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 as Global Head of Design Management, Packaging & Print,   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 2026 she is in charge for Marketing and Communication of the international competence center for design bayern design. 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 won many international design awards.