Design Summit 2025

Concept is King! The Design Summit 2025

Hosted by the Department of Art & Art History at Baylor University. The 2025 conference emphasized the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and its benefits and addressed some controversies around this new technology. The Design Summit's goal was to introduce our faculty and students to the AI relationship within the design and marketing industry, as well as teaching design in higher education. 

Sponsored by: Lenovo and The Department of Art & Art History at Baylor University.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Baylor Library | Jones 200 

CAE CREDIT EVENT

Photos from the Summit | Click to Enlarge and Scroll

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

JEFFREY G. DAVIS     
Graphic Designer and Professor, Judson Design and Texas State University

Jeffrey Davis (Jefe to friends and family) is an award-winning designer and educator who has been teaching Communication Design at Texas State University—San Marcos since 1998. Before joining Texas State, he was the creative director at Judson Design Associates and a senior designer at Hill Branding in Houston. Jeff’s expertise in teaching, logo design, and visual brand development is grounded in principles of human-centered design and is increasingly augmented by AI technology.  

Throughout his career, Jeff has worked with global brands such as Ritz-Carlton Residences, JCB Bank, Cemex, United Airlines, Pepsi/Frito-Lay, the NBA Houston Rockets, Texas Medical Center, Chevron, Exxon, HP, H-E-B, and more. Today, he focuses on helping start-ups and small-cap enterprises build their brand presence. In both his practice and teaching, Jeff integrates generative AI into curriculum development, project management, and conceptual strategies, enhancing project outcomes and the learning experience for his students and clients.  

Jeff has received international recognition for his teaching and design, raising awareness for causes such as education, global conflict, environmental issues, cancer, human rights, universal healthcare, and marine preservation. He has been honored by leading design organizations and publications, including The New York Art Directors Club, Type Directors Club, Communication Arts, Print, How, Good50X70, LogoLounge, and Graphis Press. He has also served on the board of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).  

Outside of teaching and design, Jeff enjoys surfing and fly fishing with his friends and family, always under the watchful eye of his wife Shannon, their daughters Jess and Elli, and their five rescue dogs—Charlie, George, Cherry, Buttons, and Dobby.

For More Information on Jeffrey Davis  

BILL GARDNER 
Designer and Publisher, Gardner Design, LogoLounge Books, and Annual Logo Trends

As the owner and president of Gardner Design, Bill and his team have produced effective and award-winning results for such industry leaders as Cessna, Spirit AeroSystems, Bombardier/Learjet, Thermos, NFL, Facebook, Google, Pizza Hut, Coleman Outdoor, Kroger, Hallmark, Cargill Corporation, SeaWorld, and others. He understands the nuances of brand practicalities better than anyone in the business and leads his team to always first consider the business that the design is supporting.

As the founder of LogoLounge.com – the international, searchable compendium of logos – Bill authored the affiliated bestselling LogoLounge book series, volumes 1-14, and is the author of the annual LogoLounge Logo Trend Report. 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of the first release of Logo Creed, the popular foundation textbook for students, educators and professionals alike. Bill is also the author and presenter of LinkedIn Learning’s series of online courses concentrating on branding and identity design.

In 2014, Bill became an AIGA Fellow Award recipient for his contributions to the local, national and international creative community. Bill also judges design competitions and speaks nationally and internationally on identity trends and logo development. In his spare time, he serves on a variety of boards and has completed a six-year term as the Territorial Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

For More Information on Bill Gardner  

ALBERTO SANDOVAL 
Executive Director of Services and Solutions Group, Lenovo 

Alberto Sandoval is a customer-obsessed global executive with extensive international experience generating double to triple-digit growth in Cloud, AI, and as-a-Service (SaaS) in the technology services space. He thrives on launching new categories, breaking into new markets, creating new businesses and revenue streams, and leading company-wide business transformations. A builder at heart, Alberto consistently delivers top and bottom-line financial value, with a passion for leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges.

As the Executive Director for Lenovo's Services and Solutions Group (SSG) portfolio, Alberto drives Product Marketing and Go-to-Market global direction and leads the messaging vision and strategy for the end-to-end portfolio. He oversees AI Services, Hybrid Cloud, Digital Workplace, Sustainability, and Lifecycle services. Known for his dynamic presence, Alberto often speaks at trade shows or lectures at universities.

Before joining Lenovo in early 2023, Alberto was the Global Director of Go-to-Market and Portfolio Management Advisory & Professional Services at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. He also held key roles at Rackspace, including Director of Strategic Initiatives & Product, Director of Marketing & Strategy for Latin American Markets, and led Go-To-Market teams in London, UK.

Alberto holds an MBA from Rice University and a Bachelor of Science in Computerized Systems and Information Technologies from Universidad Iberoamericana. Currently based in San Antonio, Texas, he is known for his easygoing nature and is a lot of fun to be around, whether one-on-one, on a trip, at an offsite, or in a Monday morning Teams call.

For More Information on Alberto Sandoval  

Sponsored by: Lenovo and The Department of Art & Art History at Baylor University.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM | Baylor Library | Jones 200 

Format: Keynotes and Q&A

Contact: Assistant Professor of Art, Genaro Solis Rivero
Email: Genaro_SolisRivero@baylor.edu