NYCxDESIGN TALK with Will Hall:
Designing Intelligence: Shaping the Future with AI

Technology x Design
With Will Hall
→ Talk
→ Brickworks
445 Fifth Avenue
→ May 20th
2:00pm – 4:00pm
→ RSVP HERE
As artificial intelligence becomes a collaborator, critic, and co-conspirator in the creative process, the role of the designer is rapidly evolving. In this dynamic session, five visionary leaders at the forefront of design and technology will each share short, provocative presentations exploring how AI is reshaping our tools, our aesthetics, and our ethical frameworks.
Featuring David Hoang, Vice President of Design, AI at Atlassian; Chris Traganos, Head of Evangelism at Amazon Alexa; Elley Cheng, President of Pantone; and Jim Keen, Design Leader at Woods Bagot Architects; Will Hall, former Chief Product Officer at RAIN, this session offers a glimpse into the many futures of design—and the intelligence shaping them.
From immersive digital experiences to systems thinking, expect bold provocations, unexpected insights, and a reimagining of what it means to design in the age of AI.
QA and drinks to follow.
Presenters

Will Hall
Will Hall
Chief Product Officer at RAIN
MIT Media Lab Consortium Member
Will Hall is a serial entrepreneur, creative leader, and Presenter on America by Design on CBS. A pioneer in Conversational AI, he developed and sold early voice technology that later became Amazon Alexa. More recently, he secured $30 million in funding—backed by sovereign wealth in Abu Dhabi—to build and scale an AI company across the UAE and Asia.
With a career spanning two decades, Will has worked with 23 of the Fortune 100, served on influential boards—including Google’s Agency Council and NCSU’s Leadership Council—and is an MIT Media Lab Consortium Member. He was also part of the record-breaking Alibaba IPO, the largest in market history. His mom still has no idea what he does.
Will Hall
Chief Product Officer at RAIN
MIT Media Lab Consortium Member

David Hoang
David Hoang
VP of Design, AI at Atlassian
David Hoang is VP of Design, AI at Atlassian, where he’s shaping how human-centered design and artificial intelligence intersect. A leading voice in the evolving role of AI in design, David brings 20 years of experience across product, design, and marketing. He’s led teams at Replit, One Medical, and Webflow, and began his career designing apps for the first iPhone. Trained as a fine artist, he now advises early-stage startups and invests as an independent angel. He lives between Palm Springs and San Francisco.
David Hoang
VP of Design, AI at Atlassian

Elley Cheng
Elley Cheng
President at Pantone
Elley Cheng is President of Pantone, where she leads the company’s growth and innovation across brand strategy, partnerships, and creative tools that span digital and physical experiences. With over 20 years at the intersection of tech and creativity—including leadership roles at Adobe and Shutterstock—she brings deep expertise in product innovation, operational excellence, and M&A strategy. Elley is also a leading voice in the conversation around AI and intellectual property, advocating for creator rights and ethical frameworks in emerging technologies. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley. She is a Directorship Certified member of the NACD.
Elley Cheng
President at Pantone

Chris Traganos
Chris Traganos
Head of Evangelism, Alexa at Amazon
Chris Traganos leads Evangelism for Alexa+, Apps, and Games at Amazon, helping creators and companies harness LLM-powered AI, streaming media, and emerging interfaces. With a background spanning product, design, and platform strategy, he’s shaped innovation programs at Stripe, Evernote, Roku, and Honda. At Stripe, he launched the company’s Open Source Council and championed frictionless user experiences across global tools and content. He also served as VP of Product at M.io (YC ’16) and once helped bring Evernote to the Pebble Watch. Originally from Boston, Chris now splits his time between Austin and Seattle, still fueled by his love of the early web.
Chris Traganos
Head of Evangelism, Alexa at Amazon

Jim Keen
Jim Keen
Design Leader at Wood Bagot Architects
With an exceptional portfolio of global design leadership through his 25+ years of experience, Jim has shaped transformative architectural projects across North America, Europe, and Asia. He is committed to harnessing the latest technologies to advance the art and impact of architecture by integrating artificial intelligence deep into the design process.
When he’s not dreaming up new buildings, he writes sci-fi novels set in the post-singularity world of 2060’s New York and wishes he’d done it under a pen name.
Jim Keen
Design Leader at Wood Bagot Architects
Brickworks