Global Head of Design Management, Packaging & Print, LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG   Annie Kuschel was born a German-American in Mexico City, grew up in Kenya and studied design at Trier University of Applied Sciences in Germany and Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Her self-employment led her via China to Fuerth, Germany. She has been working in design management at Leonhard Kurz since 2010, specialising in packaging and surface design and the strategic implementation of design in companies. She introduced trend and design research as an important building block in the company, researching socio-cultural trends and their influence on the creative industry and the next generation. Annie Kuschel gives lectures and workshops worldwide. Since 2004, she has also worked as a freelance author (design report, form, md), university lecturer and artist in public spaces and for art in architecture. Together with her team, she has already won many international design awards.