Derrick is a designer, technologist, and artist. He currently works at the New York Times, working on the paper’s storytelling system and related projects. He previously worked for a number of ground-breaking digital book and media companies. His art practice explores computational systems humanity’s affect on the world around it. He has two cats, Bug and Pancake.
Carly Ayres is a writer, creative director, and partner at HAWRAF, an interactive design & technology studio in New York. From sound-reactive identities to mirrored selfie posters, HAWRAF helps brands have better conversations. Prior to HAWRAF, Carly worked humanizing AI and evolving the Google logo. She’s given voices to Fortune 500 companies & chatbots alike and writes on design and ethics.
Sabrina Hall is an interdisciplinary art director with a love for storytelling and editorial content. She is currently an Interactive Art Director for Scholastic. With a design career spanning over ten years, she has done work for companies of all sizes including Avon, 1stdibs, Family Fun, Parents Magazine, Randa Accessories, Dean & Deluca and more. Sabrina graduated from SVA with a BFA in Graphic Design, and is a continual learner with classes in UX/UI, Accessibility Design, Product Design and Diversity & Inclusion.
After hours Sabrina serves as co-director of AIGA NY’s Mentoring program. She is passionate about creating opportunities and advocating for diversity within the field of design. Sabrina writes about mentoring, and frequently visits classrooms to speak about design.
Nicole He is a programmer and artist based in Brooklyn, New York. Her recent work is focused on unusual uses of voice technology, and her day job is making experiments as a freelance creative technologist at Google Creative Lab. She is also an adjunct faculty member at ITP at NYU, where she received her Master's degree.
Kelsey is the Founder & CEO of NY-based startup Paloma, working with e-com businesses to help customers shop on messaging channels. She does everything from sales to product to marketing design, and in her spare time likes to dance and go to the pool. She got her BFA in graphic design at GMU in 2011, and since then has designed and art directed at advertising agencies, led product design for multiple startups, went through Y Combinator in Summer 2015, built open source software to help people call Congress, and was most recently named in Forbes 30 Under 30.
Marie is a Brooklyn-based Senior User Experience Researcher, queer tech industry worker, and colored pen aficionado who loves to get things done. Previously at IAC Applications, they've just joined the team at Stash Invest. Marie also runs If You Want It, a 501(c)(3) that supports the fight for gender self-determination and body sovereignty through community building, retail sales, events and charitable giveaways.
Liz Wells is a user experience designer based in Brooklyn, New York. She currently works at Stink Studios, where she is responsible for all phases of the UX process, from concepting and information architecture to wireframing and prototyping. While at Stink Studios, Liz has created products and experiences for a wide range of brands in music, automotive, technology, fashion, media, and nonprofit. Liz received her BFA in Graphic Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2015. She has a passion for raising the voices of women and non-binary people, which is why she co-founded Desk Lunch, a newsletter for people in the minority to share personal stories of what it's like to work in the creative industry. She publishes a new issue of Desk Lunch weekly.
Kevin Zweerink is a senior product designer at The New York Times. Previously, he has been a designer-in-residence at Fikra Studio, taught in the design program at Maryland Institute College of Art, and freelanced as a designer and developer for various clients.