Team

Meet the humans behind the tower.

Franzi Ponzi (he/him) is our Lead Artist, head foreman, and the creative force behind Lookout!

With nearly 25 Burning Man and regional burn attendances under his belt, he brings experience from some of the most ambitious builds on the playa, including multiple Temple and Folly Crew builds as well as 2025’s Sphinx Gate. He knows what it takes to turn a wild idea into an unforgettable build.

Oni (he/him) is our Co-Lead, team wrangler, and all-around coordinator extraordinaire. As a ‘big picture’ kind of person, he keeps us on track.

“I study Chinese and holistic medicine, so I’m practiced in taking in the entirety of a whole and treating systems, rather than symptoms. As co-lead, I am in a position to watch and track the entirety of our project to make sure the whole is taken care of.”

Smash (she/her) is our Volunteer Lead and behind-the-scenes team organizer. She tracks activities, manages our systems, and connects leads with new volunteers. If you’ve filled out the volunteer interest form, you’ve probably already heard from her!

Smash has been going to Burning Man and volunteering with Gate and large theme camps since 2013. We can’t think of a better person to keep our volunteer crew running smoothly.

ELL (she/her) is our Comms Lead, bringing 15 years of web design and communications experience to the team. Lookout! will be her first large-scale Burning Man art build.

“I love the huge art pieces out on playa and exploring all the different structures. I’m excited to be part of a build that invites people to engage — to touch, explore, listen, and interact with the space.”

Ryan (he/him) is our talented Audio Designer. A lifelong musician, he brings a wealth of audio experience and knowledge to the build.

Ryan is crafting a sonic world within Lookout!, drawing on his 20 years of experience as a professional Post Production Audio Engineer. 2026 will be his first year at Burning Man. We’re thrilled to have him on the team!