ETHAN TSAO
Associate Creative Director, DraftFCB Shanghai

Originally from Taiwan, Ethan Tsao came to Shanghai to, well, explore. With a fascination and involvement in the fine arts that spans 20-plus years, Ethan believes that art and design have the power to not just beautify, but to transform, the world. He has been heavily involved in the music industry as both a VJ and music video director, with a client roster that includes Mavis Fan, Cheer Chen, Sandee Chan and Wu Bai. As an agency man -- previously with Ogilvy, and with Draft FCB since 2008 -- has has worked on campaigns for Nokia, Mercedes Benz, Adidas, Levis, and Buick.

FRANCIS LAM
Creative Technologist, W+K Shanghai

With a Master’s from the MIT Media Laboratory, Francis Lam is an expert in the social aspects of the digital media and 3G mobile. In 2004, Francis and his team developed the Versatile Messaging System application which allows users to send customized video and animated messages. As an artist, Francis creates new interfaces and environments for online communication. His award-winning "db-db loves you" is a new web arena for online identities and connecting like-minded individuals.

JIN JIANG BO
New Media Artist

Jin Jiang’s passion is new media art. Although trained in traditional Chinese painting, diverse influences – including study in Japan – eventually oriented him towards modern forms. His work documents changing economic and social patterns, and has been exhibited at the Shanghai Biennale, the 50th Venice Art Biennale, and Art Basel, and been featured in the Sigg Collection. Jin Jiang holds a Masters in Digital Arts and is currently pursuing his Doctor in Information Fine Arts Design.

JOHAN VAKIDIS
Executive Creative Director, AKQA Shanghai

Johan Vakidis is AKQA Shanghai’s Executive Creative Director. Prior to AKQA, Johan was the National Creative Director at OgilvyOne China, where he won numerous awards at Cannes, One Show, and the Clio Awards. During his 8.5-year tenure at OgilvyOne, Johan worked on accounts such as adidas, IKEA, Philips, and Volkswagen. Further back in the CV also sees stints at a dot com and as an multimedia lecturer.

LOTHAR SPREE
Dean of Film/TV & Media Art, Tongi University

Lothar Spree has been playing with images since his days at the famed hochschule fuer gestaltung ulm in the 60s. As an award-winning producer and director, he has worked in film, documentary, TV, media art and exhibitions. As an academic, he built several Film & Media colleges and departments globally, and is affiliated with Germany’s HfG KA National Academy of Design Karlsruhe and Bauhaus University Weimar. In 2003, he came to Shanghai to establish Tongi University’s Department for Film/TV & Media Art. Recently, Lothar’s new media installations have exhibited in China, Italy and the UK.

PANTHEA LEE
Producer

Panthea enjoys talking to trees, hanging out at 60 Wujiang Lu, and biking around Shanghai's French Concession. She is usually covered in cat hair, which might explain the excessive biking: she's secretly hoping that the wind will, uh, sweep away all that kitty fuzz.

BECK YANG
Art Director, OgilvyOne

In addition to his 9 to 5 with OgilvyOne, Beck is also very active in Shanghai's art and design scenes. His obsession with anything and everything relating to freestyle design has earned him inclusion in in leading Chinese galleries including Duolun, the Zendai Museum of Modern Art, BizArt and the DDM Warehouse. Creative collaborations include one-offs with eno clothing, tigerbeer and Gibson Guitars.

ECHO CHEN
Freelance PR and Marketing Manager

Performances, exhibitions, events, media -- these are Echo's passions, which she tends to through her career as a public relations and marketing guru. She has worked with some of Shanghai's most well-known cultural institutions including the Shanghai Concert Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Shanghai Majestic Performance.

ELEPHANT XIANG
Illustrator/Digital Interactive Designer, W+K

Elephant joined W+K Shanghai in 2008. He is a designer of the NewWebPick design platform and a TOY2R contracted designer. His work has been featured in YOHO, Milk, and NewWebPick, to name a few. Among others, his client list includes Volkswagen, Nike, Nokia, and Peugeot.

H. MONKEY HE
Senior interactive designer, DRAFT FCB

Before settling in at Draft FCB, where he plays with cars (Buick, Saab and GM) most of the day, Hmonkey learned his craft as a freelancer, working on campaigns for the likes of Nike, Kappa, Dior and Elle. In 2006, Hmonkey was honoured with an excellence award from China Top Design and, recently, his work was selected for inclusion in the 2010 World Expo poster collection.

STAN XU
Senior interactive designer, Draft FCB

Stan focuses on interactive design that incorporates his first loves, photography and illustration. For his day job, his clients include Apple and Buick. On the side, Stan exhibits locally in Shanghai, and his work has been featured in magazines such as Art World and 1626.

VICTOR XU
Design Supervisor, MoCA Shanghai

After graduating from the Chinese Academy of Art, Victor joined founding team of 61 Creative Studio, where he worked on projects for Bund 18, the Shanghai Auto Museum, and the Animamix exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai. In 2005, he joined MoCA full-time to oversee its Design department. Victor also works as a freelance photographer and graphic designer and has exhibited both in China and internationally.