Aly Khalifa
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About
Aly is a design entrepreneur specializing in invention development. He has launched products for some of the most exciting consumer brands and has garnered more than 2 dozen patents. Aly and his wife Beth have founded numerous efforts nurturing inventive culture. They created SPARKcon, which is the nation's largest open-source creative festival, attracting 75,000 attendees annually. They also founded the gourmet brand, Gamila, a collection of beautiful and sustainable single-serve coffee and tea tools, which was acquired by Seventh Generation in 201
Aly's latest effort, Lyf Shoes, offers custom footwear built on demand. Lyf is built on a unique circular-economy model, combining 3D printing, on-board electronics, cradle-to-cradle principles and decentralized manufacturing.
Aly believes that collaborating with experts across diverse disciplines leads to revolutionary new products, technologies and methodologies. He travels extensively, innovating with factories around the world. His collaborations have been nominated for a Grammy and exhibited in the Louvre. He is an AIGA Fellow and an Eisenhower Fellow, recognized for his creative leadership and ability to drive tangible change. -
Education
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BS Product Design Engineering (ME)North Carolina State University1986 - 1993
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BED Product DesignNorth Carolina State University1986 - 1990Specialized in learning about the creative process.
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Experience
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PresidentRaleigh, NCJan 2024 - Present (10 months)Design innovation for positive impact.
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FellowEisenhower FellowshipsAug 2011 - Present (13 years 3 months)Eisenhower Fellowships engages emerging leaders from around the world to enhance their professional capabilities, broaden their contacts, deepen their perspectives, and unite them in a diverse, global community - a network where dialogue, understanding, and collaboration lead to a more prosperous, just, and peaceful world.
My program is designed to help me learn from the best manufacturing minds in Asia and see what kind of partnerships can develop to bring a new age of production (and retail) back into our downtowns. -
Board of DirectorsVisual Art ExchangeJun 2010 - Present (14 years 5 months)After donating SPARKcon to this well-established and successful grass-roots organization, joined the Board to steward an easy transition and lend a fresh perspective to the team.
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Director, Design and EngineeringThe Outdoor Recreation GroupMay 2010 - Present (14 years 6 months)In charge of all design and engineering of all hard goods and hard good components and trims for this major provider to the sporting goods industry. Responsibilities include managing and directing: design, mechanical engineering, CAD files, costing, materials research, international sourcing, quality control systems and staff, and manufacturing engineering in vendor factories. Includes invention development to launch innovative products for the sporting goods market across several brands.
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Co-founderSPARKconJan 2006 - Present (18 years 10 months)Organization of diverse creative people in the local community dedicated to making the Triangle the "Creative Hub of the South." Spark Con integrates technology, art, independent business and inclusivity as a "creative ecosystem." Annual event is in September.
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Co-founder and OwnerDesignbox LLCJan 2003 - Present (21 years 10 months)A collective of independent creative professionals who share space, projects, and ideas. Includes a cutting-edge gallery of art & design.
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Managing PartnerGamila ProductsJan 2001 - Present (23 years 10 months)Managing partner of "Gamila," a consumer brand dedicated to "products that make you smile." Successful products include The Teastick and the Mila MP3 case system.
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OwnerGamil Design, Inc.Oct 1995 - Present (29 years 1 month)Experts in launching products and brands internationally, Gamil has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world to deliver new product technologies, consumer products and branding approaches.
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FounderMay 2012 - Dec 2014 (2 years 7 months)Love Your Footprint!
LYF Shoes is a company dedicated to making footwear for a better planet. All of us in the footwear industry know that we have a lot of environmental, health, and production challenges. By rethinking the process of how shoes are made and sold, we have found a unique opportunity to integrate job creation, customer service and sustainability into a new paradigm. We’ve got a great patent in hand and a stellar team putting it to work. Check in here to keep up with our developments and stay tuned for our product launch in 2014. -
Board of DirectorsFriends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesJan 2012 - Dec 2014 (2 years 11 months)Established in 1979, Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is a private, nonprofit group whose sole mission is to benefit the Museum’s educational programs, exhibits and research through membership, fundraising and advocacy.
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Producer/FounderMaximus CircusJul 2010 - Aug 2010 (1 month)Created a first-time circus for Raleigh Wide Open. Creative leadership on vision, scenery, props, customes and logistics. Worked with AcroEntertainment who did all talent management for acrobatics, aerialists and many fire performers. Became the headline event for the city's biggest festival.
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Visiting ProfessorNorth Carolina State University1996 - 2000 (4 years)Taught both studio and core lecture courses. Created curriculum, text for Materials & Processes I & II for Industrial Design.
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Designer and EngineerPerformance, Inc.May 1993 - Oct 1995 (2 years 5 months)Design and engineering for accessories, including footwear, gloves, eyewear, packs, and inline skates.
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Designer/EngineerPerformance, Inc.1993 - 1995 (2 years)responsible for the design, engineering, sourcing, and development of all Performance brand Soft Goods Accessories in the following categories: Packs (bags), Shoes, Glasses, Skates, Skategear, Gloves, Tents, and Cold-Weather Gear. Workload includes the execution of more than 60 new products a year, with net sales of more than $8 million. 35 new designs were introduced per year. Was sole liaison with vendors for development, traveling alone to China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong to source, develop, and oversee production.
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Awards
Speaker, Institute for Emerging Issues, Raleigh 2010
Grammy Award Nomination, for team work with Stefan Sagmeister, 2009
Finalist, Eisenhower Fellowship, 2007
Featured Speaker, Tasmeem Design Conference: Doha, Qatar 2006
Notable Design of the Year, ID Magazine, 2005 -
Affiliations
Designbox, IDEAS, former ASME, IDSA
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Industries
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@aly, member since 2011
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Following 3
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Followers 9
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