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.

I am pursuing hospitality concepts that are deeply involved in the local scenes and that serve as focal points for entire neighborhoods; concepts that become not just places to stay, but gateways to communities. I am committed to reshape the way people think about hospitality by exploring experiences that stand for a cause and immerse people in meaningful moments. Head of Innovation at Design Hotels and Member of Further, narratum and NeueHouse.

Emma Brennan is a multi-disciplinary designer at frog. She investigates and prototypes with unique mediums to explore how they can produce new forms of communication and systems. Her work has ranged from designing technical data visualization tools to running workshops that support patients with postpartum depression. She's contributed to hybrid experiences, strategy, and product design for companies such as eBay, Data & Society, JPMorgan Chase, and AT&T. Previously, she built a design practice within the U.S. Census Bureau’s Innovation Lab. As a UX designer & Civic Digital Fellow, she helped develop programs, digital products and community engagement to ensure government services meet the needs of the public.

Hilary Greenbaum is a New York-based graphic designer and design writer. Currently a staff designer and columnist at The New York Times Magazine, she studied design at the California Institute of the Arts (MFA 2006) and Carnegie Mellon University (BFA 2001). Her work has been recognized by the Society of Publication Designers, the Type Directors Club, the Art Directors Club, the AIGA, the Society for News Design and the Output Foundation.

Mirabella, a long time writer, visual artist and filmmaker, is currently completing her thesis years in the graduate department at The Tisch School of the Arts, where she is a Dean's Fellow. Mirabella has made various short films, and has screened at: The Catskills Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Picture Farm Film Festival', Festival International Signes De Nuit, Palm Beach International Film Festival, The New Orleans Film Festival, The Montana Film Festival, and the First Run Film Festival. She was singularly nominated out of her class by the TISCH Graduate faculty for a Princess Grace Award, and recently won the Wasserman Fox Writing Award for Best Screenplay. She was recently accepted as a 2017 Marcie Bloom Fellow. Mirabella is currently in development on a television show, feature film, and new shorts.