alumni / trustees / product-design
November 18, 2025
By ArtCenter Staff

ArtCenter College of Design Welcomes Industry Leaders and Alumni  Mariana Prieto and Joe Tseng to the Board of Trustees  

ArtCenter College of Design announced yesterday the election of two distinguished alumni to its Board of Trustees: Mariana Prieto (BS 12 Product Design), founder and director of Blue Horizons at Conservation International, and Joe Tseng (BS 96 Industrial Design), president and founder of Platinum Capital PM Inc. Both began their service this past summer, bringing with them extensive experience in innovation, entrepreneurship and global design leadership.  

“Mariana and Joe began their career journeys as students at ArtCenter, and now, in a full-circle moment, we couldn’t be happier to have them on the Board of Trustees,” said President Karen Hofmann. “They exemplify how design can drive positive change, whether through revitalizing communities or advancing environmental sustainability. Their creativity, leadership and diverse perspectives will help shape ArtCenter’s next chapter as we move toward our 100th anniversary in 2030.” 

“We are honored to have Mariana and Joe join the board,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees Michael Warsaw. “They embody the spirit of ArtCenter as creative leaders who use design to inspire innovation, foster sustainability and improve lives. Their experience and insights will be very valuable as we work together to advance the College’s mission and global reputation.” 

Prieto is a recognized leader in design for social and environmental impact. At Blue Horizons, she leads the first design-led innovation studio embedded within an international conservation organization, dedicated to advancing ocean conservation and sustainability initiatives worldwide.  

Prieto began her career as a Global Fellow at IDEO.org and went on to serve as a founding member of the International Rescue Committee’s innovation unit working on global crises such as global refugee settlement and the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Over her career, Prieto has led design and innovation teams in partnership with many global organizations including IDEO, WildAid and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Her work has earned her numerous recognitions and honors, including a TED Residency in 2018 and 2019, the Lui-Walton Innovators Fellowship in 2023 and ArtCenter’s Young Innovator Alumni Award in 2021. Her work was also exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in 2018.  

“My ArtCenter education taught me to create with purpose and empowered me to see how design can be used to make a lasting impact on our world,” said Prieto. “I am excited to help foster this same sense of purpose and possibility for the next generation of artists and designers.” 

Tseng is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur whose career spans design, entertainment, real estate development and cultural leadership. After earning his Industrial Design degree from ArtCenter in 1996, Tseng began his career as a technical director in the entertainment industry, working with Disney, Warner Bros. and Paramount Studios, where he contributed to films, including Flubber, Deep Rising, Rugrats in Paris, and many more. 

Tseng later founded Platinum Capital PM Inc., a firm specializing in the revitalization of underutilized commercial and residential properties across California. His projects include adaptive reuse developments, assisted living communities, and housing for nursing professionals and seniors. Outside of business, Tseng is also an avid advocate for car culture and design education, serving in leadership roles with The California Club’s Affinity Classic Car Group and the nonprofit Best of France and Italy.   

 “Attending ArtCenter transformed my life,” said Tseng. “It taught me that design transcends mere form and function, encompassing vision and purpose. I am profoundly grateful to contribute back to the community that guided me in discovering my path and to play a part in shaping its future.”  

Tseng and Prieto join a dedicated group of trustees committed to advancing ArtCenter’s mission to educate, inspire and empower creative and design leadership, as well as continuing the College’s legacy as one of the nation’s preeminent art and design schools.