Aya is a designer, and artist from Tokyo, Japan, based in NYC, sometime Europe. Her work was featured by Vogue Magazine UK, Maison&Objet Paris, New York Times, IDEAT, TL mag, Domus, AIGA Eyes on Design, Adobe creative jams and more. She was selected one of four new designers 2017 in Salone del mobile Satelite Milan design week '17 by Luxos Magazine. From ages 3 to 18 she studied classical violin; this early and extensive study of music continues to be a big influence on her process. Her work was a finalist for addition to the permanent collection of the Cranbrook Art Museum and the Stedelijk Museum. Winner of  “Best new talent designer '2016” at the DMY Berlin International Design Festival. Silver medal at A'Design Award 2017. You can find her projects in several countries such as: Tokyo Japan, Eindhoven Netherlans, Berlin Germany, Paris France, Milan Italy, Oslo Norway, Sweden, and NYC, Boston, Chicago in USA.

Brooklyn-based designer Dean Roper creates objects for the “betterment" of daily life- drawing inspiration from junk food, popular culture, drugs, memes, novelty bongs at head shops, naive outsider art, sports, fashion, and growing up.

Writer

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.

Leta Sobierajski is an independent designer and art director based in New York City combining traditional graphic design elements with photography, art, and styling to create utterly unique visuals. Her work is incredibly diverse, ranging from conventional identities to brilliantly bizarre compositions. As of October 2016, Leta began a design studio with her husband and collaborator, Wade Jeffree, in which they focus their unusual eye on projects ranging from branding, art direction, installation, to video. She studied graphic design at Purchase College and has been working independently since 2013. Her client list includes Adobe, Bloomberg Businessweek, D.S. & Durga, Google, Gucci, IBM, The New York Times, Refinery 29, Renault, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, Target, Tate Modern, and UNIQLO among many others. She has been recognized as an Art Directors Club Young Guns 15 recipient as well as Print magazine’s New Visual Artist, and has given talks at conferences all over the world including North America, South America, Europe, and Australia.