WBDS Agency Design Awards
Judges 2021/22

We have invited some of the best creative minds in consumer and corporate branding and brand design from around the world; renowned creatives, strategists, entrepreneurs, educators and leading industry thinkers.

Based on their achievements, experiences and industry insight, we believe their opinions and evaluation matters. They will be assessing everything from the quality of entries presentations to how creative works are addressing broader societal challenges.

David Carson

Owner
David Carson
United States

World-Famous Graphic Designer offers Masterclass
David Carson, a 2019 Emmy-nominated, multi-award winning graphic designer, creative director and artist, is the recipient of graphic design's highest award, the AIGA Gold.

Carson is currently looking to join and lead a great creative team to push the envelope, inspire others and produce iconic work. He continues to work as an independent/freelance designer and director.

Clients include: Microsoft (Global), Bose (Global Creative Director) Armani (Global), Nike, Beats, Quiksilver (NYC and France) 72+Sunny, Harvard University and many more.

Described as: "A pioneer with profound impact” - Apple. “The art director of the era" - Creative Review, London. "He changed the public face of graphic design" - Newsweek. “Top designer working with photography" - International Center for photography, NYC. “CARSON is the most googled graphic designer in history, even surpassing some well known fine artists” - Eye magazine, London. "One of America's most important artists" - Smithsonian Institute. "The most influential graphic designer of our times" - Surfrider Foundation. "He significantly influenced a generation to embrace typography as an expressive medium" - Steven Heller, New York Times.

Monica Holmvik Persdotter

Global Brand Director
Arla Foods
Sweden

As business leader who is passionate about Management, Marketing, Business- and Process Development with experience from FMCG, Medical and Luxury business, Monica’s focus has always been to exercise a value driven and process oriented leadership to in a collaborative way enable ideas to come to life that become emotional connections with consumers.

Having worked on key strategic brand topics and building brand equity, she developed large parts of IKEA own label food range product and packaging design for the Swedish Food Market, of which one was awarded with the Red Dot award. At Danish luxury design company Georg Jensen new focus was given in communication were strong designers and designs were linked to likeminded strong independent women – communication that became internationally recognised. The assignment also included the customer meeting in relation to the store experience and she was part of the development of a modular and flexible store design and visual merchandising. At McCann’s associated agency Grant in Sri Lanka  and also built and implemented a full service creative in-house agency at Arla in Sweden to mention a few areas. 

Monica has had the pleasure to work at the above mentioned companies as well Unilever and currently leads the growth territory Health from Within, which includes LactoFREE brand and Gut Health products such as Cultura and Dofilus at European dairy company Arla. 

Jay Gouliard

Vice President Global Packaging
Mondelez International
United States

A business leader with a proven track record of innovation and design success in the food, beverage, snacks, home care, and personal care industries. Currently serving as the Vice President of Packaging Research and Development for Mondelez International – one of the world’s largest snacking companies - leading packaging development, innovation, sustainability, productivity and design across all markets, categories, and brands.

Prior to joining Mondelez, Jay served as Avery Dennison’s Global Vice President of Innovation; Unilever’s Global Vice President Packaging Development and Design; Vice President of Packaging Development, Innovation, Technology, and Quality at General Mills; Director Global Packaging Development &; Design at the Coca-Cola Companies; Sr. Manager Integrated Product and Process Development at Anheuser-Busch Companies.

Jay has a strong passion for translating consumer/shopper /customer insights into new and re-vitalised brand and product offerings, and is experienced in developing products that are superior in communicating the essence of the brand, that are produced at a cost and margin that fulfill the consumer value equation, that create experiences that connect consumers emotionally to the brand - creating desire in their hearts and minds.

He is a co-author of the book, The Big Moo, published in 2005.

Ksenia Starikovar

Vice President of Brand Experience
Design Hotels
Germany

Passionate and experienced Marketing and Communication From London to New York to Berlin, Ksenia’s marketing talents have led her across the globe in a career that has included an extended and multifaceted role at WPP.

Here, Ksenia developed new markets and global clients such as Lexus, HSBC, Nike, and Microsoft while also supporting emerging lifestyle brands and start-ups with growth and brand strategies. This was followed by a relocation to New York to develop a cross-agency innovation offer under WPP’s Brand & Design arm—comprising FITCH, Brand Union and SET Creative —and to guide new product and service developments for global brands, building on a previous immersion in Stanford GSB’s Design Thinking practices.

Such collaborations have shaped Ksenia’s forward-thinking outlook, and in 2019 she joined Design Hotels to head brand activity. A strong desire to generate cultural change has defined her vision for Design Hotels and has especially materialised in a push for improved representation and the accelerated exploration of sustainable practices. This has manifested in Ksenia’s implementation of a Sustainability and Social Impact agenda, and the successful rollout of Design Hotel’s ground- breaking ‘Promadic Travel’ concept, conceived in collaboration with The Future Laboratory. Meanwhile her penchant for story sharing is reflected in the expansion of content on the brand’s platforms, which now serve as hubs for cross-cultural conversation across a wide range of topics.

Aaron Poe

Design Director of Global Brand Creative
Square
United States

A strategic Creative Director with over 16 years of experience, branding and launching natively digital companies. My passion is building brands that are simple and timeless, creating the right balance of emotion and functionality. I’ve been fortunate to work at some of the most respected design agencies, helping to rebrand or launch 20+ startups across a wide variety of industries—including hardware, lifestyle, D2C, B2B and hospitality.

Clients include: Beats by Dre, Checkout.com, Essence, Google, Nike and Square.

Currently, Design Director of Brand at Square helping to lead art direction and visual design for the Global Brand team.

Ben Raven

Design Director
Landor & Fitch
United Kingdom

Ben is a London based Design Director with 20 years of experience. An awarded designer, working as a hands-on Design Director and Creative Director for the likes of AMVBBDO, JWT, Profit, Lambie Nairn, Curb, WPP and now with Landor & Fitch.

Ben has a diverse and robust background in Branding, Publishing, Music (Brand) design, Digital/Social, Advertising and Film & Moving image; across brand design, integrated brand campaigns, brand experience, product and services communications design, spanning a breadth of the branded CX category.

Past clients include Universal Music, Sony BMG, Nike, Microsoft, Acer, AT&T, O2 Telefonica, Metlife, Bank of Ireland, HSBC, Vodafone, Ford, Accenture, BP and Dyson.

Strategic and driven by connected design, Ben has helped reposition, launch and reinvent brands across a continuously changing landscape.

Lee Barnsley

Global Head of Design & Brand Experience Reckitt
United Kingdom

Lee is a creative leader with over 20 years of international experience, working across the UK, USA, Australia and Asia. He has been influential in developing strategy and growth for brands in Global markets, as well as developing and growing existing design agencies and start-ups.

Over the course of his career he has worked with some of the world’s biggest FMCG businesses; Nestlé, Heineken, Unilever and GSK to name but a few. Today he is part of Reckitt, delivering compelling brand experiences for consumers across their portfolio, and helping to build a world class internal design function.

Previously, he was instrumental in the relaunch of the UK retailer Tesco, and led the team that developed an full portfolio of over 90 products under their newly created Jacks brand. He also created the identity for IHG’s inhouse restaurant ‘Burger Theory’, and spent a number of years working with Liverpool Football Club across their visual identity.

Jamie Dobson

Professor of Design Education
University for the Creative Arts
United Kingdom

Jamie Dobson is a designer and Professor of Design Education at UCA in the UK. He has a broad range of professional experience spanning architecture, advertising and graphic design.

He was a lighting designer for Speirs and Major Associates working on many award-winning projects including 30 St Mary Axe (Swiss Re), Heathrow T5, London; Millennium Dome, London and the refurbishment of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Festival Hall (all in in London).

In his late thirties and propelled by a return to school he changed direction and worked as a designer for clients including Adobe, Apple, Birkhäuser, Philips, Red Bull Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 racing team, Sony and XL Recordings.

He started teaching to compliment his design practice 15 years ago, initially working as a associate lecturer at several specialist arts universities before finding a home at UCA. At UCA he has been a Lecturer, Course Leader and Associate Dean, until recently he was Head of School of Communication Design and head of a campus.

He now divides his time between teaching graphic design, international development for the university and his own design practice.

He has travelled extensively delivering lectures and developing relationships with universities in China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and USA.

Peter Holmes

Brand Consultant
Consulting
United Kingdom

A Brand Director with a passion for developing powerful and differentiated brands. Committed to delivering business success via innovative strategic thinking, creative design solutions and memorable communications, Peter has a proven track record of success working with brands in the UK and internationally.

Most recently Global Director of Brand O2 leading the highly regarded international brand team at Telefonica SA, Peter has worked with iconic brands throughout his career both at client organisations such as Coca-Cola and at leading advertising and communications agencies including JWT, Lowe & Partners and HHCL.

Having delivered tangible commercial results via meaningful, long-term relationships with customers of Tesco; Nestle and Unilever, Peter has been consulting on a variety of projects and is constantly looking for new opportunities to work with interesting and ambitious brands seeking a step change.

Francesca Schuster

Global Retail Experience/Design Director Dyson
United Kingdom

Francesca’s retail career spans almost 20 years at global brands, working across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, leading diverse teams of communication and digital innovation experts & spatial designers through the ever-changing retail landscape.

Over the course of her career, Francesca has led key global projects including the communication and experience work streams for both the first true adidas Flagship, a 4,235m2 award winning concept on 5th Avenue New York, and the adidas Originals Flagship programme, a series of bespoke spaces in the top 27 key cities; the design & build of the adidas Primeknit London 2012 pop-up store, launching a limited edition shoe for the Olympic Games; and the VM, Retail Marketing & Store Design of the award-winning PUMA City & Container Stores, for PUMA sponsorship and entry in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race.

In addition to her core roles, Francesca champions programmes in driving retail sustainability and supporting women in leadership.

Yara Soliman

Design Director
Peter Schmidt Group / BBDO Group
Germany

Yara Soliman is a Design Director at the Peter Schmidt Group who specializes in shaping and nurturing brands in the food, beauty and lifestyle sector. Working on some of the world’s most iconic brands including Nivea, Heinz, The Coca-Cola Company and Nestle she has acquired extensive expertise in creative storytelling, brand strategy and creating holistic brand experiences. Her mantra: Good design starts with a compelling story.

Her personal work has been exhibited on numerous occasions at the Dubai Design Week as well as the Weltformat Design Festival in Luzern, Switzerland.

She studied graphic design and graduated from the German University Cairo with a Bachelor in Arts and Sciences in 2011.

Jack Gibbons

Design Director
B&B studio
United Kingdom

Jack Gibbons is Design Director at renowned independent branding agency B&B studio, leading the design team across both brand creation and brand redevelopment projects in the food, drink and lifestyle space. Whether helping to invigorate longstanding brands, such as Belvoir Farm or introducing new and vital challenger brands to market, such as The Duppy Share, BEAR and Peppersmith, Jack delivers difference and disruption across every aesthetic. 

Jack is passionate about a strategically driven creative approach that allows brands to build meaningful and multidimensional relationships with consumers. He believes in the power of big creative ideas that simultaneously deliver on functional needs, human values and desirable aesthetics. 

Aaron Skipper

Design Director
Aaron Skipper
United Kingdom

Freelance Design Director working across multiple sectors within the creative industry. Most recently Design Director at Wieden + Kennedy London.

Selected clients include: Ariana Grande, Bethany Williams, Brick Magazine, British Fashion Council, Brockhampton, Brooke Candy, Clash Magazine, Converse, Facebook, Formula 1, Fiorucci, Future, Google, Kanye West, Louis Vuitton, Nicki Minaj, Nike, NBA, Pornhub, Pusha T, Tate, The Design Museum, Universal Music, V&A and Warner Records.

Moira Cullen

Strategic Advisor, Design
Rethink Food
United States

An internationally recognised design strategist, writer and educator, named “one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company and among the “most influential designers in the past 50 years” by Graphic Design USA, Moira has forged a career leading strategic creative solutions that effectively honor the essence and heritage of organizations, institutions and brands. 

From Fortune 500 to B Corp, her leadership has advanced and elevated design at some of the world’s most iconic brands – method products, PepsiCo, The Hershey Company, and The Coca-Cola Company where she led development of the Coca-Cola visual identity system that won the first Grand Prix for Design at the 2008 Cannes Lions Awards. 

At Hallmark Cards, she built and led the corporate design group that leveraged design as a strategic asset. She was Chair of Communication Arts at Otis College of Art and Design, design manager at Pentagram NY, and creative director for Japanese fashion retailer Taka-Q. 

A frequent keynoter and speaker on design and branding, her essays and criticism have been published in leading design publications and anthologies. She was past president of AIGA’s (The Professional Association for Design) Los Angeles and Kansas City Chapters, served as a director on AIGA’s national board, and is an AIGA Fellow. 

She is animated by an enduring belief in design’s (soft) power to engage hearts and minds.