Michael is a designer who has worked in New York since 2000. After leaving behind the bayous of Louisiana for NYC he received a masters degree in architecture from Columbia University. After school he began teaching and started SOFTlab, a design studio that is a unique blend of designers, artists, architects and educators who approach every project from a fresh perspective to create rich spatial, graphic, interactive and visual experiences. By mixing research, creativity and technology with a strong desire to make working fun, SOFTlab attempts to create new and unique experiences.

Xinyi Shao is a visual designer based in Brooklyn, NY, specializing in brand identity, editorial design and research. Her work has been recognized and awarded by Core77 Awards, TDC, Graphis Awards, Communication Arts Awards, Creative Communication Awards, IDA Design Awards. Influenced by her former finance background, her emphasis on reasoning and precision has made her value research and process, which brings originality and depth to her work. Within a root in typography and interests in technology, she explores new ways of making according to the rapidly changing world and media environment. She holds an MFA in graphic design from ArtCenter College of Design and a BS from Southern University of Science and Technology.

Zoë Williams creates otherworldly creatures that are inspired by dreams, visions, and the collective unconscious. Born in 1983 in New Orleans, LA, Zoë Williams holds a BA in Fine Art from the University of New Orleans and a Certificate in Fiber Art from the University of Washington. Her work in needle felted wool has been exhibited in galleries around the world. She currently lives and works in New York City. Portrait photo by Walt Cessna.

Joan Wong is a designer that creates visual responses to narratives. She has designed book covers for Penguin, Random House, Alfred A. Knopf, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New Directions, Simon and Schuster, and Harper Collins. She is also a frequent collaborator with the New York Times, creating spot illustrations for their articles. In 2018, she curated and illustrated a collection of online stories about “lives that could have been” called “Sister Life.”

Clémence Polès is a New York-based creative strategist & marketer. Born in the south of France and raised in Dubai, she graduated from King's College London with a Masters in International Marketing. Prior to consulting, Clemence was leading the marketing efforts and digital content of tech start-up, Splacer. Since, she has worked with clients such as Sonos, West Elm, Soho House, Casper, Canal Street Market and more. She is also the creative mind and photographer behind Passerbuys, a website built around real recommendations of the women that pass us by, gaining press from the likes of Time Out, Refinery29, Sight Unseen & more.