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We’re excited to announce the judges of the 2025 Innovation by Design Awards. Innovation by Design honors the best projects and ideas across the design spectrum, as represented by our stellar group of jurors, who come from some of the worlds most exciting design-led companies. You can read more about their expertise and backgrounds below. And remember to apply for the Innovation by Design Awards by April 11. Carly Ayres, Program Lead, Airborne Carly Ayres is a writer using language to engage people in new and interesting ways. Currently, she does that as a writer and editor on Figmas Story Studio. Before that, she did it on Google’s Material Design team (material.io) and UX Community & Culture team where she told stories about the people, product, and practice of UX (design.google). She previously co-founded HAWRAF (hawraf.com), a design and development studio, which had a hell of a run from 2016 to 2019. In 2016, she started 100s Under 100, a vibrant community of hundreds of creative people under a hundred years of age. It’s now led and maintained by a wonderful group of community-nominated admins. As a freelancer, she worked humanizing artificial intelligence and evolving the Google logo. She’s given voices to Fortune 500 companies and chatbots alike, and has written for Communication Arts, Wallpaper*, and Core77. FastCompany named her one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business. She speaks at conferences on how to build a value-driven practice and making design like a conversation. Yves Béhar, Principal Designer, Fusedesign Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Yves Béhar is the principal designer of Fuseproject, which he founded after being the design leader at the Silicon Valley offices of frog design and Lunar Design, where he worked on product identities for clients such as Apple and Hewlett-Packard. He was awarded the National Design Award for industrial design by the CooperHewitt, National Design Museum. Fuseproject is known for its work in the fashion, furniture, technology, robotics, and beauty industries. He is a declared sustainability advocate, designing products focused on being commercially viable but that contribute to social good, working organizations like the One Laptop Per Child initiative, Herman Miller, Puma, General Electric, and Samsung. Some of his notable projects include the Jawbone UP wristband, the OLPC XO laptop, the AI-powered industrial robot Maximo, or the SPRING Accelerator program, which supports businesses impacting adolescent girls in poverty. Cheryl Durst, CEO of IIDA An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl S. Durst has spurred progress, driven change, and encouraged the expansion of the interior design industry. As the Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Interior Design Association, Cheryl is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society. With 15,000 members across 58 countries, Cheryl oversees the strategic direction of IIDA, setting an agenda that leads the industry in creating community, advancing advocacy and continuing decades of work toward equity. Cheryl is a member of the International WELL Building Institute Governance Council; as well as a Trustee for Chicagos Museum of Contemporary Art and the NYSID. She has been referred to by Interior Design magazine as an ambassador for innovation and expansion, and a visionary strategist. Cheryl was inducted into the prestigious Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2016 as the recipient of its first-ever Leadership Award. She is the first African American woman to be inducted into the industrys Hall of Fame. A lifelong knowledge enthusiast and voracious reader who has considered librarian, astronaut and journalist as potential careers, Cheryl never walks away from meeting someone without gleaning a bit of their story a talent she currently employs on her monthly podcast, The Skill Set, which focuses on the intangible skills that make us good at what we do. Sagi Haviv, Partner at Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv Sagi Haviv is a partner and designer at Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, the firm responsible for many of the most famous logos of all time, including National Geographic, Chase Bank, NBC, Conservation International, State Farm, Mobil Oil, Showtime Networks, NYU, Animal Planet, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, and most recently the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and Warner Bros. The firm designed the identities for both the U.S. Bicentennial (1976) and the just-released 250th anniversary of the United States (2026). Sagi joined the firm in 2003 after graduating from The Cooper Union School of Art. A go-to expert on the process of effective logo design, Sagi has contributed to the New York Times, Bloomberg, Fast Company, Creative Review, Its Nice That, Design Week, designboom, PBS, NBCs Meet The Press, and SkillShare. He speaks about logo design around the world, including for TEDx, AIGA, HOW Design Conference, Brand New Conference, Princeton University, Onassis Foundation, American Advertising Federation, and Columbia Business School, amongst many others. He teaches Visual Identity Design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Sagi is coauthor of Identify: Basic Principles of Identity Design in the Iconic Trademarks of Chermayeff & Geismar (Print Publishers, 2011) and Identity: Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv (Standards Manual, May, 2018). Benjamin Hubert, Founder and creative director, Layer Benjamin Hubert is an award-winning British design entrepreneur, and founder of creative agency, LAYER. LAYER is focused on experience-driven design for both the physical and digital worlds. Led by Benjamin and a growing creative team, the studio partners with forward-thinking brands including Nike, Google, Bang & Olufsen, Samsung, and Braun to create products that will help define the way we live, work and communicate in the future, from AI to smart wearables and furniture systems, to the next generation of media devices and mobile communication tools. Mark Kawano, Chief Design Officer at Zoom Mark leads a global team of designers, writers, and researchers responsible for designing the AI-first work platform for human connection. Mark is a Silicon Valley veteran with 25 years of experience designing software and leading design teams at Apple, Adobe, Square, Slack, and Zendesk. He holds over a dozen design patents from his work on novel user interface patterns and modern communication tools. Mark is passionate about crafting experiences that not only delight people but also empower them to be more creative. Ryan McClelland, Research Engineer, NASA Goddard Space Center Obsessed with futurism and technology since childhood, Ryan McClelland always aspired to play some part in making the future brighter. This is what led him from being a windsurf instructor to getting an engineering degree and working in companies like Black & Decker and Dewalt until he landed at NASA, where he now spearheads generative AI crafting evolved structures with the aid of programs like Autodesks Fusion 360 software. His alien-looking 3D printed spaceship parts save weight and offer enhanced strengthtwo critical factors for NASA missions. They have already made their way into upcoming projects like the Excite balloon-borne telescope, Mars Sample Return, and the Dragonfly mission to Saturns moon Titan. Ermi van Oers Ermi van Oers, born in 1991, is a pioneering Dutch bio-tech designer and founder of Nova Innova. Graduating cum laude in Product Design from Willem de Kooning Academy in 2016, she discovered her passion for Biodesign, blending nature, science and design to create sustainable innovations. Her visionary work has already earned her 14 awards, cementing her reputation as a leader in ustainable design. One of her most recent projects is POND: an installation powered by Microbial Fuel Cell technology that visualizes water health. Another notable innovation, Living Light Park, introduced the worlds first park lights powered by plant photosynthesis. Ermi’s mission is to restore the symbiosis between humans and nature, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the intelligence of Mother Nature. Marti Romances Creative Director and co-founder of Territory Studio Marti was born and educated in Barcelona. After spending eight years in London honing his craft and exploring diverse creative disciplines, he brought his expertise to California, where he continues to push the boundaries of motion design and storytelling. A motion graphic designer and multimedia artist by trade, Marti articulates stories in the most captivating ways, blending creativity with technology to realize innovative future-facing experiences. His technical virtuosity is on display in fantasy, futuristic, and commercial projects, visual and experiential narratives that define the future of film, gaming, and real world brands. Exemplary work on Ex Machina, Blade Runner 2049, The Martian, Avengers franchise, alongside gaming projects for EA Sports, 2K Games, Activision, and Microsoft, has drawn the attention of global brands such as Nike, GM, Porsche, Mercedes, Meta, Warner Bros., Netflix, LIV Golf, and Microsofteager to leverage his design expertise in pioneering real-world technologies. “Thanks to the diversity of industries we collaborate withwhether films, games, brands, or real-world productsour studio maintains a broader perspective, he says. Each project allows us to draw from a deep well of cross-industry experience, enriching our ability to craft innovative solutions that seamlessly merge storytelling, design, and technology.” Lisa Smith, Executive Creative Director, Global at Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) Lisa has a career spanning over two decades, where she has become renowned for her transformative work with some of the world’s most cherished brands. As Executive Creative Director, Global at JKR, her strategic vision has played a pivotal role in the global rebrand efforts for clients such as Burger King, Impossible Foods, Nordstrom Rack, Mozilla, and Manischewitz. Prior to JKR, Lisa was ECD of Chobani where she was responsible for putting creativity at the heart of the company, overseeing a rebrand that transformed the business, expanding its product offering and increasing customer loyalty, directly translating to top-line growth. Lisa was also Head of Design at Wolff Olins NY, focused on creating ground-breaking and commercially successful work for USA Today, The Met and Zocdoc. Lisa’s creative excellence was recognized in 2021 when Fast Company named her as one of the Most Creative People, saluting her contributions behind ‘the biggest redesigns of the decade’. Lisa has also picked up notable accolades throughout her career including Fast Companys Rebrand of the Year and a Gold Cannes Lion for Burger King, a Brand Impact Award in Culture for The Met, a Cannes Lions Silver and a Fast Company Innovation by Design Award for the rebrand of USA Today. Tracey Arcabasso Smith, US Head of Design, Creative Fellow, Deloitte Digital As US Head of Design of Deloitte Digital, Traceys multi-disciplined expertise focuses on the intersection of intentional design and impactful storytelling as a catalyst for organizational growth. Tracey is recognized as AdWeeks Future-is-Female award-winner for being an outstanding leader demonstrating organizational change and commitment to impact. For decades, Tracey has launched global brand campaigns, digital products, activations, experiences, content, and films for some of the biggest brands in the world through a human-centered lens. Throughout her career, Tracey has worked with clients such as American Express, Verizon, Netflix, SodaStream, Mastercard, Nikon, Nestle Waters and many more, across all industries and sectors. Her creative work has been honored around the globe by The One Show, Cannes Lions, Clios, Emmy Awards, Webbys, Effies and more. Tracey is also director and producer of RELATIVE, an award-winning feature documentary that breaks the silence on multigenerational abuse in her Italian-American family. Winning Best Feature Documentary at Nashville Film Festival, RELATIVE is Paste Magazines Top 20 Documentary of the Year and is currently streaming on multiple platforms across the US. Jeff Staple, Founder at Staple Jeff Staple (born Jeffrey Ng) is a creative visionary whose design work encompasses graphic, fashion, footwear, and lifestyle. He is the founder of pioneering NY-based streetwear brand STAPLE, and the founder and president of creative and marketing agency Reed Art Department. In 2022, Jeff celebrated the 25th anniversary of STAPLE with the publication of his eponymous Rizzoli book titled Jeff Staple: Not Just Sneakers. From a humble start bootlegging custom t-shirts, Jeff has built an entrepreneurial empire that spans fashion, media, entertainment, and technology. He is a testament to the winning ethos of vision, hustle, and humility. Amy Williams, CEO at Citizens of Humanity Amy Williams is the Chief Executive Officer at Citizens of Humanity Group headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Williams joined Citizens of Humanity as the companys President in 2009 and ultimately assumed the Chief Executive Officer position in 2015. In her role, Williams oversees all aspects of the business for the companys family of brands including Citizens of Humanity, AGOLDE and GOLDSIGN. With the retail climate changing and preferences shifting, Williams continues to stay on top of how to remain relevant across the board – from product to sustainability to retail. Shes always believed in offering a transparent look into the brand identity, including the companys most recent regenerative agriculture efforts which play a huge role into what Citizens stands for as a company. Williams previous experience includes Executive Vice President at Lucky Brand Jeans and Senior Vice President of Product Development and Design for Gap Inc. Williams serves on the board at Girls Inc of Greater Los Angeles, empowerHER and is an advisor to BAWSI (Bay Area Womens Sports Initiative). Lisa Williams, CEO at Eileen Fisher Williams has been leading the New York-based womens apparel brand since September 2022. Before this role, she served as head of product and operations at Patagonia, overseeing product innovation, creation, development, production, distribution and impact. During her 20-year career at Patagonia, Williams progressively expanded her responsibilities, beginning with line management and business unit oversight, and later incorporating design and innovation into her portfolio. Prior to joining Patagonia, Williams spent over seven years at the Walt Disney Company in various product and merchandising roles, developed retail concepts and product for Caesars, Inc. in the gaming and hospitality industry, and worked as a buyer for May Department Stores. Williams earned a bachelors degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and grew up in a small town in the Eastern Sierra mountains, where she cultivated a deep love and respect for the natural world.
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E-Commerce
Social media creator Kat Abughazaleh, 26, is running to represent the 9th District of Illinois in Congress against an incumbent whos held the seat since 1998. She announced the news on TikTok. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling our country piece by piece, and so many Democrats seem content to just sit back and let them. So I say its time to drop the excuses and grow a f*cking spine, Abughazaleh says in the opening to her TikTok announcement, published on the platform on Monday. After stating her intention to run for a House seat against the 80-year-old Democratic incumbent, Representative Jan Schakowsky, Abughazaleh adds, Unfortunately, this party has become one where you have to look to the exceptions for real leadership, as the majority work from an outdated playbook. We need a makeover. @katmabu oh hey Im back #fyp #foryoupage #news #politics #america #trump #elonmusk #tesla #doge #democrats #democrat #woketok #janschakowsky #chicago #chicagotiktok #evanston #illinois #domore original sound – Kat Abughazaleh Abughazaleh may have just announced her run for Congress, but her strategy already provides some insight into how shes planning to upend that outdated playbook (and how future new legislators might do the same): by meeting younger voters where they areliterally, on TikTokand embracing a direct-yet-casual tone in her branding that feels natural to a digitally native generation. Meeting young voters where they are On TikTok, Abughazaleh has become known by more than 225,000 followers for her liberal political commentary, giving viewers frank, easy-to-understand analyses of policy and cultural trends, like an eight-part series on the rise of white Christian nationalism. Outside of social media, shes worked as an independent journalist for the left-leaning watchdog nonprofit Media Matters for America, monitoring conservative content and analyzing emerging trends. Now shes using her experience as a communicator to craft a campaign designed to capture young voters attention. Abughazaleh has already perfected the short-form TikTok format, and her announcement video makes it clear that she plans to use that skill to her advantage. Instead of being a production-heavy or highly edited announcement, Abughazalehs video is just her, in her home, casually speaking into a microphone with captionsa standard TikTok format she also uses for her political commentary. Within the video itself, shes clear about how she wants her campaign to differ from the norm: Were focused on meeting constituent needs with one simple rule: What if we didnt suck? she says. My campaign and I would rather spend our money on book drives and clothing exchanges and public events than fancy fundraisers for rich donors. I also want my campaign to be as transparent as possible. Thats why Ill be posting regular videos about the costs and steps of running for office. As a Gen Z candidate already using social media to build a career, Abughazaleh is in a unique position to appeal to young voters on TikTok without seeming disingenuous. According to a tweet from Abughazaleh, her announcementwhich garnered more than 230,000 views on TikTok and another 37,000 on Xhas helped her campaign raise more than $200,000 in its first 24 hours. [Screenshot: katforillinois.com] An internet-savvy tone From her announcement video alone (and her motto, What if we didnt suck?) its obvious that Abughazaleh is using language and tone as another lever to connect with Gen Z. Her mix of candid honesty, exasperation, and a touch of humor feels like a refreshing reflection of how Gen Zers actually talk to each other on the internet. Abughazalehs tone is even more distinct on her new campaign website. In her bio, she highlights that she doesnt have health insurance, and her net worth is pretty much just the laptop I bought with my entire severance when I got laid off. One page lays out her core principles, including a section on basic existence, which decries the current rising cost of living while Elon Musk hides away in his own personal compound. [Screenshot: katforillinois.com] The site also includes a timeline highlighting that Abughazaleh was born after Schakowsky first took office, captioned, Sorry for the history lesson but like I said, we have a representation problem; a list of anti-endorsements dedicated to calling out figures like Musk and Tucker Carlson, who have previously taken issue with her work; and a mission statement that starts, I’m running for Congress because the same old shit isn’t working. In short, Abughazalehs copy style communicates that shes a regular, in-touch, working-class citizen of the U.S., and its meant to distinguish her from the reputation of elitism and inaction that has plagued many established Democratic politicians. In an interview published in Rolling Stone, Abughazaleh is clear about her intentions to run her campaign without catering to corporations, scraping for donations from wealthy donors, or making concessions to the MAGA crowd. We are in an emergency, Abughazaleh told the publication. Right now, the answer to authoritarianism isnt to be quiet. Its not matching pink outfits at a state address. Its not throwing trans people under the bus. Its not refusing to look at the party at all and see where it could be better. The answer is to very publicly, very loudly, very boldly stand up. Its a message that simultaneously calls out the Democratic Partys current ineffectiveness while asking constituents not to give in to apathyand it might be whats needed to actually invigorate young voters to get involved in politics.
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E-Commerce
Altadena Girls began as a pop-up shop immediately after the Eaton Fire tore through Los Angeles, born out of a desire to help affected teenage girls regain a sense of their identity. The mission was simple yet profound: offer a space where they could rebuild what had been lostclothing, makeup, and other items that help define who they are. The impact was significant as it reached more than 42 million people on social media in the first few weeks while receiving support from high-level brands and celebrities. Now, Altadena Girls is planning to open a community center dedicated to empowering young girls, helping them through trauma, and providing long-term support. [Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images] In the Beginning Avery Colvert, 14, started Altadena Girls as a way to help her friends who had lost everything in the fires. Shelters and donation spaces had necessities like food, water, and blankets, so Colvert, who lives in Pasadena, decided to take a different approach to help those who needed more than just the bare essentials. I wanted to specifically focus on teenage girls, because when you’re a teenager and you’re still growing up and getting to know yourself, things like your clothes and your makeup and how you do your hair, it’s a piece of your identity,” Colvert says. And they lost that in the fire, so I wanted to provide a space where they could get those items back. Avery Colvert [Photo: Dunja Dumanski/courtesy Altadena Girls] The Eaton Fire, which started on January 7, claimed 17 lives as powerful winds propelled the flames across the region, giving residents little time to gather belongings before evacuating. The fire devastated the Altadena community in Los Angeles County, destroying more than 9,400 structures and scorching 14,021 acres. The road to recovery will be long and costly, with rebuilding expenses potentially costing hundreds of billions of dollars. Meanwhile, there are concerns about the long-term health impacts of prolonged exposure to hazardous air quality, and the emotional toll on the region is profound. Thousands have been displaced, including longtime residents and entertainment industry veterans like Mandy Moore and Richard Cabral. Colvert first spread the word about what she wanted to do through an Instagram page she created on January 11 for Altadena Girls. Her stepfather, Matt Chait, who has a background in branding and graphic design, quickly put together a logo. They hadnt planned to start accepting donations until the following day, but the page gained traction almost immediately. Before they knew it, trucks loaded with supplies were arriving at the studio space in Boyle Heights where Colvert had set up shop. Clothing, shoes, beauty products, personal items, feminine hygiene products, and hair care filled up the space, as volunteers showed up without being askedready to help. An army of volunteers showed up from 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., helped us open and close and reorganize, Colvert says. The people were able to sort clothes and make it look nice and beautiful [so that] it’s a fun experience. It’s about the memory that is left after shopping. [Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images] The community impact was highly emotional, especially in the first few days, as families were coming to the pop-up wearing the clothes they evacuated in, says Chait, who cofounded Altadena Girls with Colvert and her mother, Lauren Sandidge. As time went on, he noticed a shift in terms of what people were looking for, and how they acted when coming in. There wasnt so much of a desperation as much as a hope and a lot of interest in whats next, Chait says. They were happy to come in and get the things they needed, but also see this beautiful space and wonder, Where else is it going from here? Sandidge says it quickly became clear that what they were doing went far beyond physical items. “I think what resonated with us, just overall, is that this was about mental health. Help From Celebrities As Altadena Girls grew, it began attracting attention from prominent figures in Los Angeles. Celebrities including Paris Hilton, Kerry Washington, Gwyneth Paltrow, Max Greenfield, Tess Sanchez, Karla Welch, Mindy Kaling, and Jennifer Siebel Newsom played a role in amplifying the nonprofits mission. Meghan Markle and the Archewell Foundation were also instrumental in the organization’s success. Markle donated her own clothes and spent time carrying bags of supplies out to peoples cars, while the Archewell Foundation helped Altadena Girls secure the lease on its new building. They’re just so kind, and they have such a huge platform. It’s really cool seeing someone with that many fans and followers share something like this, says Colvert./p> In late January, Green Days Billie Joe Armstrong played a Los Angeles concert with his side project the Coverups at L.A.s Troubadour, with proceeds going to a number of relief organizations, Altadena Girls being one of them. Brands like Skims, Orebella, Huda Beauty, Rare Beauty, and R.e.m. Beauty also donated clothes and makeup to Altadena Girls. [Photo: courtesy Altadena Girls] Working as a Family This entire experience has brought Colvert’s family closer than ever. Since her school, Eliot Arts Magnet Academy, burned down in the fires, she has been attending remotelygiving the family more time together than they’ve had since the COVID-19 lockdowns. But this time, rather than feeling trapped and helpless, they’re all working to make Altadena Girls a permanent fixture. For Avery to be exposed to how much work goes into something like this, both on the floor, but also the meetings and negotiations and contracts, Im glad she gets to see how much work there is, Chait says. For Sandidge and Chait, it has been both eye-opening and rewarding to navigate this journey as life partners and now business partners. Seeing their daughter through others eyes has been especially meaningful. To see strengths that are not always recognized in a traditional school setting, to see people validate [Avery] and tell her, You are amazing, being a leader is good has been meaningful, Sandidge says, noting theyve been equally grateful to have all of these really strong, powerful women volunteers show up. [Photo: courtesy Altadena Girls] At first, people were eager to send checks and cash donations to support Altadena Girls, but without the proper infrastructure in place, it wasnt in a position to accept funds. Within days, it secured a fiscal sponsorship through the Edward Charles Foundation. With support from the Archewell Foundation, Altadena Girls set up a pledge link account, ensuring that every donation was properly documented as soon as it started accepting monetary funds. We didnt want to get any dollars to ourselves personally at all, so it wasnt until everything was locked and ready [that we started accepting monetary donations]. Now that is the best way for people to support us, Chait says. [Photo: courtesy Altadena Girls] Future Plans After addressing the immediate needs of the community, Colvert and her parents quickly realized they were ready to expand into something bigger. Two weeks later, when the headlines go away, there are long-term impacts that are mental and emotional and sometimes even financial,” says Chait. “I already started to see some of the other pop-ups around town closing their doors and moving on to the next thing.” With a vision for long-term impact, their realtor found them an empty location that used to be a bank in Old Town Pasadena, with enough space to have therapy rooms, music studios, and even a dance studio in the basement. [Photo: courtesy Altadena Girls] Im very excited about this because were going to offer dance, yoga, and movement. Were going to offer mental health resources. Were going to offer music practice areas, music lessons, Colvert says, noting that she was inspired to expand the offerings after the destruction of her own school meant that students no longer had access to dance, theater, or film classes. We have a big multipurpose space where lots of people want to give training and lectures and teach anything from cooking to hair to taxes. Colvert is passionate about providing resources that arent typically taught in schools. While creativity will be a big part of the space, there will also be classes focused on business and entrepreneurship. Personally . . . sometimes in school, I didnt feel as empowered. I felt brought down in certain areas,” she says. “And I want to just uplift girls.” Though the 12,000-square-foot space currently looks drab and gray, Colvert has big plans to transform it. With Pinterest boards, collages, and a wealth of ideas, she envisions a vibrant, welcoming spacepink and full of creativitythat will be perfect for the girls. As they work to transform the space, funding will be essential to making it happen. Weve got the product, weve got the partnerships, we also have a very big monthly bill when it comes to rent and utilities and even food for the volunteers and trash hauling, and all sorts of stuff. Right now, financial donations are what will allow us to move forward in the future, Chait says. The location is also ideal. On a busy, well-lit corner near a police station and high-end restaurants, the space is easily accessible by public transportation, and girls can be dropped off safely. This central location played a significant role in the decision to move forward. Altadena Girls expects to open its doors in late March or early April. “It’s going to feel special, feel clean, safe . . . like something different, Sandidge says. And hopefully we can send the message to all of these girls that they have worth and they deserve to have a nice, beautiful space.
Category:
E-Commerce
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