Speakers

As Chief Creative Officer at Bruce Mau Design, Laura leads ambitious brand transformations for global companies, cultural institutions and mission-driven organizations. Equal parts strategist and storyteller, she helps brands uncover what makes them meaningful—and then brings that to life through bold, intelligent design systems that flex across every touchpoint. Her work with clients like Sonos, INFINITI, Harvard University and The National Ballet of Canada has turned complex challenges into clear, cohesive and emotionally resonant brand identities. She believes the way we do things is critical and partners with organizations to find the best tools and methods that lead to connection and change. A long-time advocate for thoughtful, human-centred branding, Laura is also a mentor and speaker who enjoys sharing what she’s learned (and unlearned) along the way.

Being both a third culture kid and an avid traveller, Mustaali’s sense of belonging extends well beyond geographic boundaries. This multi-faceted sense of belonging and experiences play an important role in how he explores the intersection of identities through his work. He is a circle, living in a square, drawing triangles.

Nu is a designer, strategist and educator who envisions conditions for communities to thrive. A recipient of the 2025 National Design Award (Emerging Designer), Nu is the Co-Founder, Managing Partner and Creative Director of Deem Journal and the Founder and Principal of ROOM FOR MAGIC. Nu is at the forefront of an emerging generation of designers who integrate design, culture, art, community and social practice. He has partnered with clients that include nonprofits such as the Art for Justice Fund, the Ford Foundation and the World Peace Foundation; cultural institutions such as the National Memorial for the Underground Railroad; and global brands like Nike and Google. His work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Wallpaper, Design Miami, Monocle, and The Architect’s Newspaper. Influenced by his Liberian heritage and passion for counter-culture, he presents keynotes globally on design as an invitation for communities to reclaim their futures.

Peter is the CXO and managing partner of Fantasy: the creative partner behind some of the world’s biggest digital products. A pioneer in human-centred design for over two decades, he’s led and launched next-generation intelligent experiences for the likes of Disney, Nike, Spotify, Netflix, Meta and Google—shipping platforms used by billions daily. Today, Peter and his team lead digital strategy and execution for Fortune 100 clients spanning retail, travel, automotive, technology, banking, healthcare, consumer and beyond. Partnering directly with the executives responsible for these transformations, he’s gained a unique insight into how AI agents are quickly becoming trusted intermediaries for consumers—and what it now takes for companies to maintain these relationships. He’s shared these insights on the world’s most prominent stages, helping organizations understand and prepare for a future most haven’t realized is already here.

At MLS, Roman leads all league creative and shapes campaigns, consumer-facing marketing, narrative storytelling and visual direction to grow the game in North America. His work centres on igniting cultural relevance, brand affinity and fan connection by bringing the sport to life for a new era of fans. Previously, Roman served as the WNBA’s first Creative Director where he orchestrated its creative evolution and helped usher in a new era for the league — spearheading creative across advertising, design, brand marketing, storytelling, television and immersive experiences. His work included launching the league’s rebrand, the WNBA’s first short film We Are The W and the acclaimed “More Than Game” campaign in 2023. His work has been recognized by Ad Age, Adweek, The Business of Fashion, Communication Arts, the Clios, Ebony, Muse, MTV News, the Webby Awards, among others. Prior to joining the WNBA, Roman held creative leadership roles at Rolling Stone, Philadelphia magazine and Condé Nast. He hails from the country roads of West Virginia, where he received a BFA (West Virginia University).

Prior to joining SCAD, the largest and most influential graphic design program in the US, Thomas was Partner and Design Director of Rigsby Hull, a communications brand consultancy where he worked with a diverse range of Fortune 500 companies and organizations including Dell, Sappi Fine Papers, Thornton Tomasetti and the Union of Concerned Scientists. His work is part of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s permanent collection, the Denver Art Museum and Columbia University. The New York Times’ art critic Steven Heller profiles Rigsby Hull’s work in his A Century of Design Milestones. And in each of its 40th, 50th and 60th Anniversary issues Communication Arts has cited Thomas’ work as among the most influential in American Graphic Design.