Los Angeles Design Festival Announces 2025 Board

LOS ANGELES - Dec. 19, 2024 - PRLog -- The Los Angeles Design Festival (LADF) proudly unveils its new Board of Directors. Founded in 2011, LADF is a biennial, citywide celebration of design held June 26-29, 2025. The theme "Design Futurism" will spotlight forward-thinking design for a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future.

Women make up 73% of the Board, reflecting LADF's commitment to inclusivity. The Board's diverse perspectives will shape programming and guide the Festival's evolution.

Executive Board

• Erika Abrams, LADF Co-President and Executive Director
• Christine Joo (Senior Account Executive, Secret Agent PR), Co-President
• Sola Biu Dokunmu (VP of Global Brand Marketing, Amyris), Co-Vice President
• Sinead Finnerty-Pyne (Director of Marketing and Special Projects, Studio One Eleven), Co-Vice President
• Kim Laama (Global Chief Creative Officer, dotdotdash), Co-Vice President
• Irma Hardjakusumah (Founder/Principal, Studio Left), Co-Secretary
• Luciana Varkulja (Founder and Principal, uma architecture & design), Co-Secretary
• Allen Shahrokhi, Co-Treasurer
• Sophie Taitt (Founder, Taitt Media Consultancy), Co-Treasurer
• Sona Gevorkyan (Architect, Lecturer at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona), Co-Parliamentarian
• Frankie Scanlon (President, Gustus Vitae), Co-Parliamentarian

Communications

• Teresa Aduloju (Manager of Brand Advocacy and Communications, NYX Professional Makeup)
• Tricia Benitez Beanum (Founder, Pop Up Home)
• Ash Holzer (Educational Therapist/Professional)

Creative Entrepreneurship/Developing Professional

• Tatiana Barhar (Founder, Verdego Design)
• Krislam Chin (Founder of Hello World Studio, Professor at Mt. San Antonio College)
• Schessa Garbutt (Creative Director, Firebrand Creative House)
• Ronni Kimm (Founder, Collective Future)

Development and Sponsorship

• Jordan Abrams, (Studio/Project Manager, Keith&Co)
• Kimberly Christensen (Design Director/Consultant)
• Andrew Kutchera (Graphic Designer/Art Director)

Education

• Joseph Coriaty, FAIA (Managing Partner, Frederick Fisher & Partners Architects)
• Malcolm Jones (Director of Health Innovation, USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy)
• Alma Juarez (Artist, Faculty at College of the Canyons)
• Radha Mistry (Associate Principal, Americas Foresight Leader at Arup and faculty at SCI-Arc)
• Michael Neal (Associate Professor, Art Center)

Programming

• Victoria Adesanmi (Founder, Aesthetics Studios)
• Dyan Jong (Creative Director, Dyan Jong Studio)
• Clémence Plagnard (Industrial Designer, Zuru Tech)
• Jess Rojas (Founder, Open Studios LA)
• Oya Arslan Ozmen (Project Manager, IKEA) [Volunteer Coordinator]
• Lida Mahabadi (CEO, ReVe Partners) [Operations]

Partnerships and Community

• Anne Dereaux (Founding Principal, Dereaux Studio)
• Vaughn Glover (Co-Founder, KENZAN)
• Bobbye Tigerman (Curator, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA))
• Jason E.C. Wright (Founder, Burntsienna Research Society)

LADF's 2025 Festival will feature four days of vibrant programming, including studio tours, panel discussions, installations, and a block party. This inclusive platform supports emerging and established designers, encouraging creative exchange and collaboration.

"The 2025 theme, 'Design Futurism,' feels particularly meaningful with such a dynamic and visionary Board at the helm," says Erika Abrams, LADF's Executive Director. "Their collective experience will help shape a Festival that embraces bold, forward-thinking design."

For more information: https://www.ladesignfestival.org/