Awards and Teams
Team Watch Out! — Human + AI Co-Creation Award
Gabriel Fomin, BFA Design & Technology
Diana Chalakova, MFA Design & Technology
Sasha Shadira, MFA Strategic Design & Management
Shriya Agarwal, MFA Strategic Design & Management
Created during the AI Jam at the Parsons School of Design Innovation Center, this team project is a short AI-assisted video that raises awareness about wildfire prevention through everyday behavior. It focuses on the overlooked impact of improperly discarded cigarette butts, reframing them as a direct threat to wildlife and natural ecosystems.
Inspired by the 2025 LA Palisades Fire and supported by research from the United States Forest Service, the project highlights how even “fire-safe” cigarettes can ignite wildfires. The work received the Human + AI Co-Creation Award for its integration of AI and socially driven storytelling.
Team Shade — Advanced AI Craft Award
Aditya Mandlekar, BFA Design & Technology
Spriha Reddy, BFA Communication Design
Hiu Ting Wen, BFA Design & Technology
Sanvi Dange, BFA Communication Design
Created during the AI Jam at the Parsons School of Design Innovation Center, The Shade is an AI-assisted product launch by The Overhead Project. In modern urban life, people are constantly visible, approached, and expected to engage — leaving no socially acceptable way to claim personal space. The Shade turns presence into choice, giving autonomy over how much space you occupy and how others perceive you.
Soft enough to protect you. Big enough to hide you. The oversized puffer hat goes beyond fashion, it starts to control how visible you are, and even how others perceive you. Designed for urban, design-conscious young adults (18–28) who are fashion-forward, socially fatigued, and value control over their personal space, The Shade received the Advanced AI Craft Award for its use of AI across concept development, visual production, and campaign design.
Team Surreal — Advanced AI Craft Award
Meghna Reddy, MFA Strategic Design & Management
Chris Thomas, MFA Strategic Design & Management
Haniya Khan, MFA Strategic Design & Management
Created during the AI Jam at the Parsons School of Design Innovation Center, this project explores the identities of LLM companies through high school character archetypes. Surreal received the AI Creative Direction Award.
Team It’s a Match! — AI for Impact Award
Timmy Sheppel, MFA Strategic Design & Management
Iana Tchantchaleishvili, MFA Design & Technology
Harshal Rajdeo, MFA Architecture
Emma Li, BFA Design & Technology
Created during the AI Jam at the Parsons School of Design Innovation Center, this team project is about a game that connects people from different parts of the world. It starts with that familiar moment: “It’s a match” and that’s where the journey begins. From there, people transform into 3D animated characters, representing the country they live in.
The target audience are people who use digital platforms to connect with others, younger generations who spend a lot of time online and experience relationships through apps. For visual direction, the establishing shots are of modern photo realistic New York, muted colors, and natural lighting. The goal is to create a minimal but emotional atmosphere that establishes reality that moves towards a transformational moment.
