SpaceX Director of Design Hillary Coe and Executive Creative Director Joroan Lazaro Join AKQA

AKQA has today announced the addition of two senior creative hires to its roster. SpaceX director of design, Hillary Coe, and executive creative director, JoRoan Lazaro, have joined the team.

Hillary has been appointed as principal of experience for AKQA and will be based in AKQA’s San Francisco studio. Hillary is a creative leader with over 15 years of experience in technology and multimedia design, catering to some of the world’s largest and innovative companies. Most recently, she was director of design at SpaceX, providing design and human experience leadership in collaboration with NASA. Prior to that she was a creative director at Google.

Her humanitarian efforts include empowering STEM education through XQ/Emmerson Collective, the UN summit campaign for Conservation International, advising for XPRIZE and mentoring young women and creatives entering STEM fields.

On her appointment, Hillary said: "We live at a phenomenal intersection of human experience, exploration and the technologies available to make anything possible. AKQA has a proven legacy of being at the forefront of these technologies, integrating a global community of master multidisciplinary designers, storytellers and technologists to solve problems for the worlds leading innovators. I am joining this team because I believe the human experience relies on these architects to build the future we all want. I am humbled for this opportunity and look forward to what we will create together."

JoRoan joins AKQA with over 20 years of experience in product design and will lead the creative team at AKQA’s New York studio. JoRoan has established himself at technology companies and startup environments over his career, building and implementing consumer design experiences and developing talent into high-functioning teams.

Commenting on his appointment, JoRoan commented: “With the pandemic forcing people and brands to break habits and adopt new ways of thinking, now is the time for AKQA's unique ability to execute on accelerating the creation of a better future. I’m looking forward to collaborating on visionary experiences with clients and the AKQA team."

AKQA chief creative officers, Hugo Veiga and Diego Machado, said: “AKQA has been expanding its skillset and opportunities across the globe over recent years, and we’re delighted to welcome leaders with such talent and diverse backgrounds in North America. We couldn’t be more excited to have them join the family.”