Using strategic critical thinking skills, mindfulness, and evidence-based psychology to create environments of belonging with inspirational positivity and optimism. Shel’s spent 25 years practicing Human Centered Design, creating and leading teams of multi-disciplined designers, researchers, coaches, and strategists, to innovate products, services, and process. She guides teams and individuals to create remarkable new realities in the realms of culture, collaboration, and professional/personal growth -- the predecessor to excellence in product/service innovation, design, and execution.

Advise, support, and promote the work and growth of The Design Management Institute (DMI).DMI is the premier, and one of the largest, global (non-profit) organization that connects, promotes, and elevates the role of Design, Design Management and Design Innovation in business, culture and society. DMI brings together innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders from every design discipline, every industry, and every corner of the planet to facilitate transformational organizational change and design driven innovation.

Created and co-directed programming with a global team to guide more than 20,000 Ford employees to use Design Thinking as a creative problem-solving tool to improve the quality and innovation of their work* Manufacturing predicted savings of $8.5M* Talent Management realigned teams around new strategies with new leaders* Metrics moved from benchmarking to customer-focused experiences* 200,000 visits to read articles & download tools from Design Thinking websiteEstablished a dynamic, intentional creative culture, recognized by many within the company as best practice* Took risks to introduce new tools, space design and employee onboarding; company adopted several* Grew strong community with intentional norms and rituals * Used data/diagnostics to improve accountability, retention and culture* Sponsored DEI&A programming/courses in equity design and increased awareness of diversity issuesWe kept things inspiring and fun around the office and online, growing connection, community, and craft.

Developed a ground-up global team to scale Design Thinking to Ford's 180,000 employees in close partnership with HR and Learning & Development. Responsible for Ford point of view on Design Thinking, championing a 'make to learn' approach, iterating through a cycle of "Learn, Imagine, Build," the Ford branded processSet department strategy; hired a team* Directed development of tools for innovation and creative problem solving* Created prototype coaching practice across leadership levels, including executive leaders* Developed language to communicate the value of Design Thinking* Concept and prototype Ford’s first Design Thinking HandbookCoached projects and guided partners to:* Create more efficient use of vehicle technology* Grow a customer-centric mindset* Innovate process for advanced product creation* Understand the value and how to practice user-centered research

Managed and grew teams of Design Research, Prototyping, Design Strategy, and Visual Design. Co-developed DFord, Ford's Human Centered Design organization (Org design, budgeting, branding, culture, operations)Guided teams in applying design thinking to:* Develop critical new vehicle features, improving production and concept vehicles* Grow trust in ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist) technology* Define design research practice* Navigate ambiguous and complex challenges and work in new, more collaborative ways

Created and led the first Human-Centered Design Strategy group for internal start-up "Global Experience Design/User Experience" teamThe strategy group generated future-cast insights for work, play, luxury and performance vehicles* Managed research vendors in partnership with Ford Global* Conducted ethnography with Global Consumer Insights team* Synthesized insights that led to innovationsCo-created Experience Design/UX internal start-up* Launched first official approach to Human Centered Design (HCD) * Identified tasks, skills,  roles, and negotiated R&Rs with cross-functional teams* Co-created and delivered training content and activities for 1000+ global product development leaders Core member of the original cross-company innovation team to spread HCD to the enterprise

Seafoam Palace of Arts & Amusements is a 501c3 non-profit which I support with strategic thinking, business development, and creative consultation.The mission of the organization is to invite people to investigate their own sense of the marvelous while playing with the frontiers of art, science, history and adventure. In addition to creative interpretations, Seafoam Palace offers workshops and programming to examine these ideas in media such as photography, audio and publishing.

Course curriculum design and instruction for Design Research Methods for CCS MFA Interaction Design program; emphasized strategic and applied research techniques to generate ideas and progress design work. Students:* Identified and clarified hypotheses to formulate the right question* Practiced primary research activities: observation, participatory design, surveys, and contextual inquiry * Practiced secondary desktop methods: trends, visual/digital ethnography, and online sentiment analysis* Learned about bias and objectivity* Synthesized and framed insights (storytelling)* Iterated concepts and gathered feedback

Participated in cross-organizational strategic initiatives that created new products, increased usage, and drove renewals for one of the largest library catalogs serving thousands of libraries and academic institutions. Developed and executed qualitative research to uncover user needs, product insights, and evaluate design concepts using contextual inquiry, digital ethnography, and participatory design. Passionately advocated for the people who used Cengage online student education and Gale’s complex library reference and online education products using agile methodologies with legacy software systems. Coordinated development between interaction and visual design, software development, and product owners.Mentored researchers and designersSECTORSHigher Ed, Publishing, Library (public and academic)

Innovation project to develop a mixed-use community event space and future boutique hotel constructed from repurposed shipping containers; project discontinued for financial reasonsIn 2013, launched "First Container," a prototype community engagement experience funded through Kickstarter, attracting over 2000 visitors with events and activities* Partnered with the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Future City, and numerous grass roots organizations* Received broad community support and national/international media coverage* Improved skills in business model development, real-estate, financing, construction, and DEI

Reported to Chief Strategic Officer* Built and led Digital Strategy in Saatchi’s New York office* Led successful digital experience and strategy engagements for multiple brands to drive sales, increasemarket share, and gain consumer insight; new business development* Led multiple initiatives to expand capacity in digital media, new research technologies, and collaboration* Designed, managed, and executed multiple consumer insight projects targeting Millennials, Boomers, Women, and Veterans* Facilitated team and client workshops to align customer, business and brand goals

Research, strategy, information architecture and interaction design (business analysis, opportunity framing, insight development, design research, wireframes, paper prototypes, technology integration)Finance, Luxury, Retail, Publishing (please request additional details)

CHANGE STRATEGIST: Developed strategy, created materials and communicated organizational change to 2000+ global employees.EXPERIENCE LEAD: Managed creative teams of visual designers, Information architects, and developers.MANAGER, INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE: Managed 16 designers, entry level to senior staff – hiring, mentoring, performance evaluation. New business development, design research, and strategy.INFORMATION ARCHITECT: Developed wireframes, personas, requirement documents as well as methods and tools to handle these new kinds of deliverables.SECTORSFinance, Publishing, Consumer Electronics, Professional Services, Technology