Director of Design Strategy for a Chicago strategic branding company, Michael uses semiotics in brand development, visual language research & global brand alignment initiatives for some of the US's largest companies. A BA in Anthropology from Rutgers, he worked as a community developer in Zimbabwe then a researcher at UC San Francisco into the physiological effects of multisensory signifiers on cocaine users. After working for Interbrand, Michael earned a Masters in Design Methodology from the Institute of Design in Chicago, closely mentored in semiotics by Duncan Berry, renowned Peircian and expert in neuro-design.
Chicago, USA
Kristian Bankov (b. 1970) is professor in semiotics, sociology of consumption and brand communication at New Bulgarian University. He is the head of the Southeast European Center for Semiotic Studies and director of the Sociosemiotic laboratory there. KB is the main organizer of the annual Early Fall School in Semiotics (EFSS) which takes place in Bulgaria, mostly in Sozopol, each September since 1995. He likes beer and football. For more information see Facebook.
Sofia, Bulgaria
With over 20 yrs as a qualitative researcher mining insights for global clients, Piyul feels that she has lived in the eye of a hurricane, in the aftermath of globalization. Fascinated by larger changes in the Indian social fabric, she is now a doctoral student at IIT Bombay, studying ‘the decline of a city and its impact on women’. She also continues to enjoy working on projects for clients who are passionate about making the world a better place.
Mumbai, India