Concept Design
Maybe you have an amazing idea but you aren’t quite sure how to share it with the world. A new robot, for example, could look like the Terminator or a Roomba, and these communicate very different messages to the world. I help synthesize abstract ideas and concepts into clear, visual communication tools. Mediums are like languages, and I help clients choose the best one to tell their story. This has taken many forms: branding and identity, concept art for film and television, PSA outreach, award-winning on-air-broadcast, look-books, pitch decks, and public artworks and installation.
I’ve also been honored to see my art in the Smithsonian Renwick Museum of D.C.
Naga — sculpture installation in golden gate park, san francisco
What started as a few concept sketches outside a boba shop with lead artist, CJay Roughgarden of Element 26, transformed into a 100’ steel sea serpent sculpture currently on display in Golden Gate Park.
Naga’s placement in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
(It also included years of artistic partnership, explorative concept imagery and graphics, uncounted belly laughs [“You Too Can Ruin Your Life Making Big Art!”] and not a few tears.
T-Shirt I designed to keep hopes up and donations in during the build
Below is my illustration that the team submitted to The Burning Man Arts Commission to become one of the few collectives who were awarded a financial grant. It was used as a “North Star” during additional fundraising campaigns that would allow the artists to create a $3.1 million build for a 10th of the cost.
Concept Design by Imogen Speer for Naga & the Captainess
I also created the logo. It ended up more representational than guessed!
Logo created by Imogen Speer vs image from the actual installation
The sunken ship, Aldrovanda, is the work of master carpenter, Stephanie Shipman & designer, Jacquelyn Scott. Overall more than 250 volunteers would have a hand in the creation of Naga & The Captainess.
Check out how my concept designs compare to the final sculpture below:
elektra — dragon art car
Lead artist, Sean Orlando at Engineered Artworks had been tasked with building an art car in the the shape of a dragon. He knew the dimensions we needed to work within, the chassis it would be built on, and the goals and expectations of the clients, but as to what the dragon’s look and layout would be, he wanted some ideas.
For Engineered Artworks’ clients and crew, I created several positional concept sketches within weight and height constraints, and suggested a viewing/driving dome over the heart, from which LEDs might pulse upward as the vehicle blew fire. The designers and crew took it from there and created a spectacular vehicle, sporting over 200,000 sub-dermal LEDs, hydraulic wings, and a flame system.
Check out how my concepts compare to the final vehicle below:
cirque du soleil — concept and character design
Screen writer Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy), reached out to request supplemental artwork for a pitch to Cirque du Soleil. She wanted it to feel like a ‘tone poem.’ She graciously told me Cirque loved it and had responded:
“Lush! Over-the-top! Very Cirque!”
I’ve had the pleasure of creating additional science-fiction and monster concept artwork for Nicole as well as a look-book. I look forward to sharing my additional concepts for Nicole as the are released to the public.