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Review Team

Rafael Portillo (Architecture)
Founder Artificial Kreativity, UK.
Rafael founded Artificial Kreativity as a design-led architecture studio merging technology, art, and architecture, with the aim to advance society. With his studio, he is supporting the creative community with the Cross Pollinator Project. It aims to make architecture accessible to everyone and expose students to the profession through a multi-disciplinary approach. For over 10 years, he has reviewed portfolios for architecture candidates applying to Cornell University’s architecture school in New York. Prior to launching his studio, he worked with Zaha Hadid Architects. His career spans over 18 years of designing iconic buildings at multiple scales ranging from cultural buildings, FIFA stadiums, masterplans, commercial retail, and private residential designs. Key projects comprise Pierres Vives, Chartres Parc des Expo, Symbiotic Villa, and Diyar Town Center Masterplan. Design interests stem from music, art, landscape, fashion, creativity, and technology. He is a native of Los Angeles, received his BArch from Cornell University, MArch from the Architectural Association, and was on the board of trustees with London Play.

Marta Kowalewska (Art + textile)
Chief curator at the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź (CMWŁ), Poland
With over 25 years of experience, Marta Kowalewska is an art historian and critic, curator of exhibitions and author of texts on art. She looks at textiles as a medium rather than a discipline and believes it is a language—carrier of information and a material full of meaning in the hands of visual artists, artisans, craftsmen, architects and fashion designers. She has curated numerous international exhibitions of renowned artists including Metamorphism. Magdalena Abakanowicz (2017-18), Rebellion of the matter (2017), 100 Flags for the Centenary of Polish Women’s Suffrage (with the 100 FLAG collective, 2019), Antoni Starczewski: The Idea of Linear Notation (with Grzegorz Musiał, 2022), Threads of a New Spirituality (with Elisabetta Mero, 2022), We Are Textile Culture Net! (Hong Kong 2022), and the 16th and 17th International Triennial of Tapestry (2019, 2022). She has published more than seventy articles, critical texts and interviews including co-authoring the book From Tapestry to Fiber Art: The Lausanne Biennials 1962–1995. She also edited the book Magdalena Abakanowicz. Metamorphism. She has been on the juries of international textile art competitions and is a board member of the European Textile Network, as well as the chairwoman of the Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz- Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation Advisory Board.

Amy Peacock (Architecture)
Architecture Reporter at Deezen, UK
Amy Peacock is an architecture journalist at Dezeen, where she reports on the latest news in architecture, design and the built environment. Based in London, she holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Liverpool and a master’s degree from the University of Strathclyde. Drawing on her architectural training, she is driven to uncover compelling stories and emerging ideas shaping the industry.

Chris Dyson (Architecture)
Founder of Chris Dyson Architects, UK.
Chris Dyson is a London-based architect known for combining contemporary design with a deep respect for historic context and craftsmanship. As founder of Chris Dyson Architects, he has led projects ranging from cultural and civic buildings to housing, hotels and sensitive heritage restorations across the United Kingdom. His work is recognised for its human scale, material richness, and commitment to sustainability, often bringing new life to overlooked urban sites. Educated in Britain and shaped by experience at Oxford Brookes and Glasgow schools of Architecture, Dyson advocates for architecture that is socially engaged, environmentally responsible and rooted in the character and memory of place.

Janek Schaefer (Sound + Art)
Sound Artist, UK.
Sound Artist, entertainer & visiting professor, Janek Schaefer trained as an Architect at the Royal College of Art, where he developed his focus on the relationship between sound, space and place, and started his art career, by posting a sound activated tape recorder [Recorded Delivery], for the exhibition with Brian Eno and Artangel. The context of each idea is central to its development and resolution, often exploring themes of appropriation, accident, & alteration. For 35 years his installation work frequently addresses the implications of the way we are living. He has exhibited and performed in 30 countries worldwide, from The Tate Modern, via Pompidou & MIT, to The Sydney Opera House. In 2008 'Extended Play' won a Paul Hamlyn Award & the British Composer of the Year Award in Sonic Art. He has released 40+ albums, won UK 'Best Mobile DJ' in 2020, and The Bluecoat gallery has exhibited a Retrospective of his career.

Dagmar Binsted (Architecture)
Associate at Scott Brownrigg Architects, UK.
With a passion about the future of the architecture profession, Dagmar is involved with apprenticeship programs to teaching professional practice and mentoring students within Scott Brownrigg Architects, RIBA (Royal Institute of Architects), and Oxford Brookes University. This includes being part of the initial start-up of the Architecture Apprenticeship Trailblazer group, at Scott Brownrigg Architects. It emphasises in-practice experience by combining work-based learning with academic training. Professionally she has worked on international projects ranging from commercial development to student housing, and large scale refurbishments. She was the chair of SLSA (South London Society of Architects—RIBA Southwest and Southeast) and served on the Practice Committee and Education Trust Fund Committee as part of her role as a member of the RIBA council and RIBA London regional council. Raised in Transylvania (Romania) and Bavaria (Germany) she received her architecture degree, Dipl-Ing, at the Technical University of Munich and has worked in Germany, Luxembourg, and the UK. As a student her work experience included a three month internship at the Chinati Foundation in Texas (USA).

More to come!

Guest Presentations from our Cross Pollinators

Coming Soon! (XPollinator)

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