Paul McConnell of Intersection (New York) heads the acclaimed multidisciplinary design task force.
WASHINGTON, DC—Paul McConnell,Design Director at Intersection (New York), a technology, experience design and innovation firm, will serve as Jury Chair for the 2017 SEGD Global Design Awards. He leads a team of eight celebrated designers practicing in a range of disciplines from wayfinding to interactive experiences.
Since 1987, the SEGD Global Design Awards have honored Experiential Graphic Design work that connects people to place by providing direction, content and compelling user experiences in the places where they work, play, learn, travel, shop and connect. It is the most highly regarded international design competition for experiential design in the built environment.
McConnell brings over a decade of experience in design and development leadership roles supporting different products and industries. He began working with Control Group in 2012, which merged with Titan to become Intersection in 2015. Intersection is the largest municipal media company in the United States, developing renowned platforms like LinkNYC. He is a graduate of and professor of design and cultural management programs at Pratt Institute (New York).
McConnell and Intersection are leading the way, embracing technology in design. "Technology is changing human behavior and environments faster than ever before. The solution requires groups of designers from various subsets who together can understand systems and shape stories to help make sense of it all," he remarks. "People come to physical spaces for a physical connection. They're putting their personal screens away, looking up more frequently, and demanding more from their spaces. It's an orchestrated experience of traditional and digital communications that provides value. This is reshaping everything from cultural experiences to retail shopping."
"I am honored to serve as this year's SEGD Global Design Awards Jury Chair. The 2017 jury is a group of immensely talented practitioners from around the globe who strive to shape exceptional environments. As our field expands and our spaces are reimagined, the SEGD Global Design Awards will continue to recognize a cross-section of purposeful and inspirational solutions,” says McConnell.
McConnell has assembled a talented multidisciplinary jury of eight leading designers:
- Carlo Giannasca, Head of Environments, Frost* Collective (New South Wales)
- Christina Lyons, Chair, Graduate Exhibition Design Program, Fashion Institute of Technology (New York)
- Keith Helmetag, Founder and Partner, C&G Partners (New York)
- Kristine Matthews, Owner and Principal, Studio Matthews (Seattle)
- Michael Freimuth, Founder and Creative Director, Franklyn (New York)
- Patrick Blanchard, Designer, NBBJ (Seattle) and student winner in the 2016 SEGD Global Design Awards
- Rachel Einsidler, Senior Designer, Airspace (New York)
- Udo Schliemann, Principal and Creative Director, Entro (Toronto)
The jury will evaluate projects in seven categories that represent the core of Experiential Graphic Design: Digital Experience Content, Exhibition, Interactive Experiences, Placemaking and Identity, Public Installations, Strategy/Research/Planning and Wayfinding.
Past winners of the SEGD Global Design Awards have ranged from media-rich interactive installations to contemplative public art, complex wayfinding systems, retail environments, museum exhibitions, branded environments, design research and architectural signage.
The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2017, via SEGD’s online design awards entry system. Submissions will be accepted with late fees through Feb. 14, 2017.
Winners will be honored during the 2017 SEGD Conference in Miami June 8-10, 2017, and through SEGD media channels including SEGD.org, its design awards annual titled SEGD17, and supporting social media. Submission guidelines are available on SEGD.org.
To see the caliber of previous Design Award winners, take a look at SEGD’s extensive awards gallery online.
3M is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2017 SEGD Global Design Awards.
