Leadership
David Ashen
President & CEO, dash design / dash dine
David Ashen founded his award-winning design firm, dash design, in 2002, dedicated to using his innovative and strategic creative thinking to enhance the success of his clients. His market-savvy approach combines business acumen and a keen design eye.
Today, David’s reputation in design, coupled with his vast knowledge and experience in retail and branding, enables the firm to work seamlessly with brand leaders in the hospitality, senior living, retail, and mixed-use categories.
The firm’s work with global brands includes Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Moxy Hotels, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels, Garces Group, Mikimoto, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Northwell Health, Beth Israel, and Heartis, to name a few.
Committed to giving back, especially to mission / purpose-driven non-profits that provide deep impact, David contributes his time and expertise with the Board of Directors for Thorn Tree Project, The Pixie Project, and is a Co-Founder and Board Member of the Ageless Living Collaborative.
David earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Engineering at Tufts University, then a Master of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.
Kristin Cullen
Design Director at dash design / dash dine Director
Kristin Cullen is a Design Director who has a real flair for shaping and elevating the guest experience, and delivering design concepts that evoke emotion. In her role, she is responsible for developing and leading interior design projects from concept through completion.
Her dash design projects include several Iron Chef Garces restaurants including the newly opened Olón and Okatshe restaurants both located inside the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, NJ, as well as Distrito in Moorestown, NJ and The Olde Bar in Philadelphia. Other notable projects include: Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market and Magic Rat Live both located inside The Elizabeth Hotel in Fort Collins, CO; the Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market in Savannah, GA; Urban Farmer Restaurants in both Cleveland, OH and Philadelphia, PA; The MC hotel (Autograph Collection) in Montclair, NJ; the Moxy Hotel in Washington, DC; Renaissance Raleigh North Hills in Raleigh, NC; Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino in Oranjestad, Arbua; and Renaissance Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, among others.
Prior to joining dash design back in 2011, Kristin worked on the PSU Millennium Science Building, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Manchester City Football Academy at Rafael VinolyArchitects. Previous to that, she worked on projects including Resorts World of Sentosa in Singapore and The St. Regis Cairo at Michael Graves & Associates. Kristin received her AAS in Interior Design from the New York School of Interior Design and an Undergraduate Study of Art History and Liberal Arts from Rutgers University.