With two decades of experience, Birger Linke has made significant contributions as a creative and marketer, working with leading agencies like Springer & Jacoby, Saatchi & Saatchi, and JWT, and co-founding TBWA\Vietnam and the headphone startup Lynxsonic. As the current Group Creative Director at Hylink, he manages high-profile projects, including VW. Birger’s interdisciplinary work across advertising, digital, and design has garnered him over 150 awards, including a Gold at Cannes and the first D&AD for Vietnam. His campaigns, notably the “TransMariner” for the Singapore Navy and Coca-Cola’s “Olympic Beat,” have achieved global recognition, with the latter reaching 400 million views in a month. A recognized thought leader, Birger Lonke serves on the advisory council of the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City, and has been ranked in Creativepool’s “Top 25 Inspiring & Influential Art Directors.” His design consultancy, focusing on healthcare, launched a reusable mask that garnered international awards, including a Red Dot, and is featured in prestigious museum collections. A member of D&AD, Cannes Lion’s 1954, and The Design Society, Singapore, Birger Linke has judged at several international awards. Beyond his professional pursuits, he lectures across Asia and holds a Private Pilot License, showcasing his diverse interests and commitment to both design and innovation.

Mihaela Plesca is an esteemed juror in 3 global design Awards this year. She won 6 golden trophies at A’Design Award and Competition, in Italy, Business Elite’s 30 under 30 trophy in Canada and the Forbes 30 under 30 trophy in Romania. She founded Neurodesign after a deep research she made in aproximately 10 years, where she discovered 2 original styles: Neuro Design and Resonance. She wrote a book named: “Neuro Design and Resonance in UI, UX design” where she put her knowledge. She is a passionate designer in multidisciplinary fields: product, interior, fashion, packadge, UX, UI, graphic, communication design and architecture. She has 7 years experience in judging projects from all over the world in arhitecture and design fields. She started her education process in architecture and interior design, and then she continued her BSc degree in tourism engineering mixing her knowledge in hospitality design and she finished her studies with a master degree in marketing. During her studies she worked as a photographer, online project manager, then a star digital ambassador at Google Digital Garage department where was promoted as UX specialist. After She founded her company she collaborated with an online marketing agency where she worked as account manager. Her experience helped her to manage projects having great results while she spent time for design and architecture research.

Marcos Santa Ana, AIA, founded Alloi Inc in 2009 as a design-build corporation. Marcos Santa Ana was born into a family of artists, builders and craftspeople in the upstate community of Woodstock, New York. He studied architecture across the world and attributes the Scandinavian influence from studying in Aarhus, Denmark, Spanish modernism from his study in Barcelona, Spain and his American experimentalism from several influential professors at the University at Buffalo in the State of New York who earned their degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of design and Cornell University. Marcos’ culturally-diverse education influences projects at Alloi. Early in his career he worked in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut with several design build companies. In 2005 he moved to Los Angeles to further develop his design build philosophy. In 2008 he earned his general contractor license and in 2011 he earned his architecture license. In 2018 Marcos Santa Ana earned his certification in high-performance design from the International Passive Haus institute in Germany to develop technical practices that enhance human comfort and reduce wasteful energy loss in the buildings he designs. Alloi is an architect-led design-build company focused on spatial clarity and thoughtful details. We approach every project as an opportunity to redefine lifestyle and amplify the intersection of the natural and built world. Iterative and rigorous, our design process strives to achieve architectural harmony. Inspired by Zen minimalism and Feng-Shui, we pursue holistic, calm spaces. The architects of Japan including Akira Sakamoto, Apollo, and Ando continue to inspire the spirt of our language.

Yixuan Cai is a Chinese-born architectural designer and multimedia artist based in Los Angeles, United States, specializing in digital environment visualization. She is the recipient of numerous prestigious international design awards, including the Platinum Prize in Architecture & Design Collection Awards 2023, the Gold Prize in the Design Skill Awards 2023, the Gold prize in the London Design Awards 2023, the Gold prize in the 2024 French Design Award, Silver prize in the 2023 International Design Award (IDA). Currently, she contributes her design expertise to Perkins&Will, a globally renowned architectural firm. Prior to this job, she has dedicated two years of her career to ISOZAKI+HuQian Partners, the Shanghai studio of the Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Arata Isozaki. Extending her enthusiasm in architectural visualization and animation, she has embarked on personal design projects that explore diverse digital media, addressing the dynamic interplay of movement and the passage of time in our daily surroundings. Her featured exhibitions have encompassed cities such as London, Indianapolis, Chongqing, Los Angeles and New Jersey. Yixuan earned her Master of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Benjamin Hizon Mendoza, co-founder of BAAD Studio, boasts a distinguished background in architecture, holding a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Santo Tomas. Under his leadership, BAAD Studio has embarked on a variety of design projects since its inception in 2010, ranging from architectural and interior architecture to community and physical town planning. These projects challenge the conventional parameters of contemporary design within their local contexts. The studio’s innovative work has garnered significant acclaim, notably the “Tree-Line House” which won the 2018 MADE Architecture Award for Best Residential Design. Additionally, the “Sunken Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Cabetican Pampanga” received high commendation at the World Architecture Festival 2018, including a First Highly Commended by the Super Jury for Future Project of the Year Award, alongside being shortlisted for two categories at the 2022 WAF in Lisbon, Portugal. Beyond his studio’s achievements, Mendoza has made notable contributions as a speaker at various major conventions and as a judge at the World Architecture Festival across several years and locations, affirming his expertise and influence within the global architectural community. BAAD Studio’s commitment to atmospheric architecture that balances well-being with ecological sensitivity is evident in their progressive, responsible designs that aim to positively shape future urban and rural landscapes.

Sarvenaz Sharifi, born in 1984, embarked on her educational journey in the United States, where she completed degrees in Interior Architecture and Architectural Engineering by 2008. Returning to Iran, she aimed to make a significant impact on Iranian architecture. In 2009, Sarvenaz founded Sazeh Paydar Abraaj, marking the start of her professional journey in interior design, architecture, and construction. Over the years, she has spearheaded the design and construction of over 50 high-end, contemporary projects across Iran, Qatar, the United States, and Canada. As the CEO of Abraj Sustainable Structure Construction and Design Company for a decade, Sarvenaz has demonstrated a keen ability to lead and innovate in the construction and design industry. Her expertise and contributions to the field were recognized in 2019 when she was invited as a lecturer at the Islamic University in Tehran, further solidifying her role as a key figure in architecture and design education.

Yihuang Zhou is a multi-disciplinary designer who excels in blending graphic, industrial, and digital design to create solutions that transform complexity into simplicity and elevate everyday experiences. His commitment to designing with honesty, rationality, and passion ensures that his work is not only effective but deeply resonant and impactful. Yihuang’s artistic exploration of typography serves as a medium to navigate the complex dialogues between different cultures, with a keen focus on the nuances of language and writing systems. He views these systems as conduits and shapers of culture. In his recent endeavors, Yihuang has adeptly integrated technology into his exploration of typography, employing variable typefaces and NFTs to pioneer new directions within his field. His innovative approach has led to award-winning projects that stand as a testament to his creative and technical prowess. In his professional journey, Yihuang has made significant contributions as the Design Lead at Waytura / OLIVIO & CO in Shanghai, enhancing his leadership and creative capabilities. Presently, as a Senior Designer at Mother Design in New York, he continues to push the boundaries of design, applying his unique perspective and strategic approach to a broad spectrum of award-winning projects.