Jill Seale

Jill Seale is an American textile and surface designer, marbling artist, and founder of Jill Seale Design Studio. A seasoned licensed product designer and author, her work spans textiles, wallcoverings, tabletop, and home décor, with designs sold and licensed worldwide. Deeply rooted in the historic craft of paper marbling, Jill studied the ancient technique with master artisans in Florence, Italy, and now uses it as one of the foundations for her vibrant, contemporary patterns. From her studio she creates expressive, fine art-driven designs that celebrate color and movement, where the artist’s hand is everpresent. At the Bienenstock College Student Summit, Jill will guide participants through an experiential marbling session, sharing the magic of this centuries-old technique and inviting students to explore the mesmerizing process.

She will demonstrate and lead an activity where students can create their own marbling paper.

David Blair, Executive Director

International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD)
Through more than 25 years of working in home furnishings, David gained a deep appreciation for the value of creativity and innovation in this industry. Drawn by ISFD’s mission to promote and advance outstanding product design, he became the organization’s executive director in January, 2023. In this position, he works with educators, manufacturers, materials suppliers, retailers, interior designers, and members of the home furnishings media to elevate, support and advocate for professional home furnishings designers.

Scott Coley, Founder, D. Scott Coley Designs

An award-winning furniture designer and author, Scott has more than 30 years of experience in creating innovative designs for leading furniture manufacturers in the United States. As a fourth-generation member of North Carolina’s furniture industry, he serves as the president of the International Society of Furniture Designers and is a board member of the National Upholstery Association. Coley is also the author of the award-winning book Elements of Furniture Design.

Annina Fremgen, Founder, Studio Fremgen

After five years at Caracole Home, where she designed multiple award-winning collections, Annina applied her skills to lighting design at John Richard. Now, at Studio Fremgen, she works directly with clients to find the perfect balance between their vision and her eye as she creates bespoke furnishings that maintain an elegant simplicity that elevates the spaces they inhabit.

“The search for beauty never ends — what would the world be without it?” —Annina

Stephanie Lena, Founder, Lena Design

Before launching her furniture design studio, Lena Design, Stephanie helped several furniture manufacturers build respected brands in her roles as creative director and VP of merchandising. She believes home furnishings and personal style are deeply connected, designing with an eye toward how consumers shop and live today. Her work has earned multiple ISFD Pinnacle Award nominations, including three wins. She holds an industrial design degree from Western Michigan University.

Kian Maghsoud, Furniture Designer, Otto & Moore, Inc.

Over the past four years, Kian has created designs for many furniture manufacturers, including Bernhardt, Universal Furniture, and Hooker Furnishings, among others. She earned her graduate degree in Interior Architecture from UNC Greensboro, with a focus on furniture design. Kian has a strong interest in integrating new technologies and AI into the furniture design process. In 2022, she was one of the student participants in the Bienenstock Future Designers Summit.

Cory Martin, Upholstery Designer, Bernhardt Furniture Company

With more than 25 years in luxury residential furniture design, Cory has worked with some of the industry’s most respected brands, including Hickory Chair, Henredon/Ralph Lauren, Verellen, and Bernhardt. A 2025 Pinnacle Award recipient and ISFD Board Member, he is known for combining trend forecasting, innovation, and a deep understanding of brand identity. Today, Cory brings the perspective of a long-term staff designer and mentor to discuss building a successful and enduring career in furniture design.

Jeremy Kamiya, Founder Kamiya Furniture

Jeremy is an award-winning designer-maker known for his deep understanding of wood species and his no nails, no screws, no-stains approach, highlighting the wood’s natural character.

Steve Hodges

Retired principal of the firm Steve Hodges Associates Inc., Steve was a freelance designer for more than 42 years. He has designed bedroom, dining room, occasional and upholstery in all styles and price points for many of the leading furniture manufacturers in the industry. His firm received the Pinnacle Award in the Bedroom category in 1999 and 2004 and in the Youth Furniture Category in 2015.