Bio

I’ve been in the Design Sector for over 20 years, primarily working out of New York City, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley.  In NYC I spent almost a decade focused on advertising, branding, and pre-visualization concept design.

Later I would move to San Francisco to help regional government agencies with identity and branding. The innovation hub of the Bay Area introduced me to my next career as an Innovation Lab Design Lead for Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis', Singularity University. In Silicon Valley, I facilitated Ideation Workshops for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies, mentored young entrepreneurs during Singularity's yearly Start-Up Incubators, produced several graphic novels as innovation concept artifacts, and helped prototype new products in the lab. My background in futurism has led me to believe strongly in embracing and harnessing the potential of industry disruption and current technologies with exponential promise.

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

Where it all started…

I got my start in the Fine Arts, which I still practice, and that has taken me from a young transplant painting restaurant windows in exchange for food in NYC to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.

But that is another story…

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!

Today, I work as an independent contractor, applying 20-years-worth of design strategy to helping innovative individuals and companies create and communicate.

You could think of me as 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. Cross-pollination is my happy place. Occasionally I’ll be asked, “Ok. What can’t you do?” And I will tell you.

It is Math.

Mathematically gifted humans, I salute you. Let our superpowers combine!

 

“Imogen appreciates the power of a good story, has had her artwork in the Smithsonian Museum (Renwick, of DC), and is delighted to have had a delivery drone named after her.“

 

Philosophy

I think of design mediums as different languages, and my job is to curate communications and tell stories in the most effective words.

Innovation begins with mindset.

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

Design Strategy

I help teams balance human needs, business viability, and technical feasibility. Using IDEO’s framework and divergent thinking exercises, I guide groups and individuals to make the creative leaps necessary to create something new.

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. 

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

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, a framework often referred to as Design Thinking.

Let me help you tell your story.

Book at strategy call: Ispeerconsulting@gmail.com


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.”