THE EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES ITS 2026/2027 INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Global Awards Body Assembles Distinguished Panel of Experiential Design Leaders from Six Continents to Guide Its Global Competitions

The Experiential Design Authority — the international body overseeing global experiential design competitions honoring exhibits, events, expos, and immersive experiences — today announced the members of its 2026/2027 International Advisory Board. The distinguished panel brings together accomplished professionals representing the full breadth of the experiential design industry across six continents, from scenographers, retail designers, and modular construction specialists to large-scale brand experience creators and experiential agency founders.

"Building a truly international advisory board means finding people who don't just understand experiential design. They've spent their careers pushing it forward," said Travis Stanton, Executive Director of The Experiential Design Authority. "These are professionals who have spent decades doing the work — designing, building, and producing experiences that move people — and each brings a perspective shaped by a different corner of the world."

This year’s board welcomes five first-time advisors: Jorge Reis Alves, Senior Production Designer, Niu Experience Agency, Portugal; Iwan Funk, Scenographer, Co-CEO, and Partner, Bellprat Partner, Switzerland; Pauline Hilbrink, Owner/Director, Expovorm International, Netherlands; Luke Ng, Executive Creative Director, KR+D Pte Ltd., Singapore; and Stan Kruss, Founder and CEO, Expo Centric, Australia.

International Advisory Board members serve a critical role within The Experiential Design Authority’s competition ecosystem, judging TEDA’s various awards programs, weighing in on the organization’s direction, determining and weighting scoring criteria, etc. They also play a vital role in spreading awareness of the organization and its efforts to provide scholarships, travel and internship stipends, and recognition opportunities for aspiring student designers. The Experiential Design Authority is also home to a 32-member U.S. Advisory Board comprising leading experiential designers, architects, and marketers from across the United States.

2026/2027 International Advisory Board Members

·         Alejandro Blitstein, Former Owner, Dodecaedro Group, Argentina

·         Axel von Hagen, Founder/Managing Partner, von Hagen Design, Germany

·         Brena Bäumle, Executive Director, Bäumle Organização de Feiras, Brazil

·         Dr. Carmelo Zappulla, CEO, External Reference, Spain

·         Edwin Van der Vennet, Chief Innovation Officer & Co-Owner, BeMatrix, Belgium

·         Ian Simpson, Principal, WATG, Singapore

·         Isabel Lorenzo, CEO, Octaplan Arquitetura e Promocoes Ltda., Brazil

·         James Inedu-George, Head of Design, HTLAfrica, Nigeria

·         Javier Cardona, Chief Strategy Officer, Mobohubb, Colombia

·         Jorge Reis Alves, Senior Production Designer, Niu Experience Agency, Portugal

·         Iwan Funk, Scenographer, Co-CEO, and Partner, Bellprat Partner, Switzerland

·         Kerem Oba, Founder Partner and General Manager, Capital Events, Türkiye

·         Luke Ng, Executive Creative Director, KR+D Pte Ltd., Singapore

·         Maria Rosantina, Principal Architect, Yolodi + Maria Architects, Indonesia

·         Maria-Amaya Ferrari, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Black Nova, Italy

·         Mphethi Morojele, Founder and Architect, MMA Design Studio, South Africa

·         Natalia Gurok, International Business Development, Wow Spaces, UAE

·         Nathalie Vandeweerdt, Chief Operating Officer, The Inside Standbouw, Netherlands

·         Pauline Hilbrink, Owner/Director, Expovorm International, Netherlands

·         Rohit Saraogi, Co-Founder and Director – Europe & USA, Design Desk, Poland

·         Signe Byrdal Terenziani, Managing Director, 3daysofdesign, Denmark

·         Smart Xu, Vice President, Lingtong Exhibition System Co. Ltd., China

·         Stan Kruss, Founder and CEO, Expo Centric, Australia

·         Sue Kim, Head of Exhibition Strategy and Communication Department, AKEI, Korea

·         Takhmina Turdialieva, Director, Tatalab.uz, Uzbekistan

·         Tran Thi Ngu Ngon, Co-Founder, Tropical Space, Vietnam

·         Vickie Velji, Chief Experience Officer, Kubik, Canada

·         Umaree Charnnarong, Creative Business Development Director, Index Creative Village, Thailand

Competitions Overseen by The Experiential Design Authority

The International Advisory Board will help guide and judge three signature competition programs:

The BOSS Awards — Best of Show recognition for standout exhibits, events, and experiential environments at specific events such as the International Consumer Electronics Show

The ExSys Awards — Honoring excellence across more than 20 categories in experiential design and execution using system-based components

The World Expolympics — An international competition spotlighting the finest work on display at world expos around the globe

About The Experiential Design Authority

The Experiential Design Authority is an international body dedicated to providing affordable, unbiased, and wholly transparent recognition opportunities for experiential marketers and designers worldwide. Founded and led by Travis Stanton — originator of the Portable/Modular Awards, World Expo Awards, Find It – Top 40, Centers of Excellence, EuroShop Awards, Best of CES, and ISE Stand Design Awards — The Experiential Design Authority refuses paid advertising and sponsorship to preserve the integrity of its competitions. Entry fees are kept at least 20 percent below comparable programs, and the organization directs net profits from entry fees toward scholarships, student design competitions, and travel/internship stipends.

For more information, to submit an entry, or to inquire about board membership, visit www.experientialdesignauthority.com or contact info@experientialdesignauthority.com.