Theme: Systems by Design

‘Systems by Design’ explores the unseen connections between people, places, and ideas—particularly the disruption of systems that haven’t yet adapted to the modern needs of society. It is a call to action that aims to inspire the innovative thinkers and communicators of tomorrow. Immerse yourself in a captivating and collaborative environment at Art Center’s iconic Hillside Campus, and find out how you too, can become an influencer of tomorrow.

Ahmanson Auditorium
1700 S Lida Street
Pasadena, California, 91103
United States

Bryan Enderle

Chemical Engineering PhD and MA in Theology

Bryan Enderle grew up in Modesto, CA though he now lives in Davis, CA with his wife, Peggy, and son, Isaac. Bryan is deeply invested in science as well as theology/philosophy. As a result, Bryan obtained two BS degrees, in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering before pursuing an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering. As far as theology, Bryan pursued an MA in theological studies and is continuing his classwork and writing in pursuit of a ThM. Bryan works full-time in the department of Chemistry at UC Davis teaching large lectures of 400 to 500 students per class while coordinating general chemistry laboratories for over 10,000 students per year. In addition, Bryan is involved in college student ministry with InterVarsity. Because of Bryan’s previous TEDx talk and unique education, he is often an invited speaker at colleges, universities, religious organizations, social organizations, conferences, and campus clubs.

Dr. Charles Elachi

Director of JPL and Professor at Caltech

Dr. Charles Elachi is the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Professor at the California Institute of Technology, or ‘Caltech’, as it is known by viewers of the Big Bang. Dr. Elachi started his academic career in France where he received his BSc from the University of Grenoble and his Diplome Ingineur (engineering) from the Polytechnic Institute in Grenoble. He then moved to Pasadena to obtain his Master’s and PhD degrees in Electrical science from Caltech. He continued his education to obtain an MBA from USC, and a second Master’s degree in geology from UCLA. He is the author of over 230 publications and textbooks in the fields of active microwave remote sensing. In addition to his leadership of JPL he was, and still is, the Principal Investigator on a number of space experiments.

Dr. M.A. Greenstein

Art & Science Researcher + author

An award winning and internationally recognized researcher, author and experience designer of arts and science collaborations, Dr. Greenstein is the founder of the George Greenstein Institute and the Inventio!Brains System. She has been innovating on the front lines of knowledge transfer to help decode the complex data of neuroscience into relevant “brain smart” strategies for design thinking, prototyping and problem-solving. A Fulbright Scholar to Taiwan and China and a pioneer of cross-cultural, brain/mind studies, Dr G credits her UCLA training in a spinal chord injury lab and years at Art Center College of Design for seeding her mission today: Generate equal access to the latest and greatest tools for self knowledge through products and experiences that are good for our brain and good for our heart.

Dr. Wendy Suzuki

Professor of Neural Science and Psychology

Wendy Suzuki, Ph.D. is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University. Her research focuses on two main questions. First, she is interested in understanding how our brains allow us to learn and retain new long-term memories for facts and events. Second, she is interested in understanding the effects of aerobic exercise on our learning memory and cognitive abilities. Wendy is a recipient of numerous grants and awards for her research including the prestigious Troland Research award from the National Academy of Sciences and NYU’s Golden Dozen Teaching award. She is also passionate about supporting women in science. Her first book, entitled “Healthy Brain Happy Life” will be published by Harper Collins in May of 2015.

Geoff Wardle

Director of Advanced Mobility Research

Geoff Wardle is Director of Advanced Mobility Research at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Educated first as a vehicle engineer and then as an automotive designer at the Royal College of Art in London, Geoff has had extensive experience as a professional vehicle designer across four continents and remains a passionate car enthusiast. However, because of his career in the automotive industry, Geoff became increasingly concerned about the future sustainability of this industry, personal mobility and transportation in general. With more than a decade of full-time involvement with Art Center’s Transportation Design department, in California and in Europe, Wardle has been a continual advocate for transportation designers becoming far more concerned and involved with the many other disciplines that make up mobility in its entirety, particularly in the urban environment.

Guillaume Wolf

Branding and Communication Expert

Wolf has an unshakable passion for applied creativity. He believes that, together, we have the power to create a compelling future, if we decide to use our greatest resource: our creative mind. This philosophy, which he shares on a micro level (individuals) and macro level (brands/organizations), focuses on getting concrete, measurable results in order to create what he calls a “reality shift.” Described as a “brand visionary” and “master of cool,” Wolf trained as a designer and communicator. He is known for his acclaimed creative direction work which includes fashion and luxury brands such as: Colette, Lacoste, Lucien Pellat-finet, Isabel Marant, Shu Uemura, and Maison Kitsuné. He has also collaborated with top advertising agencies in the US, Europe, and Japan, including Young & Rubicam, Mother, Publicis & Hal Riney, Weiden + Kennedy, Dentsu Co., Mlle Noï, and STURM und DRANG.

Jessie Kawata

Creative Strategist

Jessie Kawata is a Designer and Creative Strategist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Her passion for art, science, and sustainability led her to NASA where she helped to pioneer their very first in-house design studio. With a background in both product design and illustration from Art Center College of Design, Jessie has been able to spearhead the integration of design-thinking, creative methodologies, and visual storytelling into early space mission concepts as the first core designer in NASA JPL’s Innovation Foundry. When she is not staring into space, Jessie is illustrating a book on creativity and is also a part-time product design instructor at Art Center’s Saturday High Program.

Julie Pusch

Violinist

Julie’s musical endeavors have taken her all over the world, from a performance at Carnegie Hall under the baton of composer John Rutter, to performances in Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Singapore, Mexico, Canada, the Cayman Islands, and performances at the Governor’s Ball for the Grammys and the Emmys.

Karen Safrit

Dancer

Karen’s performance, choreographic and teaching moments have taken her from the studio floors of an ice arena to university classrooms of modern dance studies, and into New York City’s enlivened dance community. Joining the Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Company in New York, she’s had the privilege of dancing on the Paris Opera House stage, in festivals in South Korea, at New York’s Joyce Theater, and at many other venues around the world.

Miriam Lieu

Leadership Expert

With a great entrepreneurial spirit, Miriam’s outlook on leadership through her versatile experiences in a variety of industries has allowed others to acknowledge her as a highly aspired thought leader. Having led numerous leadership seminars and keynote speaking at universities, Miriam’s influence through intriguing yet rational approaches to philosophy in leadership runs deep in value with many students and young adults.

Scout Durwood

Comedienne and Musician

Scout is one of six starring cast members on Oxygen’s “Funny Girls,” a docu-series following the lives of six female stand up comedians. After years of working as a cabaret singer in New York City, Scout relocated to Los Angeles in 2012 to work full time as a stand up comedienne. She was recently was recently named one of The Huffington Post’s “20 Burlesque Stars to Know,” as well as Funny Not Slutty’s “10 Women Who Rock Comedy” and Stand Up Talk’s “Five Awesome Women’s Musical Comedy Acts.” This spring, Scout released her debut comedy album, “Woman of Whimsy.” She has been featured as a comedian on playboy.com, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Chicago Women’s Funny Festival, After Ellen, Nylon, XFinity, CBS Radio, The Mindy Project, and is a proud Moth Storyslam champion. She stars in the webseries Who Will She Kill Next with Heather Anne Campbell, and is the host of Truth or Dare, a monthly comedy show at Bar Lubitch in LA.

Youmna Chamcham

Founder and Designer of LiveLoveBeirut

One of the 2 founders and the designer of Live Love Beirut, a social media campaign that started 2 years ago with a hashtag to share the Beauty of Lebanon accompanied by a bracelet to fundraise and make local, grassroots projects come to life. Today, it counts 4.1 million likes on Instagram, 150,000 images, bracelets sold in 42 countries, and 21 Live Love accounts creating communities of Love and hope for major cities and universities in Lebanon. In 2014, it got adopted by the Ministry of Tourism and Live Love Lebanon became the official campaign of the nation. The Live Love movement is now picking up in countries such as Jordan, Egypt and Venezuela. From Beirut, to the world.