Aurel Aebi, born in Oberdiessbach, Switzerland, in 1966, is an architect, designer, and co-founder of atelier oï. Trained in architecture and interior design at the Athenaeum in Lausanne, he later received an honorary doctorate. Since founding atelier oï in 1991 with Armand Louis and Patrick Reymond, he has helped shape a transdisciplinary practice spanning architecture, interiors, product design, and scenography. Known for its philosophy “Form Follows Emotion,” the studio collaborates with international brands including Louis Vuitton, Foscarini, and Rimowa. Aurel Aebi also supports design education and humanitarian initiatives, reflecting his belief in creativity, teamwork, materials, and social impact through meaningful projects.
 
"At atelier oï, we think with our hands, allowing materials, gestures and dialogue to guide the creative process. Through collaboration, experimentation and Story-texture, we weave objects, spaces and emotions into meaningful narratives that connect people, cultures and disciplines." -- Aurel Aebi on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Catherine Gailloud

Andrea Anner is one half of AATB (with Thibault Brevet), an artist duo investigating human-machine interactions through robotics and industrial automation beyond factory settings. Their practice spans software, electronics, mechanical engineering, and precision machining. She is also co-founder of Kinematics, which builds robotic installations for brands and cultural institutions, and Superposition, a motion-control service for the film industry. AATB has exhibited at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, V&amp;A Dundee, Ars Electronica, the Venice Architecture Biennale, and the New Museum, held residencies at CERN and Atelier Luma, and received the 2021 Swiss Design Award. She lives and works in Zurich and Marseille.
 
"When robots leave the factory, what do they become? We treat industrial machines as collaborators rather than tools—not only as machines for precision, speed, and efficiency, but as instruments for experimentation and creative expression." -- Andrea Anner on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform 
 
Portrait ©AATB

Herding Wool is a collective founded in 2024 by designers Emma Casella (Switzerland), Alix Arto (Switzerland) and Yihan Zhang (the Chinese Mainland), with the support of Pro Helvetia.
 
The project explores wool and felt supply chains in the Chinese Mainland and Switzerland, investigates the anthropological significance of pastoral fibres, and addresses the undervaluation of diverse sheep breeds through the creation of a felt database.
 
Initially centred on felting techniques, Herding Wool combines material experimentation with public engagement through exhibitions and the publication of a research book.
 
The collective continues to collaborate on selected cross-cultural projects linking the practices and contexts of its members. While Yihan Zhang is pursuing wool research and development in the Chinese Mainland, Emma Casella and Alix Arto are strengthening the initiative's European dimension.
 
In 2025, Emma Casella and Alix Arto partnered with Nina Conrad from Fibershed DACH to establish a small Alpine wool library, strengthening links with industry stakeholders. In collaboration with the Interreg project AlpTextyles, the initiative expanded beyond felt to include industrial knitting, weaving and quilting. This collaboration now serves as a pilot project for the development of a future Swiss wool library.
 
The collective is also among the founding members of the Swiss Wool Federation, established in 2025. Alongside this engagement, Herding Wool organises workshops, delivers university and public lectures, and curates events that use its research as a catalyst for broader discussion.
 
Through research and collaborative projects, Herding Wool has built expertise spanning the entire wool value chain. Building on this expertise, the collective has begun collaborating with brands to design products that integrate native wool varieties.
 
"Dialogue is at the core of Herding Wool. We see design as a bridge connecting breeders, manufacturers, researchers, architects and brands to build new value chains around local wool. By combining research with practical implementation, collaboration becomes a tool to transform overlooked regional resources into meaningful design applications. This continuous exchange of knowledge, skills and perspectives drives innovation while strengthening local economies and supporting more transparent production systems. We believe that reconnecting people with materials, territories and production processes can challenge conventional practices and inspire a more responsible, regenerative and collaborative future for the textile and design industries." -- Alix Arto on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Nelly Rodriguez. Courtesy of Herding Wool

Thibault Brevet is one half of AATB (with Andrea Anner), an artist duo investigating human-machine interactions through robotics and industrial automation beyond factory settings. Their practice spans software, electronics, mechanical engineering, and precision machining. He is also co-founder of Kinematics, which builds robotic installations for brands and cultural institutions, and Superposition, a motion-control service for the film industry. AATB has exhibited at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, V&amp;A Dundee, Ars Electronica, the Venice Architecture Biennale, and the New Museum, held residencies at CERN and Atelier Luma, and received the 2021 Swiss Design Award. He lives and works in Zurich and Marseille.
 
"When robots leave the factory, what do they become? We treat industrial machines as collaborators rather than tools—not only as machines for precision, speed, and efficiency, but as instruments for experimentation and creative expression." -- Thibault Brevet on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©AATB

Alfonso Miguel Caballero started his collaboration with Herzog &amp; de Meuron in 2012 as the Project Manager for Jade Signature in Florida. After overseeing construction documentation in Miami, he returned to Basel in 2014 and began work on key coordination topics for the M+ cultural centre. Since then, Alfonso has been Project Manager for both the New North Zealand Hospital in Hillerød, Denmark, and UCSF Helen Diller Medical Centre in San Francisco. He has been an Associate since 2018. He graduated from the Architecture School of Madrid, UPM, in 2005.

Herding Wool is a collective founded in 2024 by designers Emma Casella (Switzerland), Alix Arto (Switzerland) and Yihan Zhang (the Chinese Mainland), with the support of Pro Helvetia.
 
The project explores wool and felt supply chains in the Chinese Mainland and Switzerland, investigates the anthropological significance of pastoral fibres, and addresses the undervaluation of diverse sheep breeds through the creation of a felt database.
 
Initially centred on felting techniques, Herding Wool combines material experimentation with public engagement through exhibitions and the publication of a research book.
 
The collective continues to collaborate on selected cross-cultural projects linking the practices and contexts of its members. While Yihan Zhang is pursuing wool research and development in the Chinese Mainland, Emma Casella and Alix Arto are strengthening the initiative's European dimension.
 
In 2025, Emma Casella and Alix Arto partnered with Nina Conrad from Fibershed DACH to establish a small Alpine wool library, strengthening links with industry stakeholders. In collaboration with the Interreg project AlpTextyles, the initiative expanded beyond felt to include industrial knitting, weaving and quilting. This collaboration now serves as a pilot project for the development of a future Swiss wool library.
 
The collective is also among the founding members of the Swiss Wool Federation, established in 2025. Alongside this engagement, Herding Wool organises workshops, delivers university and public lectures, and curates events that use its research as a catalyst for broader discussion.
 
Through research and collaborative projects, Herding Wool has built expertise spanning the entire wool value chain. Building on this expertise, the collective has begun collaborating with brands to design products that integrate native wool varieties.
 
"Dialogue is at the core of Herding Wool. We see design as a bridge connecting breeders, manufacturers, researchers, architects and brands to build new value chains around local wool. By combining research with practical implementation, collaboration becomes a tool to transform overlooked regional resources into meaningful design applications. This continuous exchange of knowledge, skills and perspectives drives innovation while strengthening local economies and supporting more transparent production systems. We believe that reconnecting people with materials, territories and production processes can challenge conventional practices and inspire a more responsible, regenerative and collaborative future for the textile and design industries." -- Emma Casella on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Nelly Rodriguez. Courtesy of Herding Wool

Mr Kinney Chan graduated from De Montfort University in the UK with a degree in Interior Design and holds a Bachelor of Arts. He has over 30 years of experience in interior design and project management. Mr Chan has worked for renowned design companies in Manchester, UK, such as Company Designer Limited, and in the United States with Dale Keller &amp; Associates, participating in numerous large-scale international interior design projects. He has also served as the president of the Hong Kong Interior Design Association, a director of the Hong Kong Design Centre, and an advisor to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). His works span hotels, bars, restaurants, residential homes, commercial shops, and corporate offices, earning numerous international awards. These accolades include the A’ Design Award from Italy, the German iF Communication Design Award, the JCD Design Award Silver Prize from Japan, the Interior Design Gold Key Award from the United States, the Best of Year Award by Interior Design magazine, the Hong Kong Top Ten Outstanding Designers, and the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards Grand Prize, establishing his influence globally.
 
"Dialogue challenges assumptions and unlocks new possibilities. Through collaboration across disciplines and cultures, design becomes a catalyst for innovation, transformation, and experiences that create lasting value." -- Kinney Chan on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

Mr Joe Cheng is the founder of Cheng Chung Design (CCD). He served as Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)’s first jury chair for the category of interior design, and the jury member of Frame Award for the category of hospitality design. He has also been honoured with numerous titles such as UN cultural ambassador, Chinese Design Person of the Year, member of Hall of Fame, Professor of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and so on. He is well-known in the field of international hotel interior design. CCD has won more than a hundred of top-notch international design awards including the "Gold Key Awards", which is the highest honor in the interior design industry. CCD is the first Chinese design company to win a full range of hotel design awards. CCD was ranked as #1 in TOP 10 Hospitality in US Interior Design Magazine in 2022. In addition, it has been named to the "Top 500 Asian Brands" in 2019 and 2020, and to the "China's 500 Most Valuable Brands Ranking" in 2020. It is the first and only design brand on both lists.
 
"Design begins with dialogue—between people, culture, and place. Through open collaboration and diverse perspectives, we transform ideas into meaningful spaces that inspire connection, enrich everyday life, and create lasting value beyond aesthetics." -- Joe Cheng on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

Enzo Enea is one of today's leading landscape architects and founder of Enea Landscape Architecture, with offices in Switzerland, Milan, New York and Miami.
 
For over three decades, he has designed award-winning landscapes around the world, collaborating with renowned architects and visionary clients on private estates, luxury hotels, cultural destinations and large-scale urban developments. His work is rooted in the genius loci of every site, creating landscapes that unite architecture, nature and people while leaving a lasting ecological and cultural legacy.
 
In 2010, he founded the Enea Tree Museum in Switzerland, celebrating exceptional trees as a living cultural legacy.
 
"Meaningful design begins with dialogue between people, nature and place. By understanding the genius loci of every site, we create beautiful, sustainable landscapes that foster biodiversity, enhance microclimates and strengthen the connection between people and place. Lasting transformation comes through collaboration, ecological responsibility and designing with future generations in mind." -- Enzo Enea on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Enea Landscape Architecture

Christian Haas is Creative Director at Raffinerie, a Zurich-based design agency. Curiosity is central to his work: every project is an opportunity to enter a new world and understand what matters to the people within it. He believes strong identities are not invented, but discovered. Combining strategic thinking with deep expertise in graphic design, he reveals the stories, character and potential already present beneath the surface. His work spans culture, business and public institutions, including SWISS, On, Schauspielhaus Zürich and the Solothurn Film Festival. He sees design as a transformative force that creates clarity, emotion and lasting connections.
 
"At Raffinerie, we don’t invent identities. We discover what is already there. Dialogue reveals character and untapped potential. When clients, audiences and collaborators bring different perspectives together, assumptions shift and innovation begins. Design gives these discoveries form, allowing identities – and the organisations behind them – to transform." -- Christian Haas on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Anne Morgensternf. Courtesy of Raffinerie

Prof Michael N. Hall received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Pasteur Institute (Paris, France) and the University of California, San Francisco. He joined the Biozentrum of the University of Basel (Switzerland) in 1987, where he is currently Professor and former Chair of Biochemistry. In 1991, Hall and colleagues discovered mTOR (mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) and subsequently elucidated its role as a central controller of cell growth. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and has received numerous awards, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Canada Gairdner Award, the Albert Lasker Award and, the Balzan Prize.
 
"A true discovery is finding the unknown, the unexpected, which cannot be planned or predicted. Curiosity-driven activity, without a fixed goal in mind, enables finding the unknown." -- Prof Michael N. Hall on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

Manuel Herz is an architect, researcher and founder of Manuel Herz Architekten in Basel, Switzerland. His award-winning work spans architecture, urbanism and exhibition design, exploring architecture through systems thinking and approaching the built environment not as isolated objects but as part of interconnected environmental, social and cultural systems. Recent projects include the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, the Babyn Yar Synagogue in Kyiv, and a hospital in Senegal. His books, including African Modernism and From Camp to City, extend this perspective, examining architecture as a driver and reflection of broader political, ecological and societal transformations.
 
"By rethinking metabolism, architecture establishes systems in which matter, energy, information, people, fauna and flora continuously interact. These interconnected cycles foster resilience, regeneration and
new forms of environmental, social and cultural value." -- Manuel Herz on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Manuel Herz Architects

Suyong Joh is a brand expert and the Founder of Magazine B. After majoring in design, he served as Co-CEO of Kakao Corporation. In 2011, he established JOH &amp; Company and launched Magazine B, evolving it into a global media platform distributed in over 40 countries and earning a Silver Lion at Cannes in 2013. Beyond media, he has driven iconic spatial innovation projects like Nest Hotel and Sounds Hannam. He believes a true brand is defined by its "philosophy", a mindset that captures the zeitgeist.
 
"Through Magazine B, we prove design is a continuous dialogue. For 15 years, our documentaries have explored the balance between brands and consumers. True transformation occurs when an ordinary idea connects with human empathy through a rigorous process, shifting the focus from consuming products to sharing meaningful philosophy." -- Suyong Joh on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Minhwa Maeng

As the first woman and youngest architect to lead Leigh &amp; Orange (L&amp;O) in its 150-year history, Ms Ivy Lee brings a quiet grace to the art of architecture and global urbanism. A Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) with First Class Honours from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), she blends rigour with intuition, guiding L&amp;O to accolades such as the 2023 ‘Green Building Leadership Pioneer Award’. Her influence extends across public service, from government committees to the Ocean Park Board. A devoted mentor and former Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited (HKGBC) and BEAM Society leader, she champions a resilient, humane, and sustainable future for the generations who follow.
 
"At L&amp;O, dialogue is the strategic force strengthening connection, driving collaborative innovation, and transforming diverse expertise into resilient, future-focused environments. By uniting technical precision with social responsibility, we convert shared intelligence into measurable impact — shaping human centric urbanism and turning collective insight into a catalyst for sustainable progress and industry defining breakthroughs." -- Ar Ivy S.W. Lee on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Leigh&amp;Orange Ltd

A graduate of the Paris and Rennes watchmaking schools, Morgan Maillard brings over 14 years of experience within the Richemont Group. He began his career in 2012 as a watchmaker for Cartier in London, before joining the workshops of the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture in 2014. Driven by a deep passion for his craft, he broadened his expertise through assignments in the Maison's boutiques in Singapore and Geneva. He later relocated to New York City, where he contributed to the opening of Vacheron Constantin's flagship boutique.
 
As a Specialist Watchmaker, he was responsible for the servicing of timepieces ranging from simple models to the most sophisticated complications. His technical expertise enabled him to work on the most complex mechanisms, while building a strong relationship with clients and supporting teams across North America and Mexico. Drawing on his in-depth knowledge of the Maison's history and savoir-faire, as well as his sharp understanding of international clients and the watch industry, Morgan was appointed Style and Heritage Expert in 2025 at the headquarters in Geneva.
 
Portrait ©Vacheron Constantin

Anna Marešová is a Czech product designer specialising in industrial design, product development and sustainable manufacturing. Rather than focusing solely on products, her work explores topics with a broader social impact and long-term relevance. She has gained recognition during her studies through a number of award-winning projects. Her master's thesis, Whoop·de·doo – Intimate Products for Women, attracted widespread public attention and led her to establish the Whoop·de·doo brand, which she continues to lead today. All products are designed and manufactured locally in the Czech Republic, with a strong emphasis on quality, longevity and responsible production. This hands-on experience enables her to approach every project comprehensively, with exceptional attention to detail, manufacturing processe s and the quality of the final product.
 
Another major focus of her work is public transport and mobility. Through Anna Marešová designers, she leads projects from the initial concept and engineering development to production. The studio's most notable projects include the T3 Coupé sightseeing tram, the new Petřín Funicular cars, for which the studio designed not only the vehicles themselves but also the project's visual identity, merchandise and other complementary design elements. The studio's latest project is the design of a new cabin for the Ještěd cable car. Anna's work has received numerous international awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, German Design Award, A' Design Award and BIG SEE Award. She sees design as a balance between function, technical precision, sustainability and timeless aesthetics.
 
"For me, design is never a solitary discipline. The best ideas emerge through dialogue between designers, engineers, manufacturers, clients and the people who ultimately use the product.
 
Whether I am developing intimate products for women or designing public transport systems, I work closely with manufacturers and technical specialists. Design does not end with a drawing, it evolves through prototyping, production and continuous collaboration.
 
I believe sustainable innovation is only possible when designers, industry and society work together. The best projects are those where different perspectives come together to create solutions that are meaningful, technically sound and built to last." -- Dr Anna Marešová on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Martin Tiso

Award-winning Swiss pastry chef Grégoire Michaud discovered his passion for baking at age 15 during an apprenticeship in his hometown of Verbier, Switzerland. His illustrious culinary journey has taken him from Switzerland to the U.S., the Maldives, Dublin and finally to Hong Kong, which he has called home for over two decades.
 
For 14 years, Michaud was a key figure in Hong Kong's fine-dining scene, including eight years as the Executive Pastry Chef at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. During his tenure, he oversaw the pastry programmes for its six restaurants including the Michelin-starred Caprice (3 stars) and Lung King Heen (3 stars). In 2013 driven by a desire to make artisanal bread accessible to everyone, he founded Bakehouse.
 
"Connection is at the heart of our hospitality at Bakehouse. By actively listening to guests, our team and collaborating with design partners, we transform dialogue into innovation, like discovering our signature Bakehouse Blue identity. By striving to be our best rather than worrying about competitors, we elevate the experience and hopefully, create positive change across the industry." -- Chef Grégoire Michaud on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Bakehouse

As an entrepreneur and design innovator, Alan Mok works on the future of analogue photography and the revival of vintage imaging. He is the CEO and Founder of RETO Production Limited (REINVENT TOGETHER), a Hong Kong-based camera manufacturer established in 2018, dedicated to making photography flourish in the modern era. Under his leadership, RETO successfully launched its flagship RETO3D stereoscopic film camera on Kickstarter and subsequently secured a global brand licensing partnership with the Eastman Kodak Company. Alan has led the birth of viral contemporary classics like the KODAK Charmera series.
 
"Connection and collaboration define RETO. By partnering globally, notably with Kodak, we bridge heritage with modern creativity. Dialogue with the photo community drives our innovation, transforming vintage mechanics into viral contemporary classics. This cross-generational conversation catalyses industry breakthroughs, proving that photography remains a powerful, evolving medium for positive cultural change." -- Alan Mok on Design in Dialogue Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©RETO Production Ltd

Prof Markus Venzin has served as CEO of EHL Group since September 2022. A Swiss national with extensive international experience, he combines strategic leadership with a strong track record in innovation and business transformation. He holds a PhD in Strategy and Organisation from the University of St. Gallen and previously served as Professor of Global Strategy and Dean of Innovation at Bocconi University. Markus is also a Founding Partner of Corporate Hangar, a venture builder supporting corporate innovation. An entrepreneur, academic, and advisor, he has founded technology startups and worked with multinational organisations across industries worldwide.
 
"At EHL, we design human experiences. Every interaction, every learning moment, is intentionally crafted through dialogue between students, faculty, and industry. As AI rapidly automates more of hospitality, human connection becomes the true differentiator. Dialogue is how we design meaningful experiences that technology can support and enhance but never replace." -- Prof Markus Venzin on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

Toby Ng is the Founder and Creative Director of Hong Kong-based Toby Ng Design, which he established in 2014. Specialising in brand identity and graphic design, Ng rigorously tackles design challenges with wit and aesthetically meaningful communication.
 
Recognised as a graphic designer of this generation, Ng is the winner of numerous prestigious awards both internationally and locally. His works were honoured with some of the best, including British D&amp;AD Awards, New York ADC Annual Awards, New York One Show Awards, New York Type Directors Club Awards, German Red Dot Awards, and Tokyo Type Directors Club Awards. Besides inspiring his creative team, he often shares his ideas with the global community at universities and international conferences such as TEDx. Most recently, he was appointed as a juror for the Golden Pin Design Awards, and as a Branding and Communication Design juror for the globally acclaimed Art Directors Club Annual Awards in New York.
 
 
"Distilling ideas to their essence, for compelling design solutions." -- Toby Ng on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

Sonya Sun is a design leader at Tencent Healthcare, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare experiences and redefining the role of design. Her work spans AI-native healthcare products, professional intelligence, human–AI collaboration and longitudinal healthcare experiences.
 
Rather than treating AI as another technology layer, she studies how intelligence changes what designers design—from interfaces and workflows to systems of understanding, judgement, trust and long-term relationships. Her current research focuses on the emerging design objects of AI and the future of healthcare experience.
 
"For me, dialogue is how different perspectives build shared understanding. As AI becomes part of healthcare, that dialogue increasingly includes people, professionals and intelligent systems. Design has a new responsibility: to shape how they understand one another, make judgments together, and build trust through that interaction." -- Sonya Sun on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

Wim Walschap is a Senior Partner and CEO of Herzog &amp; de Meuron. Throughout his career, Wim has led teams on projects ranging from pavilions to high-rises, including The Tate Modern Project in London and Helsinki Dreispitz in Basel. As a Partner, Wim is responsible for the M+ Museum in Hong Kong; the One Park Drive residential tower in London; Hauptpost Basel; and a number of other projects of diverse scales and typologies in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Alongside his architectural work, Wim has taken on a series of leadership responsibilities within the practice. Since May 2026, he holds the position of CEO.

Janine Weiz-Bühler has served as the CEO of FREITAG since 2025, navigating the company following a decade of holacratic governance. Originally from Germany, she holds a degree in economics and brings extensive experience from the Austrian and Swiss textile industries, where she has successfully led both creative and commercial divisions. Her dedication to circularity and Cradle to Cradle product development earned her the Swiss Ethics Award and numerous other accolades.
 
Today, Janine provides strategic leadership for FREITAG, a pioneer in upcycling since 1993, with a focused mission to transform the brand into a leading circular design house through visionary leadership.
 
“Our philosophy is rooted in cyclical thinking and action. At FREITAG we don't just manufacture products, we recontextualize discarded materials by giving them a new purpose. Our journey, which began with upcycling truck tarpaulins, continues to inspire our commitment to resource efficiency. Our primary objective is to maximize the lifecycle of our materials and products with our services and advance toward a truly circular economy by closing our material loops with strategic investments like our Circ tarp project."
 
"At FREITAG, connection and collaboration are foundational to our design philosophy, as we believe meaningful impact is never created in isolation. Dialogue serves as the engine that drives our innovation, bridging creativity with execution. It turns complex sustainability challenges into tangible solutions, as seen in our "Circular tarp" project. Developing a fully recyclable truck tarp is the result of years of dialogue across disciplines. Designers, material scientists, manufacturers and sustainability experts worked together to rethink the entire lifecycle of the material. That collaborative process led to a scalable circular material solution that is now tested in a real fleet and will be transformed into our first product line in 2027. Ultimately, dialogue is synonymous with openness and a willingness to question established norms. By aligning purpose with action, we do more than improve industries, we redefine them. Whether through our products or our services like repair, swap, and rental, we also remain in continuous conversation with our community to prove that waste can be transformed into real value. From a leadership perspective, I view dialogue as a catalyst for cultural transformation, when teams feel heard and empowered, they experiment more boldly and take greater ownership." -- Janine Weiz-Bühler on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Joan Minder

James Woodward is a co-founder of Kith&amp;Kin, a Hong Kong-based design studio with a simple philosophy: people before design. Since 2011, Kith&amp;Kin has shaped the identities of some of the city's most loved institutions, from major corporates like Swire to cultural icons like Bakehouse and Little Bao. His approach blends strategy and empathy to build brands that connect with communities and deliver long-term commercial results.
 
"True transformation starts with a blank slate, entering every conversation without ego or agenda. Innovation isn't a solo act. It's built through honest dialogue across clients, teams, and production partners. Meaningful debate is what connects people and produces work that lasts." -- James Woodward on Design in Dialogue Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Kith&amp;Kin

Emily Yan is the Director, Studio Hong Kong (Asia Region) at Snøhetta, focusing on growing the firm's presence in Asia. Since joining in 2018, Emily has been instrumental in establishing the studios and solidifying Snøhetta's position in the Asian market. 
Emily has worked internationally, design-leading and managing the development of numerous public, institutional, and private building projects across different scales. Some of her notable projects at Snøhetta include the Busan Opera House (Busan), Banpo Ecological Playscape (Seoul), Cheongju New City Hall (Cheongju), AIRSIDE (Hong Kong), Solstice Culinary Space (Hong Kong), Whey (Hong Kong), Sanya Resort Retail Development (Sanya), and among others.
 
Besides her design practice, Emily is also actively involved in architecture and design education. She has lectured at various educational institutions and design festivals, such as Yonsei University, Korea Institute of Female Architects, AIA South Korea, Busan Design Festival 2026, JUNG Architecture Seoul 2025, Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2023, Design Shenzhen 2023, and more. Occasionally, she serves as a Guest Critic at the University of Hong Kong. As a dedicated member of The Women’s Foundation, Emily advocates for diversity, equality, and inclusion, championing women’s leadership initiatives.
 
Emily received both her Bachelor and Master of Architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, UK. She is also registered at the ARB and a member of RIBA.

Kulapat Yantrasast is the founder and creative director of WHY Architecture, an internationally recognised practice dedicated to the design of cultural institutions.
 
His recent work includes the transformation of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, the Dib Contemporary Art Center in Bangkok, and the ilmi Science Discovery &amp; Innovation Center in Riyadh. WHY has been selected by the Musée du Louvre to design its new Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Art, and is currently leading the design of the National Museum of India in New Delhi—projected to become the largest museum in the world.
 
Raised in Bangkok and educated at the University of Tokyo, Yantrasast approaches each project as an act of cultural translation—creating spaces where architecture, memory, and human experience converge.
 
He is the recipient of Thailand's Silpathorn Award and serves on the boards of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and The Noguchi Museum.
 "Inspiration often comes from conversations with great minds. I love asking questions and listening and interviewing; these give me joy and food for thought. My work really grows and emerges from my thinking and living, and they grow from conversations." -- Kulapat Yantrasast on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

Rocky Yip is co-founder of Kith&amp;Kin, the Hong Kong–based brand and design consultancy that has helped grow brands such as Bakehouse, Swire Properties, Loveramics, Panda Inn, and Little Bao. With a background in product design, he sees design as a vessel for solving problems, grounded in clarity, experience, and a user-first perspective. As a designer and creative director, Rocky has spent the past 15 years exploring the connection between creativity, culture, and human connection.
 
From a two-person team to a studio delivering projects globally, Kith&amp;Kin has evolved while staying rooted in its founding philosophy: People First, Design Follows. The studio works across sectors, partnering with businesses of different scales to build thoughtful, purposeful brands that resonate in the real world.
 
"Connection and collaboration are, at their core, building relationships. Branding is no different. Finding emotional connection, earning trust, and shaping a genuine, considered identity all become opportunities that deepen that relationship, opportunities to connect and collaborate. When everything aligns and comes together with intention, you do more than drive innovation or generate growth; you create meaning. You influence conversations, communities, and shared experiences. Then branding extends beyond business; it becomes something that can help shape culture itself." -- Rocky Yip on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform
 
Portrait ©Kith&amp;Kin

Zhang Lei led PINWU to win more than 20 international design awards. Using contemporary design language to redefine the Chinese traditional materials and handcrafts. The design works have been exhibited over the world, the Chinese Mainland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Greece and so on. He founded the Róng Design Library, a non-profit welfare organization with Christoph John and Jovana Zhang together.
 
"The culture doesn't just survive on its own—it stays vibrant and alive by clashing and blending with outside cultures. That's the real meaning of being connected." -- Zhang Lei on Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform

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