Hand-Sketching & STRUCTURAL CRAFTS | Photoshop | Illustrator | Google Suite | After Effects | In Design | Midjourney | 3D & MOTION GRAPHICS EXPERIENCE

I got my start in the Fine Arts, which I still do for fun, and that has taken me from painting restaurant windows for food in NYC to the Smithsonian museum in Washington DC.

But that is another story…

Lectures | Ideation | Workshop Facilitation | Consulting | Concept Art & Design | Prototypes| Story & Pitch Decks | Art Direction | Graphic Recording | Mentoring

I have always wanted to tell stories. I started drawing as a little kid because I couldn’t find the words. Little did I know that finding new forms for narratives would be a gift, a curse, and my life’s passion.

I’ve been 20 years now in the design sector. I was in NYC television and broadcast advertising as a commercial illustrator for nearly a decade, then moved into identity, branding, and graphic design in San Francisco. From San Francisco, I found my way to Silicon Valley, where I served as a Design Lead in an innovation lab. There, I used a science fiction lens to lead design thinking workshops for global brands, helping them imagine the future and their place within it.

Today, I work as an independent contractor, applying those same theories to design strategy and helping others find new ideas and new ways to share their visions.

I’m effectively a "creative Swiss Army Knife." Whether I’m lecturing on the Innovation Mindset, creating concept art for interactive sculptures, or helping a startup nail their pitch and brand identity, I’m excellent at helping people figure out what to do next. My background is diverse enough that I can adapt to almost any style or requirement. I have often been asked, laughingly, “What can’t you do?” And I will tell you. It is Math. 

While I love finding the perfect "delivery system" for an idea, nothing beats the feeling of helping people generate those ideas in the first place. Cross-pollination is my happy place.

Concept Design by Imogen Speer for kinetic vehicle. Brought to life by Engineered Artworks

Philosophy

I view mediums as languages and design as their structure. My work is about translating new, innovative ideas into a form that a wider audience can understand—and I’m not afraid to ask clients to stretch beyond their comfort zones to make that happen.

Innovation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a mindset. I help teams find the "sweet spot" by balancing human needs, business viability, and technical feasibility. Using IDEO’s framework and divergent thinking exercises, I guide groups to make the creative leaps necessary for bold new ideas.

Beyond workshops and mentoring, I consult on communications strategy. I use a design lens to create the visual "artifacts"—like storyboards, concept art, and graphic narratives—needed to explain complex products. Whether it's breaking through a creative block or refining a brand, I help teams move from a rough concept to a human-centered, visual reality. 

Design Strategy

My decades in advertising, identity, and futurism have reinforced the power of abstraction when it meets intuition. I love helping clients reframe their perspectives and stretch their imaginations through tailored exercises and design strategies. Every project is unique, but I generally follow a flow of research and wide-open exploration, followed by narrowing things down to a refined, finished product.

Let me help you tell your story.

Book at strategy call.

Testimonials

  • "Without hesitation, I extend my highest recommendation for Imogen Speer.

    “Throughout our collaboration, Imogen's exceptional talent and unwavering dedication were nothing short of awe-inspiring, leaving an indelible mark on my memory. As Cofounder and CEO at Emerging Rule, GENIA Latinoamérica, and HUBVERY, which operate in the AI industry, I had the pleasure of witnessing Imogen's exceptional cross-disciplinary work.

    “From ideation and workshop facilitation to design thinking strategies and concept design, Imogen's expertise has been invaluable to many entrepreneurs. For example, when in need of support with HUBVERY’s concept design and pitch decks, I turned to Imogen for her exceptional skills in art direction, graphic recording, and mentoring, recognizing her ability to synthesize ideas effectively through a design lens. Imogen's professional demeanor and unwavering commitment were evident throughout our collaboration. She brought a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to our project, significantly elevating its quality and impact. 

    “What truly distinguishes Imogen is her unique ability to envision innovative solutions through a creative lens. Her adeptness in design thinking sets her apart from other contractors and adds immense value to any team she joins. Beyond her exceptional skills, Imogen's positive attitude and collaborative approach made our working relationship both productive and enjoyable. Her commitment to exceeding expectations ensured the success of our project and contributed to our dynamic culture of growth.

    “In summary, Imogen's exceptional talents, professionalism, and collaborative spirit make her an invaluable asset to any team. I wholeheartedly recommend her for any endeavor she pursues."

  • "My name is Daniel Reider. I’m the owner of lowercase productions, a San Francisco-based visual design and communications agency that’s provides print, digital, signage, branding and public outreach support services. We invited Imogen to join our firm as an illustrator and graphic designer for branding projects, public outreach campaigns, and animation projects.

    “Not only is Imogen a talented artist with a handle on her craft, but she brings a personal sense of style and command to her work, resulting in deliverables that are strong, original graphic statements that hold up over time.

    “She’s a great team player - a people person - communicative, introspective, mature, and emotionally committed to every project she takes on. Friendly, fun…I couldn’t have asked for more when she worked with our firm."

  • “As an early-stage hardware security startup, we had a novel, highly technical concept that we needed to describe in a simple and intuitive way for non-technical users and investors.  I specifically reached out to Imogen for her ability to understand our hardcore tech and translate it into a dummy-proof visual narrative.

    “As our first designer, she had to work with very “wet clay” conceptually. She took the time to deeply understand our technology and led the collaborative process of defining the symbols and story that are now the core of our presentation materials.

    “The whole process was highly efficient and she was truly a pleasure to work with. To this day I am still getting compliments on the design work that she did for us.”