Meet the 2026 Royalty

Though Shannon calls Amsterdam home with her husband, King IX Kurt Gerwitz, her heart beats to the rhythm of New Orleans. A maker at her core, she has built a life shaped by creativity, from painting and ceramics to game design, leadership, and the joyful chaos of Mardi Gras. Shannon began her career as an artist before founding her own design agency and later serving as Head of Design for e-bike company VanMoof. She now leads a global service design team for Philips, where she champions better experiences for hospital staff around the world. She’s also an author (A Practical Guide to Experience Design), mentor to emerging designers, and advocate for creativity, systems, and the craft of building things that matter. Since joining the Krewe in 2019, Shannon has embraced its spirit of artistry and inclusivity, even judging the Freret Mask Award. True to her maker roots, she continues to express herself through Atelier Awful, a studio devoted to ceramics, painting, and digital narrative. This season, she’ll be painting her own float, blending her love of Renaissance-influenced imagery with the vibrant culture of her second city. All Hail Freret!