Greg Kmiec is not on this list.
I know he's more of an old school guy, and while I wouldn't list him as my personal favorite I do like a lot of his games.

He designed a lot of really good selling and good looking pins too. Breakshot is one of my favorites ever, but I like Bow & Arrow and I do want to get a Harlem Globetrotters. He also did Wizard and Bobby Orr.

Anyway... He's not my favorite.
My favorite happens to be a real scum bag. So I rather not talk about him. The reason I picked him though is because his layouts are unique and fun, and also I think he was one of the best at integration of the theme.
I think Steve Ritchie is amazing, but sometimes his theme integration is really subpar. You could slap any theme on some of his pins and it wouldn't change anything but the artwork. Don't get me wrong there are games of his where he nails the theme. BKSOR I think he nailed it with an amazing toy.

And I think Pat Lawlor is the balance between the two of them. Amazing and unique layouts with nice flow, and just amazing theme integration. Although Lawlor does seem to have a particular style that he prefers and so there can be some similarities between his pins.

Regardless. I hope to own both a Creech and a GB and a Dredd along with some of the other 80s era gottliebs. Also I want to get a Caribbean Cruise.

Going forward though... I think it might be Keith Elwin for the win. As if he keeps up his track record he could be one of thee best ever.

I was thinking of mentioning him too. But, you beat me to the punch. Also, he kind of helped revive pinball a bit with Space Shuttle. So while not as influential as Ritchie or Lawlor, I think he has his place in pinball history for Gorgar being the first talking pin, and with space shuttle kind of influencing modern ss design by having a toy on the playfield.
Space Shuttle I think just has amazing rules and super fun to shoot. Yes, simple rules. But, I like simple rules.

And no Python Angelou(spelled wrong???). I 'm not saying he was the best, but he did help create and had a lot of great concepts for pinball machines.

And really none of the old designers as well. Lots of quality EM games or early solid states that are just a blast to play. So even somebody like Ed Krynski. Not saying he's my favorite. But, I love Sinbad, and I know a lot of people like that game a lot, and Genie is also really popular.

And really... Why limit the list. Its about favorite. Have them all. The more the merrier. Might get more people on pinside to vote in it, as it opens up the options. My favorite designer is not the one I think is best. I think Ritchie and Lawlor are hands down the best of all time.
But, they're not my favorite.

Recent works. Then you could take John T off the list. Sure GB just had a major code update. But, I don't think he'll be involved in pinball ever again. Don't know which company would ever want to hire him.

The thing about Trudeau's games that I like is generally he has a unique layout and also he is one of the very best to incorporate the theme of the pinball machine into his game. Creech is one of my all time favorite pins. And while his 80s output didn't have a lot of toys or mechs and the rules are super primitive by today's standards I really enjoy playing all those games. They shoot fantastic and are just great fun to be had. I look forward to moving to a new house with lots more room so I can collect his 80s gottlieb games.

Steve Ritchie the themes can feel interchangeable and just tacked on for some of his games. He does have some games of course where he just kills it on theme integration. But, what's funny is I listened to an interview with Python Angelo and he claims(not too certain I believed everything he said) Ritchie was against toys in the playfield and he didn't like the spinning lights topper gimmick. So I think it was just maybe his idea of what should be in a pinball machine might be why I feel his theme integration isn't the best. He's more focused on the shots and the layout and the kinetic interaction.
I don't think Trudeau's have the flow or smoothness that a Ritchie or Lawlor game has.

But, with Pat Lawlor he reuses a lot of his core ideas and layouts and just flips them around. I'm not saying that is a bad thing. Just a lot of his classic games have similar shots and layouts. Fun House is one of my all time favorite pins, and I love Addams Family, and Whirlwind, and while I don't like the theme of Dialed In the game is amazing. So while yes there are recycled elements game to game, you can't fault a person for having a style. And he has a lot of amazing games and they each play different.

To me those are probably my favorite 3. But, I'm looking forward to the future for what Elwin will create. And I think Scott D is one to watch as well. I know Scott D claims to be done making pinball machines. But, I'm hoping he'll keep making them going forward. I don't own a TNA yet. But, I hope to get one.

I have played that game more than a couple of times. Its at the Galloping Ghost pinball. Which is about a 45-50 minute drive from where I live. Its unique, and its fun for a couple of minutes. Interesting rules, but that one gets boring.

And its quite expensive. So that is one I'll never own. That and Spirit. Spirit looks amazing, and is a nice shooter too. But, no thank you on the price. Just too expensive. I've been looking at a lot of online videos for Genesis and I kind of want one. That game looks fun!