2024
Tenna Florian, FAIA, is a partner and co-leader of the Lake|Flato’s Eco-Conservation Studio.
Jon Hallberg, MD, is a professor in the Department and Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and is the creative director of the school’s Center for the Art of Medicine.
Alejandra Peña Gutiérrez is the director of the Weisman Art Museum and a certified architect from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Jesse Puka-Beals is a researcher at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, doing small plot cropping systems research.
Maggie Thompson (Fond du Lac Ojibwe) is a textile artist and designer and derives her inspiration from the history of her Ojibwe heritage.
Aaron Wallace, founder of Oxbow Designs, has a passion for woodworking and timber framing, designing and building elements of commercial and residential architecture.
2023
Riki Banerjee — Neurotech leader and vice president of research and development at Synchron
Maddy Bartsch — Farmer, educator, and organizer of decentralized textile economies based in Minneapolis
Brian A. Grandison — Actor, a writer, a director, and artist-in-residence in the Twin Cities, around the country, and internationally
Peter Mui — Founder of Fixit Clinic
Ron Ramsay — Creator of Agincourt, Iowa and an associate professor of architecture at NDSU
David Thomas — From the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba and manager of planning and design for Treaty One
2022
Brian Alexander — Transdisciplinary artist focused on sound
Dr. Tiara Moore — Biologist and activist
William Swanson — Suspense fiction writer and journalist
Katie Swenson — senior principal, MASS Design Group
Cole Wehrle — Table-top game designer
2021
Christina Ciardullo, Michael Morris, and Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman — Architects and designers, Space Exploration Architecture
Kate Ladenheim — Dance artist and choreographer
Ellie Lum — Bag maker and educator, Klum House
Peyton Scott Russell — Graffiti artist
2020
Francis D.K. Ching — Architect, professor, sketcher, author
Jamie Fassett-Carman and Mark Larson — Puzzle and escape room designers, Trapped Puzzle Rooms
Matt Jenkins — Blacksmith, Cloverdale Forge
Kevin Johnson — 3D printing research fellow, Stratasys
Kathy McTavish — Media composer and installation artist
Lucia Watson — Chef and founder of the former Lucia’s Restaurant, author
2019
Adam Regn Arvidson — Landscape architect, author, Wild and Rare
Ansley Barnard — Aerospace and automotive engineer
Johanna Hurme — Architect, founding partner, 5468796 Architecture
Erin Rafferty-Bugher — Art therapist, educator
Jonathan Thunder — Multidisciplinary artist (canvas, animation, film, 3D projection mapping)
Jess Zimbabwe — Architect, city planner, National League of Cities, Daniel Rose Center for Public Leadership
2018
Dessa — Rapper, singer, essayist, poet
Billie Faircloth, AIA — Partner, research director, KieranTimberlake
Amara Hark-Weber — Shoemaker, artist, educator
Kate Sutton-Johnson — 3D designer of environmental, exhibit, and stage design
Mary Anne Wise — Textile artist, cofounder of Cultural Cloth
Kao Kalia Yang — Writer, author of The Song Poet and The Lakehomecomer
2017
Diane Jones Allen — Landscape architect, DesignJones LLC
Lucie Amundsen — Egg farm co-owner, author, Locally Laid
Matthew Baldwin — Illustrator, painter, artist
Mark Hansen — Teacher, designer, builder, North House Folk School founder
Brent Kelley, AIA — Architect, principal, Corgan, specializing in airports
Mina Leierwood and Peter Schulze — Artist/teacher and artist/engineer, Art Shanty Project – Polar Bear on Wheels
2016
Bob Borson, AIA — Architect, blogger of “Life of an Architect”
Len Brackett — Japanese house designer, woodworker
Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer — Performers, choreographers, Bridgman/Packer Dance
Erin McKean — Lexicographer, founder of Wordnik.com
Carolyn Porter — Graphic designer, type designer of the P22 Marcel font
Charles Yust — Principal design technologist at frogdesign
2015
Dan Chouinard — Pianist and accordionist
Todd Melby — Reporter, digital innovator, lead producer of “Black Gold Boom“
Ellie Schoenfeld — Poet, co-author of Bound Together: Like the Grasses
Andy Skoglund — Engineer and bike designer, Surly Bikes
2014
Rob Cotter — CEO and Founder of Organic Transit, creator of the Elf
Eric Gjerde — Author and paper artist; Origamist
Christopher Haas, AIA — Architect and founder of HAAS Architecture in San Francisco
Chuck Hoberman — Hoberman Associates, a multi-disciplinary practice; transformable principles
C. Michael Lewis — Freelance artist with backgrounds in architecture and advertising
Joyce Sutphen — Author, teacher, award-winning poet, 2011 MN Poet Laureate
Lucas Westcott — Lead interpretive ranger, Rock Harbor Ranger Station, Isle Royale on Lake Superior
2013
Gabriel Campanario — Founder of Urban Sketchers; staff artist at the Seattle Times
Dr. Yuri Danilov — Tactile Communication & Neurorehabilitation Lab, UW-Madison
Michael Fortune — Canadian creative contemporary furniture master
Elizabeth P. Gray, FAIA — Founding principal and partner, Gray Organschi Architecture
Anna Kipnis — Video game designer/creator of Molyjam, Double Fine Productions
Doug Scholz-Carlson — Minneapolis-based fight choreographer, actor, and director
2012
Megan Q. Bachman — Writer, photographer, on global climate change
Michael Barone — Pipe organ musician; Executive Director of Pipedreams
Calvin Brook — Architect, urban designer, and planner
Chris Downey — “Architect who lost his vision”
Carl Haensel — Educator, biologist, photographer, writer, fishing guide
Butch Roy — HUGE Improv Theater
2011
Edith Ackermann — Developmental psychologist, educator, researcher
Sam Bousfield — Inventor of Switchblade; CEO of Samson Motorworks
Rick Defoe — Annishinabe and a Fond-Du Lac band member, co-chair of the Duluth American Indian Commission
Debra Frasier — Children’s book author and illustrator
Jerry Messman — Architect, BSB Design; designer of the Abod
Norbert Yankielun — Explorer, engineer, inventor, author
2010
Kevin Clemens — Author, engineer, environmentalist
Kimberly Dickey — designer, statistician, environmental specialist
Prudence Johnson — Singer/songwriter
Tim Kaiser — Folk music/performance art
Blaine Merker — Environmental designer
Craig Scott — Architect, IwamotoScott Architecture
2009
Bruce Blair — Permaculture
Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick — New Orleans cultural photographers
Nicolai Czumaj-Bront — Industrial designer, Haworth
John Langdon — Ambigrams word artist
Kristina de Sacramento and Michael Zieghan — Flamenco dancer and guitarist
Erik Simula — Birch bark canoes/Lake Superior travel
Carole Wedge — Architect, Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott
2008
Lance Brockman — Theater scene designer
Heinz Brummel — Jeweler/sculptor
Bill Holm — Author and storyteller
Eddie Jones — Architect, Jones Studio, Inc.
Mark Thomas — Creator of the SeaDog Pump
Becky Weis — Scandinavian fiddler
Marcy Wheeler — Political blogger
2007
Carol Barton — Pop-up book artist
Bill Bastian — Operatic performer
Bill Berg — Wildlife research biologist
Martin Kastner — Alternative food service concepts
JB Straubel — Chief Technical Director, Tesla Motors
Anni Tilt and David Arkin — Architects, Arkin Tilt Architects
2006
Jeff Bartlett — Lighting designer, Southern Theater
Arthur Ganson — Sculptor, inventor, mechanical engineer
Jerry Glover — The Land Institute
Ari Hoptman — Comedian
Suzanne Moore — Lettering artist
Dan Newton — Accordionist
Jane Weinzapfel — Architect, Leers Weinzapfel Associates
2005
Ben Hall — Graffiti artist
Ruth MacKenzie and Dean Magraw — Musicians
Carol Rehtmeyer — Toy design/marketing
Robert Scott — Jet edge technology, Possis Medical
James Timberlake — Architect, KieranTimberlake Associates
Richard Taylor — Fractals
Richard Vosko — Liturgical consultant
2004
Tim Eliassen — America’s Cup racing boats
Andrew Freear — Auburn University Rural Studio
Charles Harper — Architect, disaster relief
Robert Hogg — Micro-Robot Explorer, NASA
Kevin Kling — Storyteller, playwright, comedian
Rivers and Tides — Film
2003
Stuart Allan — Mapmaker, cofounder, Raven Maps
Wing Young Huie — Photographer
Collen Kruse — Comedian, storyteller
William Massie — Architect
Amelia Rudolph — Extreme dance, Project Bandaloop
Mark Seeley — Climatologist
Mark Zeh — Studio IDEO
2002
Kurt Buetow — Designer, inventor
Doug Garofalo — Architect
Wallace Hill — Musician, Minneapolis Drum Center
Steve Loken — Center for Resourceful Building Technology
Mira Nakashima-Yarnall — Architect-trained furniture designer
Dale Sohlstrom — Minnesota Street Rod Association
Kent Whealy — Seed Savers Exchange
2001
Joe Chvala — Dancer, Flying Foot Forum
Craig Curtis — Architect
Michael Donahue — Great Lakes Commission
David Robinson — Terrorist prevention, Sandia National Labs
Robert Schemenauer — Fog collection as a means of water supply
Orrin Shane — Archeologist
Sandy Spieler — Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theater
2000
Richard Bresnahan — Potter
Sheila Kennedy — Architect
Karal Ann Marling — Author on popular culture
Matteo Martignoni — Cycle Rickshaw Improvement Project, India
Bruce Murray — Native American storyteller
Kirk Tingblad — Animator
1999
Michael Chandler — Artist
Douglas Ewart — Musician, creator of musical instruments
Pliny Fisk — Environmentalist, straw bale construction
NASA — Design for space exploration
Herb Pick — Wayfinding, spatial cognition
Peter Woytuk — Sculptor
1998
Merrill Elam — Award-winning Atlanta architect
Daniel Fechtner — Prosthetics designer, rehabilitative medicine
Gerhardt Knodel — Textile artist, Cranbrook Academy of Art
John Margolies — Photographer, commentator on American popular culture
Fuller Moore — Daylighting, work of Alvar Aalto
Jim Stowell — Storyteller, Twin Cities playwright
1997
Leslie Ball & Gary Rue — Songwriters and musical performers
Terry Beaubois — Architect, multimedia design solutions
Mike Davis — Ecologist, Minnesota DNR, Mississippi River
Ralph Goldbeck — Architect, Wienermobile designer
Katherine Lanpher — Journalist, Pioneer Press
Brion Toss — Rigger, author, philosopher
Jacqueline Vischer — Environmental psychologist
1996
Steve Badanes — Design/build architect, Jersey Devils
Leslie Ball — Singer, songwriter, performer
Wayne Bowes — Bus-based transit planning, Ottawa
Eric Goetz — Space-age boatbuilding, America’s Cup
Craig Roeder — Healing light and colors
Michael Van Staagen — Cirrus aircraft design
1995
Craig Blacklock — Lake Superior photography
Stewart Brand — How buildings learn, evolving design
Medard Gabel — World Game, world resources
Ken Greenberg — Urban design and planning, Toronto
Jeff Teague and Franz Von Holzhausen — VW Concept 1 design
Stanley Tigerman and Eva Maddox — Archiworks design school
1994
Tom Bender — “Architecture with heart and spirit”
Dudley Riggs — Satirical review
Ron Bowen — Prairie restoration
Philip Brunelle — Conductor, design of music
Nancy Clanton — Lighting that responds
Paul Hawken — Ecology of commerce, sustainability
House of cards
1993
Bob Bruce and Marc Hinshaw — Lake Superior Center update
Friend, Hauser, Hegman, Jennings — Arts on 2 production
Nancy Gibson — Wolf Center naturalist
Bill Holm — Poetry, humor
Bart Prince — Organic craft houses
Gary & Susanne Siepl-Coates — Swedish sustainable communities
John Zeisel — Humanistic space planning
Fishing lure design
1992
Bill Holm — Poetry, humor
Jerry Kimball — Duluth waterfront plans
Frank LaGiusa — Commercial lighting
J. C. Mays — Audi automobile design
Tony Nelessen — Urban community planning
Mike Plant — Around-the-world sailboat racing
Fanciful footbridge designs
1991
Bob Bruce — Lake Superior Center
Michael Crosbie — Soviet architecture
Mary Lee Hardinbergh — Environmental dance, choreographer
Kirk Ready — Solar-powered cars
Darrel Rhea — Packaging, design research
Bill Sims — Walt Disney Imagineering
Larry Stark — Ice-fish house designs
1990
Colder by the Lake — Drama troupe
Mark Erickson — Outdoor clothing and tent design
Art Harkins — Futuristic planning
Vladimir Matus — Northern climate planning
Dave Mona — Public relations, Super Bowl XXVI
Mary Nordale — Alaskan housing and culture
Saunders Schultz — Sculptor, creative problem-solver
Wayne Tobiasson — Cold regions engineering, Antarctica
1989
John Alred — NASA designer, space station
Colder by the Lake — Drama troupe
Marc Hinshaw — HHPJ architects, deconstructivism
Michael Kalil — Space station, interior space
Ron Keenberg — IKOY architects, industrialized building
Bob Mantell — Arctic expedition, explorer
Tom Newhouse — Furniture design, office systems