Lucky Brand CEO Carlos Alberini will give a talk, “The Power of Strategy, Design and Brand Transformation” with his company’s chief creative officer, Kin Ying Lee, at the University of California, Davis, on Wednesday, May 10.

The lecture will articulate the role that strategy and design have played in transforming Lucky Brand, according to Alberini. “The retail industry is at a critical inflection point, with the pace of change occurring at an unprecedented rate.”

Alberini and Lee will address these critical macro-changes head-on and what it means for Lucky Brand, as well as elaborate on how Lucky’s strategy is poised to tackle these shifts. From a design perspective, Lee will also cover the evolving role of design in today’s climate.

The talk is the inaugural lecture establishing the Alberini Family Speaker Series in Design at UC Davis. The Alberini family pledged a $300,000 gift to fund the series. A public reception begins at 6 p.m., with the lecture following at 7 p.m. at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. The free talk is presented this year as part of the Graduate School of Management’s Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series. Reservations are required.

“Our family is committed to making this world a better place for all,” Alberini said. “As such, our foundation consciously prioritizes impacting the fields of education, health, environment, and human and civil rights. Of these focal areas, we believe that improvements in education will benefit current and future generations the most, and regard UC Davis as a powerful institution with talented faculty who are highly committed to the development of design.”

“We are delighted to be able to support the Department of Design with our contribution and are confident that all design students will benefit from the speaker series being developed by this incredible team,” he continued.  Alberini’s daughter is a recent graduate of the department.

Alberini joined Lucky Brand in February 2014. He formerly headed Restoration Hardware as co-CEO and executive director, and led Guess Inc. as president and chief operating officer.

Lee joined Lucky Brand in 2014 as executive vice president and chief creative officer. She previously served as vice president of design for Madewell and was formerly a director of design at Ruehl Hollister Co. and Abercrombie and Fitch.

About the Department of Design

The Department of Design in the College of Letters and Science is the only comprehensive academic design unit in the University of California system, delivering a research-focused undergraduate degree that fully integrates design history, theory and criticism, with design thinking, making, writing, visual literacy, and creative practice. Studio courses include design as practiced in exhibition, fashion, information, interior architecture and product (lighting and furniture), textiles, visual communications (digital, environmental and print) and sustainable design.

Directions and parking

From Interstate 80, use the UC Davis exit, just east of Highway 113. Follow Old Davis Road to the Gateway Parking Structure. The Mondavi Center is across the street from the parking structure.