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Luiz Andrade (2009), (a.k.a. Guto), was born and in the Rio de Janeiro area of Brazil. Guto studied Architecture and Urban Design under the tutelage of a series of hard-core modernists. He worked in one of Brazil’s most reputable architecture and design offices, morphing into a designer developing identity systems, packaging, and environments for global brands such as The CocaCola, FIFA, and Carrefour. Guto returned to school to explore graphic design (MA Visual Communications Design, Purdue University). Andrade headed the Global Brand design Team at Motorola USA, the group responsible for the visual look of the brand and it’s expressions at retail, advertising, events and internal communications. Recently he was Creative Director Sony Global Brand Experience. Today he is Creative Director Global Environment for Under Armour.
Sebastian Bergne (2013), British Industrial designer Sebastian Bergne is renown for making everyday objects special with his essential and human approach to design. Sebastian’s versatility allows him and his team to work in different ways. As an external Industrial design facility to international brands, as a designer and supplier of bespoke objects for restaurants, retailers and individuals or even as producer of his growing collection of personal editions. Having graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1990, he founded his studio in the same year. His achievements have since been widely recognised with international design awards, frequent publication, exhibitions and inclusion in museum collections such as The Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Design Museum (London). His wealth of experience makes him sought after as a curator, lecturer and commentator on design.
Iker Gil [2023], is the founder of MAS Studio, the founder and editor in chief of the nonprofit MAS Context, and the executive director of the SOM Foundation. He has edited or coedited several books, including Radical Logic: On the Work of Ensamble Studio and Shanghai Transforming. He has curated multiple exhibitions, including Nocturnal Landscapes, Poured Architecture: Sergio Prego on Miguel Fisac, and Alternative Scenarios for Chicago, part of the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial. Iker was cocurator of Exhibit Columbus 2020–2021 and associate curator of the US Pavilion for the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. He has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Escola da Cidade (São Paulo). Iker has been selected as one of “Fifty Under Fifty: Innovators of the 21st Century” by a jury composed by Stanley Tigerman, Jeanne Gang, Qingyun Ma, and Marion Weiss, named New Progressive by Architect Magazine, and included in the Hall of Fame in Newcity’s annual Design 50.
Helyn Goldenberg (2004), Chairman of Sotheby’s Midwest and Midwest Fine Arts Director. Goldenberg, a graduate of Northwestern University and the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, has a long involvement with the Chicago art world and a specialized knowledge of Contemporary art. She has been associated with the Museum of Contemporary Art since its inception, developing the education program and serving on the Women’s Board as well as the Board of Trustees.
Nicolae Halmagi [2012], design thinker, born in Romania, educated in Germany, living in Detroit. In 1993, he opened The Modern Object, and 2001, The Modern Object–Casa, two of the first modern product design stores in the US. A career highlight is the Omnilife soccer stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, inaugurated in 2010. Nicolae was instrumental recommending concept architects Jean Marie Massaud & Daniel Pouzet, and AoR VFO Architects, site location, and programming. The Omnilife is considered one of the first bio-ethical superstructures in the world. More recently he proposed to the City of Chicago that the city vie for the Design City of the World competition. The city put together a bid only to change their mind and submit a bid for the 2016 Olympics. Nicolae taught at The Ohio State University and Columbus College of Art and Design a course entitled: “Design Thinking”— evolving from just shaping and styling to a new problem-solving form. “Design Thinking, when fully exploited, is part of the foundation for all forms.
of innovation.”
Ron Kovach (2003), designer/writer/educator. Kovach is past president, Architecture & Design Society, The Art Institute of Chicago, and AIGA Chicago Chapter. He’s past chair, 27 Chicago Designers; co-chaired STA’s Trademark USA2, and chaired STA’s Corporate Identity Conference and AIGA’s Communication Graphics traveling exhibit. Kovach was also vice president design, Mobium Corporation for Design and Communication. His work can be found in the collections of the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, the Smithsonian, and MoMA.He has a product design degree from Purdue University. Kovach is currently editor DesignApplause, an adjunct professor ( graphic design ) at Columbia College Chicago and founder, KDC Design.
Steve Liska [2023], founder and president of Liska Associates. Currently, we continue to work with The Pritzker Architecture Prize, The University of Chicago, the Department of State, Marshfield Funds, University of Vermont Health Network, AltusWorks, RATIO Architects, The Chicago Community Trust, PEAK Grantmaking, UrbanWorks, Brininstool + Lynch and Almost Home Kids. Other clients include: Hines, Baccarat, Equity Commonweath, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Goettsch Partners, Gary Lee, Domu, American Dental Association, The Goodman Theatre, The Art Institute of Chicago, Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, Metropolitan Planning Council, Erikson Institute, Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Make a Better Place.
Richard Wright (2009), founder and president of Wright auction in Chicago. Since its first sale in 2000, Wright has grown to be the defining auction house in the field of Modern Design. Richard has 22 years of experience in handling and documenting 20th century works. Sharing his expertise, Wright has published several books and monographs in addition to over 50 award-winning auction catalogs on the subject. Beyond modern objects, Wright has pioneered the sale of architecture as design and has heralded contemporary works, commissioning prominent designers such as Arik Levy, Martino Gamper and Ron Gilad to bring unique exhibitions to Wright’s 40,000 square foot facility in the West Loop of Chicago.
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[ in memory of ]
1928 – 2018 Robert Vogele (2004), designer, founded VSA Partners and RVI Corporation, both internationally recognized design firms. Vogele was past president of the Society of Typographic Arts (STA); board of director, treasurer, and chair, International Sculptor Center; and vice president, Icograda. Vogele was also a prominent collector of sculpture and folk art. Vogele consulted creative endeavors including being an inspiration and founding advisor for DesignApplause (2004). Awarded the 2011 AIGA Medal for sustained contribution to design excellence and the development of the profession.
1952 – 2015 Phil Patton (2011), writes regularly for The New York Times on design and on the faculty, School of Visual Arts Design Criticism program. He has been a contributing editor at Departures, Esquire, and I.D. Magazine, a contributing writer at Wired. He originated the “Public Eye” column for The New York Times Home section. His books include: Made in USA: The Secret Histories of the Things That Made America (Grove-Weidenfeld, 1992), named a New York Times notable book of the year; Bug: The Strange Mutations of the World’s Most Famous Automobile (Simon & Schuster, 2002); Michael Graves Designs: The Art of the Everyday Object (Melcher, 2004); and Dreamland: Travels Inside the Secret World of Roswell and Area 51 (Villard, 1998). He’s written for Art in America, ARTnews, Harper’s Bazaar, The New Republic, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, Smithsonian and Vogue. He was Editorial Consultant for Guggenheim Museum’s “Motorcycle” show (1998) and Consulting Curator for MoMA “Different Roads” exhibition, (1999). He was consultant and contributor for “On the Job: Design and the American Office” at the National Building Museum in Washington (2000) and guest curator at the Museum of the City of New York’s “Cars, Culture and the City.”