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Thursday, September 4, 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Jacob Kleinman Phillips

TouchPoint

“How to Lead Before You Feel Ready (Even When You’re Scared)”

If you’re waiting to feel ready before you start… this talk is for you. Jacob pulls back the curtain on his own creative path and the fears, failures, and breakthroughs that shaped it. You’ll learn how to lead with conviction (even when you’re scared), how to show up before it’s perfect, and how to use the RALLY™ Method to turn clarity into creative momentum. Because leadership isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about showing up anyway 

Jacob Kleinman Phillips is a Brand Design Strategist, storyteller, and the Founder of Touchpoint Design – where he helps purpose-driven leaders build brands people rally around and ignite movements that matter. His signature framework, the RALLY™ Method, blends clarity, connection, and purpose-led leadership into a system that sparks real momentum. With a degree in Industrial Design from SCAD and nearly a decade of experience across brand strategy, web design, nonprofit leadership, and global education, Jacob is known for pulling out the clarity, confidence, and character behind every mission. From rallying start-ups to repositioning heart-led businesses, he helps leaders find their voice and build brands people don’t just notice, but believe in. 

Fun fact? Can parallel park anything, fluent in human, and has a plant species named after him and his twin sister Jacayna (Jacob + Shayna).

Thursday, September 11, 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Doug Patton

Patton Design

Conquering the Chaos of Creativity

Doug Patton is a consummate inventor whose work has spanned over four decades, his efforts creating over 300 products in over 20 international market categories, receiving over 150 patents and international design awards. Doug frequently works with companies like Apple, Microsoft, Disney, IBM, and Mercedes-Benz, and has made it his personal mission to inspire others to live more authentic lives by sharing his unique, creative problem-solving process. Doug’s forthcoming book, Conquering the Chaos of Creativity, is a result of how he approaches the process of creative problem-solving in his decades of inventing. It is his hope that the book inspires readers to take their own path by giving them the tools they need to creative problem-solve in their own lives.

Thursday, September 18, 7:00

Zoom

Meghan Preiss

OneMain Financial

Service Design Experience

Meghan Preiss is a passionate design strategy leader working at the intersection of innovation and business, with a focus on creating transformative, human-centered experiences. At Delta Air Lines, she leads design strategy initiatives that enhance the customer journey—drawing on a diverse background with global brands such as IBM, LEGO, and Ford Motor Company. Her career spans industries and disciplines, from pioneering sustainable product innovations with LEGO to earning multiple pending patents and Top Achiever recognition at Ford. 

Meghan’s ability to bridge digital and physical experiences has consistently elevated everyday moments for users around the world. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Meghan is committed to democratizing knowledge and empowering her teams. She brings a unique combination of creative vision and strategic thinking to every challenge—helping shape the future of products, services, and customer experience.

Thursday, September 25 , 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Andrew Moir

Head of Department Q-Branch

Speculative Design

Andrew Moir is the Head of Department Q‑Branch (Innovation & Mobility) at Hyundai Design North America. After nearly two decades leading interior design for Hyundai and Kia vehicles—including award-winning models like the Palisade, STAR-IA, and Santa Fe—Moir now focuses on future-forward mobility innovation, speculative interiors, and next-generation user experience. 

Drawing from his roots in transportation design at the College for Creative Studies, Moir brings a unique blend of creative vision and production-tested expertise. His work at Q‑Branch explores the intersection of technology, comfort, and sustainable design—developing flexible spaces and intelligent systems for the vehicles of tomorrow.

With a track record of shaping Hyundai’s interior identity and a passion for pushing boundaries, Moir is helping redefine how we interact with mobility—designing experiences that are intuitive, human-centered, and ready for the future.

Thursday, October 2, 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Oya Ozmen

IKEA

Re-inventing the Design Expertise

With over 20 years of experience in retail, design and business development, Oya is a seasoned commercial leader with a passion for entrepreneurship and a deep-rooted connection to design principles as a base for finding solutions to every business problem. Starting out as an architect and also founding a streetwear brand early on in her career, Oya quickly transitioned into retail leadership before finding a long-term home at IKEA as a marriage of both areas of expertise. Over the past 18 years, Oya has held diverse leadership roles across three countries, partnering with more, contributing to the opening of multiple high-performing stores and leading strategic initiatives in both operational and expansion contexts. The whole idea was utilizing the creative career by adding multiple layers of complexity into it working with different cultures, in different areas of expertise.

Currently serving as a Los Angeles VAPS Area Commercial / Project Manager in the U.S., Oya brings a global perspective, having collaborated with IKEA teams across Europe and North America. Known for a calm and consistent leadership style, Oya excels in building high-performing teams, driving commercial growth, and shaping innovative customer meeting points. With a strong belief in simplicity, meaningful differentiation, and leading by example, Oya is committed to empowering co-workers and delivering exceptional retail experiences.

Thursday, October 9, 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Nancy Keatinge

Felderman Keatinge + Associates

Human Spaces

With over 30 years in design leadership, Nancy Keatinge co-founded and leads Felderman Keatinge + Associates, a multidisciplinary design practice celebrated for its total-design approach—spanning interiors, architecture, graphics, and product development. Her diverse portfolio includes high-profile clients such as Legendary Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency, Walt Disney Company, MTV Networks, Universal Music Group, and Samsung. FKA’s work has earned international recognition, including exhibition in MoMA and the Whitney Museum, and features in prestigious publications like The New York Times, Newsweek, Forbes, and Interior Design Magazine.

Nancy was inducted into the IIDA’s College of Fellows (FIIDA) in 2016, acknowledging her lasting impact on the interior design profession. Known for her humanistic and future-forward design philosophy, she champions environments as living extensions of people—prioritizing flow, wellbeing, and innovation. Recent work includes the launch of NOMAD, a cross-platform environmental solution by FKA and PeopleSpace that integrates light, acoustics, art, and nature to revitalize spaces and enrich human experience.

Thursday, October 16, 7:00

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Thursday, October 30, 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Thomas Kurniady

TK7

Sports Entertainment Design

Thomas Kurniady is an Emmy® Award-winning Creative Director with deep roots in the world of sports and entertainment. With more than 15 years of experience, he has led bold, multi-platform campaigns for top-tier brands including the NFL, TNT Sports, the NBA’s LA Clippers, Spectrum SportsNet for the Lakers, and SportsNet LA for the Dodgers, Nike, Toyota, Walmart, Apple, Saatchi & Saatchi, and major Hollywood studios.

His creative expertise spans integrated marketing, graphic design, film production, and storytelling, delivering impactful work across global stages such as the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, NBA Finals, NCAA Final Four, and blockbuster film releases. Before his career behind the camera, Thomas was a professional basketball player in the Indonesian Basketball League, helping lead Hadtex PanAsia Bandung to four straight Finals, two championships, and earning Finals MVP honors. 

Following his playing career, Thomas worked alongside the legendary Kobe Bryant at his youth basketball academy, serving as both coach and digital specialist. That role deepened his passion for inspiring the next generation through creativity and mentorship. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television, Computer Arts Motion Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising, Graphic Design from the Bandung Institute of Technology. Today, Thomas continues to consult across sports, culture, and entertainment while building his brand, TK7, a reflection of his vision to merge creativity, purpose, and legacy. His journey from athlete to artist is a powerful testament to the impact of discipline, storytelling, and creative leadership.

Thursday, November 13, 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Paxton Yue

Creative Polymath

Science of Design

Hi,

I’m Paxton Yue. I’m an explorer, creative polymath, and unapologetic supernerd. I chase “what ifs” for a living and “why nots” just for fun. I write with pictures, sketch with words, and curate chaos. I thrive at the intersection of science, design, and human connection—and for over two decades, I’ve worn an eclectic collection of creative hats: executive creative director, copywriter, art director, strategist, producer, photographer, illustrator, researcher, educator… even stunt double (yes, really). I’ve played ball at big agencies, chess with boutique shops, and parkour in-house—creating global campaigns, building immersive brand worlds, and leading teams across mediums, industries, and time zones. My journey has been a master class in creative collaboration at top shops like Chiat\Day, Designory, Deutsch, Left Field Labs, and Project Worldwide, and with iconic brands including Adobe, Disney, Nissan, PlayStation, and Visa. Along the way, I’ve worked with brilliant misfits, unorthodox allies, and the creatively fearless—in pursuit of connecting the unexpected. Curiosity has always been my compass, and I never travel light.

Thursday, April 10, 7:00pm

MD��ý��� Department of Design, Duncan Anderson Gallery

Benjamin Dadacay

Innovation Lab

Medical Design/Engineering

Benjamin Dadacay is a Senior Design Engineer specializing in medical hardgoods and softgoods, with expertise in industrial and human-centered design. His portfolio includes therapeutic prosthetics and wearable products that merge functionality, ergonomics, and aesthetic clarity for critical-use environments. An alum of the industrial design program at California State University, Long Beach, Benjamin has developed breakthrough concepts such as the Thera therapeutic prosthetic, the Serene lifestyle collection, and the Innovation Lab Elevate series. His work emphasizes user-focused problem solving, comfort-driven engineering, and market-ready product strategies. With a multidisciplinary background spanning psychology, innovation pipeline development, and design thinking, Benjamin excels at guiding cross-functional teams from concept to prototype to deliver meaningful, real-world impact.