SEGD Welcomes Six New Board Members to Shape the Future of Experience Design

January 14, 2026

Kristin Bennani

We are thrilled to announce six new members joining SEGD’s Board of Directors, marking an energizing new chapter of leadership that reflects the evolving breadth, ambition, and impact of experience design today.

Spanning branding, exhibitions, wayfinding, strategy, fabrication, technology, and placemaking, this incoming group brings together long-time SEGD champions and new voices from across the design community. Together with continuing board leadership, they will help guide SEGD’s near-term priorities while stewarding its long-term mission to advance experience design as a human-centered, culture-shaping discipline.

The SEGD Board of Directors plays a vital role in shaping the organization’s vision, supporting members, advancing programs and initiatives, and stewarding both SEGD and the practice of experience design into a sustainable future. In her recent welcome letter as incoming Board President, Aki Carpenter reflected on this responsibility and the opportunity ahead:

Get to know our new Board Members

Joanne Chan

Global CEO, Turner Duckworth
San Francisco, CA | Strategic Branding

Joanne Chan brings exceptional leadership and global brand expertise to the SEGD Board. As CEO of Turner Duckworth, she has guided internationally recognized work for brands including Amazon, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, and Samsung, while steering the firm’s growth and creative excellence. Named an Ad Age Leading Woman and a GDUSA Person to Watch, Joanne combines strategic rigor with nonprofit governance experience and a deep appreciation for design’s cultural role, informed by her time at the Guggenheim. New to SEGD, she offers a fresh perspective and powerful insight into branding’s intersection with experience design.

Mark D. Kuhn IV

CEO, Oat Foundry
Philadelphia, PA | Supplier / Fabricator

A dedicated SEGD supporter, Mark Kuhn blends hands-on engineering expertise with entrepreneurial leadership and a genuine passion for community. As CEO of Oat Foundry, he champions beautifully functional, human-centered design and brings operational insight, curiosity, and creativity to every project. Actively engaged with SEGD since 2020 as a member, sponsor, and frequent conference attendee, Mark is eager to help grow SEGD’s sponsorship ecosystem and introduce new companies to the organization.

Taylor Loutsis

Founder & Creative Director, Studio Loutsis
Brooklyn, NY | Experiential Graphic Design, Exhibition, Branding

Taylor Loutsis brings a practitioner’s insight and a leader’s perspective shaped by more than a decade of involvement with SEGD. A member since 2014, Global Design Awards recipient, and former NYC Chapter Co-Chair, Taylor understands the organization from both community and leadership perspectives. Through his studio, he works at the intersection of branding, image-making, and the built environment, and remains deeply committed to design education, mentorship, and the future of the discipline.

Wendy Manning

Founder, Demeter Strategy Design
Chicago, IL | Design & Strategy

Wendy Manning brings decades of executive leadership across strategy, marketing, communications, and design thinking, with a career that includes senior roles at Boeing and Blue Cross Blue Shield. A seasoned board leader—currently serving as Board Chair of the Design Museum of Chicago and as a global advisor with How Women Lead—Wendy excels in governance, organizational transformation, and mission-driven growth. New to SEGD, she attended and volunteered at Xlab Chicago and brings a systems-level perspective well-suited to supporting SEGD’s strategic evolution.

Dana Michaelis

Director of Corporate Development, Nanolumens
Marietta, GA | Supplier

Dana Michaelis brings consistent commitment and industry leadership to the SEGD Board. A presenting sponsor, industry partner, chapter leader, and advocate, Dana has played a key role in revitalizing the Atlanta Chapter—recruiting new leadership and curating impactful programming that strengthens community connection. Known for his collaborative approach, he prioritizes SEGD’s collective growth and brings a valuable perspective grounded in partnership and generosity.

Jonny Peterson

Design Director, Gensler
Washington, DC | Experiential Graphic Design & Wayfinding

Jonny Peterson carries a deep passion for SEGD and a proven track record of community-building. A long-standing member and recipient of the 2025 SEGD Chapter Chair Award, Jonny has been instrumental in growing the DC Chapter, expanding membership, and building partnerships with AIGA and AIA. Within Gensler, he has helped strengthen the firm’s already significant commitment to SEGD, while also contributing his placemaking expertise to Dupont Underground and mentoring designers across Washington, DC.

Board Leadership

SEGD’s Board of Directors is guided by an experienced leadership team serving in key governance and liaison roles:

• Aki Carpenter — SEGD President
  Global Vice President & Chief Creative Officer, Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
  
• Kris Helmick — SEGD Vice President
  Associate Vice President, Environmental Graphics, Arcadis
  
• Mike McCarthy — SEGD Secretary / Treasurer
  Vice President, DCL (Design Communications Ltd.)
  
• Joell Angel-Chumbley — Academic Task Force Liaison
  Experience Design Lead, City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation
  
• Darlene van Uden — Chapter Chair Liaison
  Vice President, Design Strategy (Venues), Elevate

Continuing Board Members

In addition to its leadership team, SEGD is supported by a group of continuing board members whose experience and perspective strengthen the organization’s governance and long-term vision:

• Traci Sym — SEGD Past President, Principal, plus & greater than
• Nu Goteh — Co-Founder, Room for Magic; Co-Founder & Creative Director, Deem Journal
• Anne Houghton — Vice President, Sales Strategy, Moss Inc.
• Amy Rees — Partner / Studio Director, Exit Design
• Dayton Schroeter — Vice President & Design Director, SmithGroup

Looking Ahead

With this new board slate, SEGD enters the year with clarity, continuity, and renewed momentum—strengthening its community, expanding access to education, and advancing experience design as a discipline that shapes culture, public life, and the built environment.