About David Kwong

Professional Background

David Kwong is a magician and puzzler at Misdirectors Guild, Inc., with expertise in enigmas and illusions.[1] A veteran cruciverbalist, he routinely creates puzzles for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal.[1][5][11] He is a TED Talk favorite, speaking on illusion principles and brain science,[1][10] and has consulted on films like Now You See Me and produced ABC's Deception.[11]

Magic and Performance

Kwong's shows combine magic, puzzles, and audience participation, such as The Enigmatist, a mind-bending experience toured globally, including at Geffen Playhouse, Wilton's Music Hall, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.[2][3][6][8][15][16][17][18][19][20] He describes The Enigmatist as merging his childhood passions for magic and puzzles into an interactive puzzle adventure.[2][4]

Puzzle Construction and Crossword Design

Known as a 'puzzle king,' Kwong crafts crosswords that delight and challenge, including themed ones for art lovers and bank robbers.[5][7][9] He has explained crossword creation in WIRED videos and created puzzles for his shows.[3][4][7]

Writing and Media

Kwong authored Spellbound: Seven... (partial reference),[1] runs the Enigmatology Substack newsletter on magic and puzzles,[12][13] and appeared on podcasts like In The Harbor and Design Matters.[1][21] His TED talks and interviews discuss illusion science.[10][22]

Broader Interests

Topics include Health/Biotech, Design, Music/Arts per bio. He toured museums for research[3] and featured in design-focused media.[21] (Note: One technical paper on gate drivers [14] appears unrelated.)