines, perception, consciousness, neuroscience, fundamental physics, ritual and religion. He writes code and uses algorithmic / data-driven design and aesthetics to create moving images, experimental animations, sounds, large-scale responsive installations, and performances. He received his Ph.D. from the Goldsmiths University of London, specializing in creative applications of Artificial Intelligence (Deep Neural Networks) with Meaningful Human Control, and in this field, he is considered one of the world’s leading pioneers. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Computational Art at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego). Akten is a frequent keynote speaker on topics involving art, science, technology, and culture.

Andrej Radman

Andrej Radman is an architectural theorist and educator, renowned for his contributions to the fields of architecture and philosophy. Originally from Croatia, Radman pursued his studies in architecture at the University of Zagreb before earning his Ph.D. at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. He is currently an Associate Professor of Architecture Philosophy and Theory at TU Delft, where he is also a core member of the Design and Research Laboratory.

Radman’s research interests lie at the intersection of architecture, philosophy, and the sciences, with a particular focus on the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. He explores concepts such as affect, materialism, and posthumanism, applying these theories to architectural practice and education. His work challenges traditional boundaries and encourages innovative thinking in the design process.