Alex Connor
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– UX Design & Research
– Organizational Design Strategy Facilitation
– Presentation Design & Public Speaking
Company: Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA
Website: alexconnor.com
LinkedIn: Alex Connor
Contact: 978-457-9792
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’19
Alex has a passion for design facilitation and designing interventions to address systemic inequities to promote health justice for marginalized communities. Over the last 7.5 years Alex has embraced the design skills he learned in Wentworth’s Industrial Design program to lead strategic design initiatives in partnership with executive leaders at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and several provider organizations in Massachusetts to improve the patient experience and how providers interact with insurance for seamless care delivery.
Alex also has a background as a community discussion facilitator with GenUnity, a leadership development program that caters to emerging civic leaders in the greater Boston area.
Alexa Onishuk
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Footwear
– Medical Design
– Rapid Prototyping
Website: alexaonishuk-portfolio.com
LinkedIn: Alexa Onishuk
Contact: alexaonishuk.design@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’21
As a Boston-based industrial designer focused on footwear, I take a hands-on, curious approach, exploring new ideas, materials, and manufacturing techniques to create products that look great and feel right. I’m passionate about blending form and function, and I thrive in collaborative environments where creativity and problem-solving intersect. Mentorship was a meaningful part of my experience at Wentworth, and I hope to offer that same support to you, whether through feedback, guidance, or just someone to talk through ideas with. Outside of design, I waitress locally and enjoy strength training, woodworking, and exploring new places around the world.
Bill Bancroft
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Furniture Design & Architectural Millwork
– Material Exploration & Craftsmanship
– Design Realization & Studio Practice
Company: Bancroft Design, LLC
Contact: bill@billbancroft.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
Bill has been making furniture and architectural millwork around Boston for over 25 years. Bill graduated from Brown University and received an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. In addition to being a maker/artisan Bill taught as an adjunct at the Wentworth Institute Of Technology in the Industrial Design Department. Industrial design at WIT focuses primarily on product design and offers an extensive approach to design development and realization. Bill has also been a guest critic and lecturer at various schools around the Northeast.
Brandon Rodriguez
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Manufacturing
– Medical Device Development
– Building and Running a Business
Company: Atúlo Products
LinkedIn: Brandon Rodriguez
Contact: brandon@atuloproducts.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
Brandon is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Atúlo Products and is a seasoned professional working in the industry since 2002. He is experienced in all areas of designing, manufacturing, and commercializing novel medical devices. With an MBA from Babson College, he drives innovation in healthcare. Leading cross-functional teams, Brandon brings transformative medical technologies to market, improving patient outcomes. Beyond work, he enjoys family time, outdoor adventures, and travel.
Courteney DiDomenico
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– End-to-End Product Development
– Orthopedic Medical Devices
– Building and Running a Business
Company: Atúlo Products
LinkedIn: Courteney DiDomenico
Contact: courteney@atuloproducts.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’19
Courteney is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Atúlo Products, with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Wentworth Institute of Technology, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Since 2019, she has been developing orthopedic medical devices, but Courteney is a true Jack of all trades at Atúlo Products. Her diverse skill set encompasses the realms of design, compliance, sales, marketing, supplier and manufacturer relationship management, patents, trademarks, and beyond. Outside the corporate world, Courteney finds joy in skiing, crafting, sewing, and embracing the outdoors while cherishing moments with friends and family.
Dave Fustino
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Industrial Design & Product Development
– End-to-End Product Development
– User-Centered Design & Viability Strategy
Company: ETHO
Website: davefustino.com
LinkedIn: Dave Fustino
Contact: dave_fustino@etho.design
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’11
Dave is an Industrial Designer located in the Boston area, with 15+ years of industry experience. Having worked on design teams at Bose, Philips & various consultancies to design, develop, mfg & scale a wide range of consumer & commercial products. Supporting end-to-end product development initiatives from concept to production – working alongside start-ups, inventors, development groups, SME’s & fortune 500’s to bring viable, user-centric solutions to market. To learn more, please visit: www.davefustino.com
Haik Tokatlyan
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Understanding of Materiality
– Digital Fabrication
– Building and Running a Business
Company: Jaywalk Studio, LLC (Jaywalk Medical)
LinkedIn: Haik Tokatlyan
Contact: Haik@jaywalkstudio.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’12
Haik is the owner and creative director of Jaywalk Studio LLC., a boutique design and fabrication firm located in Woburn, MA. The studio serves a diverse range of industries, from architecture to medical devices, specializing in the design and fabrication of unique objects and architectural elements. The company functions under two brands, Jaywalk Studio and Jaywalk Medical, both of which emphasize a research and collaboration based approach to problem solving.
Jeff Andrade
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Digital Fabrication
– Production Management
– Photography
Company: Jaywalk Studio, LLC (Jaywalk Medical)
Contact: Jeff@jaywalkstudio.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’17
Jeff is the shop and production manager at Jaywalk Studio. Employee #1 at Jaywalk, Jeff joined the team full time in fall of 2018 after spending the summer hiking the Appalachian trail. He is Jaywalk Studio’s in-house problem solver. Jeff runs fabrication in the Jaywalk shop and is responsible for casting, printing, milling and general making.
Rachel Schaeffer
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– UX Design (Mobile, Web, OTT)
– Human-Centered Design Thinking
– Strategic Storytelling & Stakeholder Buy-In
Company: QVC Group
Website: schaeffer.com
LinkedIn: Rachel Schaeffer
Contact: 609-914-5650 or via LinkedIn
Preferred meeting format: Video call
WIT ID Alum ’19
Hi, I’m Rachel—a Senior Manager of Product Design & Research based in Philly, with a background in UX design and research. I’ve worked in both startups and large corporate environments, and I’m passionate about helping designers grow—whether that means building a standout portfolio, prepping for interviews, or taking the leap into leadership.
I also love supporting creative entrepreneurs—whether you’re running an Etsy business, exploring design thinking, or building your own path in tech or design. I’m here to share what I’ve learned and help you move forward with confidence. Feel free to reach out—I’m excited to connect!
Sam Owens
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Footwear Design
– Adobe Illustrator
– Sketchbook Pro
Company: Puma
Website: samuel-owens.com
LinkedIn: Sam Owens
Contact: samuelowens4@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’19
Hello Students! I’m very excited to join this program and be a small part of the start of your careers. I’m currently working as a Senior Footwear Designer for Puma Basketball. Before that, I spent 6 years working for Cole Haan on various product categories, such as sport performance, lifestyle, outdoor, dress, hybrid, sandals, and much more. I have ample experience on the entire footwear design process from early ideation all the way to seeing your design on someone’s foot walking down the streets of Boston. Whether you’re a die hard footwear fan, or just someone who wants to learn a bit more, please feel free to reach out and connect and I’ll do my best to assist in any way I can.
Steve Listwon
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Concept Development
– Fabrication / Production Strategy
– CAD Modeling / Additive Manufacturing
LinkedIn: Steve Listwon
Contact: stevelistwon@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’03
Steve co-founded Jaywalk Studio in 2014 after completing his MFA in Visual Studies. He has over 20 years of professional design expertise of client based projects and teaching courses at various universities. Over the past three years Steve has been working in Switzerland designing medical simulation devices with a focus on tools to educate users in Sports and Spinal surgical techniques.
Taylor Van Zile
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Footwear Design
– Graphic Design
– Adobe Illustrator / Photoshop
Company: Hey Dude
LinkedIn: Taylor Van Zile
Contact: 732-299-2533
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’16
I’m Taylor, a senior footwear designer with experience working for globally recognizable brands. I am a critical thinker and use my problem-solving skills to overcome hurdles during the design process. My extensive knowledge of shoemaking allows me to design a wide range of footwear styles, from leather shoes to lifestyle sneakers. I’m a team player, who thrives in a fast pace environment and works closely with product management and engineering to create brand right product.
Kirk Morris
Top 3 areas of expertise
– Brand Design Strategy (CPG)
– Creative Problem Solving
– Team Building / Talent Development
Company: Kirk Morris Design
Website: https://www.kirkmorrisdesign.com/
LinkedIn: Kirk Morris
Contact: kirkmorrisdesign@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
Industrial Designer with over 15 years of design and development across CPG industries, with 300+ unique product launches. Extensive experience leveraging global teams in delivering innovation and differentiation across owned, licensed, and private label brand portfolios. Passion for developing talent and driving results with a holistic view of business and end user needs.
Joey Zeledón
Top 3 areas of expertise
– Design Sketching
– Design Storytelling
– Design Portfolio and Identity
Company: Joey Zeledón Studio
Website: https://www.joeyzeledon.com/
LinkedIn: Joey Zeledón
Contact: joey.zeledon@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call
Joey Zeledón (he/they/she) doesn’t just design things — they elevate them, helping products reach their higher purpose. An award-winning designer with nearly two decades of experience, Joey has collaborated with top industry names including HP, Steelcase, Smart Design, Continuum, and Clarks. Their work spans everyday objects to thoughtfully reimagined furniture, blending emotional depth with practicality — always with a focus on comfort, connection, and meaning. Joey is the author of Design is Trans, exploring design as a vehicle for self-discovery and for expressing the true identity of the objects we create, and Touchy/Feely, which champions emotional ergonomics by reminding us that great design isn’t just about how something looks or works, but about how it feels.
Joe Bradford
Top 3 areas of expertise
– AI (LLMs, generative AI, agentic workflows)
– Toy & Game Design
– User Experience Design
Company: Hasbro
Website: http://www.hasbro.com
LinkedIn: Joe Bradford
Contact: joebradfordid@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call
WIT ID Alum ’12
Joe is Principal of Artificial Intelligence and Gaming Innovation at Hasbro/Wizards, where he leads the integration of advanced AI into the future of play. Over more than a decade at Hasbro, he has reimagined iconic brands such as Clue, Monopoly, and Game of Life, while also exploring new frontiers with projects like Trivial Pursuit Infinite. His work has been recognized with industry honors, including Time Magazine naming one of his games among the “Best Inventions of 2018” and another winning a Clio Silver Award for product design. Guided by the belief that design can improve lives, Joe creates impactful experiences that unite culture, technology, and play.
Eddie Bukirch
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Furniture
– CAD
– Project Management
Company: Giacalone Contracting
Website: https://giacalonegc.com
LinkedIn: Eddie Bukirch
Contact: edwardbukirch@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’19
Hello there! I’m Eddie, and I am really excited to get to know you!
Following my time at Wentworth I followed my passion for Furniture Design. I took on a brief contract at a larger company before realizing I wanted to be more directly involved with the process of Furniture making. I began working at Giacalone Contracting (working for a fellow WIT alum!) as the designer / shop foreman. Currently, I still hold these roles, while also taking on general Operations Management as well. This introduced me to a field I never thought I would dig my heels into, and has made me into a far more dynamic and versatile designer as a result. Additionally, I teach CAD at a local Vocational High school, and I am about to start my LLC as a freelance designer. I am hopeful that my strengths in Project Management, Fabrication, CAD, & problem solving will provide helpful insight as you begin your academic journey!
Stormi Knight
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Product Design/UX Design
– Design thinking, strategy
– Design + AI
Company: HubSpot
Website: hubspot.com
LinkedIn: Stormi Knight
Contact: Stormiknightdesign@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
Hey there! I’m Stormi, a designer with 17+ years of experience and currently a Product Designer at HubSpot. My path started with traditional graphic design, moved through agencies, and landed in product design. Lately I’ve been working on AI-powered tools that help marketers create content. I’m fascinated by Vibe Coding and how it’s revolutionizing design and prototyping.
In the past I previously taught UX at WIT and now focus on mentoring students one-on-one or small project groups. I’m always up for coffee locally (Boston/Cambridge area) or a Zoom chat to discuss portfolios, interview prep, or industry trends. Heads up—while I love connecting and sharing knowledge, my team doesn’t hire junior designers, so think of me as your cheerleader and guide rather than hiring manager.
Trevor Dyment
Top 3 areas of expertise
– Home appliances
– 3D printing and rapid prototyping
– Design Leadership
Company: Midea America Corp
Website: Www.trevordyment.com
LinkedIn: Tyler Dyment
Contact: trevordyment@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’19
I’m a passionate designer committed to making a meaningful impact in our close-knit design community. For too long, design has been undervalued in the corporate world, and I’ve made it my mission to restore the designer’s voice while helping educate and empower our peers. With a diverse background spanning multiple industries, I bring flexibility, adaptability, and the insight needed to navigate the complexities of our ever-evolving field.
Deniz Basar
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Design Cognition
– Design Theory & Criticism
– UX Design
Company: University of New Haven
Website: https://www.newhaven.edu/arts-sciences/graduate-programs/ux-design/index.php
LinkedIn: Deniz Basar
Contact: dleblebicibasar@newhaven.edu
Preferred meeting format: Video call
Deniz Leblebici-Basar, Ph.D. currently faculty at University of New Haven College of Arts&Sciences. She has been the coordinator of Master of UX Design since 2024.She has served as tenure track associate professor at Istanbul Technical University School of Architecture, Department of Industrial Design, in Istanbul, Turkey between 2012-2023. Has received her Doctoral, Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Design from Istanbul Technical University. Her research focus is in design cognition, an interdisciplinary field that encompasses cognitive psychology and design. She has worked as a research scholar at the Cognition and Language Lab, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, U.S.A., between 2009 and 2010, where her further research projects started with Prof. Altarriba (who is also her Ph.D. co-advisor). She has been awarded Republic of Turkey Istanbul Development Agency 2011 Grant with the research project ‘A web-based consulting system to introduce SMEs with novice designers. In 2015 she has received internal grant for her project “Word processing in creative problem solving” in collaboration with Cognition and Language Lab, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, U.S.A. In 2020 she has worked as a key expert in EU IPA Project “Industrial Design Ecosystem Axis for ISTANBUL”. Besides strong academic skills, she has also served in many administrative positions, several years as Industrial Design Graduate Programs Coordinator, between 2016-2018 she has served as Vice Dean responsible of administrative services at the Faculty of Architecture, ITU and between 2018-2020 she has served as Visual Communications Director as the Rectorate advisor position of Istanbul Technical University. She has also performed a professional career as a design consultant in various companies since 2001. She has co-founded a stone products company, Project Thinstone in Istanbul, served as a creative coordinator and product design consultant since 2015. Currently, her academic research area focuses on cognitive processes of designing activity and cognitive modeling of the design process, design thinking, user experience design, user experience psychology and university- industry collaborations. Recognized for creative ability, aesthetic sensitivity, creative problem solving, successful team leadership, detailed planning and communications skills.
Ray Zavesky
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Corporate
– Footwear
– Front-end Innovation
Company: Beyond The Village
Website: btvdesign.com
Portfolio: behance.net/zavesky
LinkedIn: Ray Zavesky
Contact: rzavesky@gmail.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call
I’m an Industrial Designer with experience in high volume commercial product and top-level marketing styles. I value being uncomfortable, continuously seeking to apply my foundation in design to new challenges with innovative collaborators. I am passionate about joining forces with the people I admire and seeing what our combined talents can yield.
Eva Cloostermans
Top 3 areas of expertise:
– Medical Simulation Models
– Marketing
– Adobe Premiere Pro
Company: Jaywalk Studio
Website: Jaywalkstudio.com
Portfolio: Evahelena.com
LinkedIn: Eva Cloostermans
Contact: design@evahelena.com
Preferred meeting format: Video call, in-person
WIT ID Alum ’24
I am an industrial designer with experience spanning medical simulation models, art installations, digital fabrication, environmental graphics, and digital content creation. At Jaywalk Studio, I led the marketing initiative, which inspired me to pursue a Master of Science in Marketing at Suffolk University to expand my human factors and marketing research skills. My goal is to gain better insights to develop more effective product development and marketing strategies. I also bring experience in video editing and Figma from previous roles. As a recent graduate, I still remember the challenges of thesis projects and heavy studio workloads, so don’t hesitate to reach out! Whether for a quick call or an in-person chat. Outside of work, I love traveling and baking, especially sourdough bread.