David Jakes’ career as an educational designer has been influenced by the various roles and positions he has held over a 37-year career, with 10 years of design experience. As a certified classroom science teacher, David developed a deep understanding of teaching and learning that has served as a foundation for his entire professional life. As a school administrator, David provided leadership on a wide variety of school opportunities and issues, including the application of educational technology to the school experience. During his time as an educator, David developed an interest in design and learning spaces and joined The Third Teacher+ Design Studio of CannonDesign, an international design firm. David served as a digital learning strategist and had an opportunity to work across the United States on various K-12 and higher education design projects, all in the service of designing contemporary spaces for teaching and learning. Today, David serves as the founder and lead designer for David Jakes Designs LLC, a design studio dedicated to reshaping education through the creation of inspiring learning environments. David is also the author of "The Design Thinking Classroom," a book that provides a roadmap for using design thinking to improve the daily educational experience of students and teachers. David holds an Bachelors and Masters of Science in Biology. 

Dave Diller is currently the Western Regional Director for Fōmcore, a soft-seating manufacturer based in MI. Before his time with Fōmcore, Dave worked as a SpEd teacher for EI students and Director of Spiritual Care for a hospital system in Western MI. This unique background is held in common by Dave’s desire to see people integrate life’s experience in ways that bring about wholeness and affirm their own agency. Dave holds an MDiv from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago; he and his wife Misty have been married for 25 years, have 3 young adult children, and live in Southern California.