Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board unites forward-thinking leaders and experts from diverse fields. With their experience and passion, they guide us on the journey to becoming World Design Capital 2026.

Expert Council

• Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl, President TU Darmstadt
• Dr. Cihan Çelik, Pulmonologist Klinikum Darmstadt
• Dr. Julia Cloot, Artistic Director Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain
• Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff, Executive Board Member at the Leibniz Institute for Peace and Conflict Research (PRIF), Head of International Institutions Program, and Professor of International Relations and Theories of Global Orders at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
• Lutz Dietzold, CEO German Design Council
• Prof. Dr. Brigitte Franzen, President Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) Offenbach
• Dr. Ina Hartwig, City Councillor, Head of Department for Culture and Science Frankfurt am Main
• Susanne Haus, President Handwerkskammer Frankfurt-Rhein-Main
• Sebastian Herkner, Product Designer and University Lecturer
• Hasnain Kazim, Author
• StS Benedikt Kuhn, State Secretary and Head of the Hessian State Chancellery
• Daniela Kupetz, Architect
• Dr. Niklas Maak, Editor of FAZ’s Arts Section, Journalist, and Professor
• Prof. Nicolas Markwald, Designer and Professor Hochschule Rhein-Waal
• Eric Menges, Managing Director Frankfurt/Rhein-Main GmbH
• Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Volker Mosbrugger, Director General (emeritus), Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, President Polytechnische Gesellschaft
• Daniel Neumann, Honorary Managing Director and Board Member Jewish Community of Darmstadt
• Stephan Ott, Director Institute for Design Research and Appliance (IfDRA)
• Dr. Deborah Schnabel, Director Anne Frank Educational Centre
• Nicola Stattmann, Product Designer, Material Expert and University Lecturer
• StS Umut Sönmez, State Secretary Hessian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing, and Rural Development
• Hubertus Väth, Managing Director Frankfurt Main Finance
• StMin a.D. Karin Wolff, Effective Q1 2025

Financial Committee

• StS Uwe Becker, State Secretary and Hessian Ministry of Finance
• Dr. Bastian Bergerhoff, City Councillor and Treasurer Frankfurt am Main
• Dr. Ina Hartwig, City Councillor, Head of Department for Culture and Science Frankfurt am Main
• Ulrich Krebs, District Administrator Hochtaunuskreis
• StS Umut Sönmez, State Secretary Hessian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing, and Rural Development
• Dr. Susanne Völker, Managing Director Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain