Experts
Design guides and practitioners
Averaging 15 years experience in the field, our team brings deep expertise to solve your biggest challenges
Experts
Design guides and practitioners
Averaging 15 years experience in the field, our team brings deep expertise to solve your biggest challenges
Experts
Guidea is a carefully crafted team of user experience designers from top schools and design consultancies. Our breadth of design skills and domain expertise enable us to support the client journey from initial ideas to product launch and continued success.
Our team extends across the US, Canada, and Europe, and we share a common belief that good design matters to the world. Collaborating closely with our clients and our teammates, we work diligently to have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives.

Theresa Neil
CEO
Vision Integrity Pragmatism
Approach
Quickly understand complex domains and lead teams to launch intuitive, elegant design solutions.
Expertise
Design leadership, facilitation, data visualization, SaaS tools, innovation in health and finance behavior change.
Off the beaten path
Santa Cruz transplant after 20 years in Austin, loving the coast and the redwoods of CA, missing queso and our TX friends.

Jessica Gentry
COO
Stewardship Transparency Growth
Approach
Bring elegant solutions to complex problems by delivering delight and clarity in any interface.
Expertise
Information architecture, data visualization project management, data transformation in: education, security, and finance sectors.
Off the beaten path
Teaching Argentine Tango, renovating and pushing the holiday decor envelope on our Victorian home, and chasing my toddler.

Stephanie Wilson-Wagner
VP of Strategy
Inspiration Commitment Connection
Approach
Ignite innovation by seeing possibilities not constraints and guiding the journey with practical experience.
Expertise
Vision and strategy, organizational change, and blue sky innovation in education, healthcare, and financial services.
Off the beaten path
Connecting with my creativity through paint, food & fashion. Staying grounded with my friends, family, & beloved Border Collie.

Jes Reynolds
Director of UX Strategy & Design
Creativity Leadership Impact
Approach
Exceed business goals and improve users’ lives through research-driven design and complex problem-solving.
Expertise
Design systems, organizational transformation, UX & product strategy, accessibility; enterprise, healthcare, security, finance.
Off the beaten path
Hanging out with my son and wiener dogs, planning my next travel adventure to photograph and experience places around the world.

Jeanine Harriman
Director of UX Strategy & Research
STRATEGY MEANING COLLABORATION
Approach
Facilitate the creation of products and services at the intersection of what’s possible, meaningful, and impactful.
Expertise
Product strategy & innovation, generative & evaluative research, workshop facilitation; consumer, IoT, fintech, health.
Off the beaten path
Exploring the Hudson Valley with my husband and stalking the giant squirrels in our backyard with our cat, Arthur.

Kirsten Powers
Director of UX Strategy & Design
Empathy honesty vision
Approach
Communicate a measured representation of user goals to guide design of meaningful and innovative experiences.
Expertise
Product strategy & innovation, generative & evaluative research, workshop facilitation; consumer, IoT, fintech, health.
Off the beaten path
Throwing dinner parties, making art and taking beach trips with my humans and our dogs.

Theresa Neil
CEO
VISION
INTEGRITY
PRAGMATISM
Approach
Quickly understand complex domains and lead teams to launch intuitive, elegant design solutions.
Expertise
Design leadership, facilitation, data visualization, SaaS tools, innovation in health and finance behavior change.
Off the beaten path
Santa Cruz transplant after 20 years in Austin, loving the coast and the redwoods of CA, missing queso and our TX friends.

Jessica Gentry
COO
STEWARDSHIP
TRANSPARENCY
GROWTH
Approach
Bring elegant solutions to complex problems by delivering delight and clarity in any interface.
Expertise
Information architecture, data visualization project management, data transformation in: education, security, and finance sectors.
Off the beaten path
Teaching Argentine Tango, renovating and pushing the holiday decor envelope on our Victorian home, and chasing my toddler.

Stephanie Wilson-Wagner
VP of Strategy
INSPIRATION
COMMITMENT
CONNECTION
Approach
Ignite innovation by seeing possibilities not constraints and guiding the journey with practical experience.
Expertise
Vision and strategy, organizational change, and blue sky innovation in education, healthcare, and financial services.
Off the beaten path
Connecting with my creativity through paint, food & fashion. Staying grounded with my friends, family, & beloved Border Collie.

Jes Reynolds
Director of UX Design & Strategy
CREATIVITY
LEADERSHIP
IMPACT
Approach
Exceed business goals and improve users’ lives through research-driven design and complex problem-solving.
Expertise
Design systems, organizational transformation, UX & product strategy, accessibility; enterprise, healthcare, security, finance.
Off the beaten path
Hanging out with my son and wiener dogs, planning my next travel adventure to photograph and experience places around the world.

Jeanine Harriman
Creative Director
STRATEGY
MEANING
COLLABORATION
Approach
Facilitate the creation of products and services at the intersection of what’s possible, meaningful, and impactful.
Expertise
Product vision and strategy, group facilitation, strategic storytelling, executive coaching; FinTech, new-to-market offerings.
Off the beaten path
Exploring the Hudson Valley with my husband and stalking the giant squirrels in our backyard with our cat, Arthur.

Kirsten Powers
Director of UX
EMPATHY
HONESTY
VISION
Approach
Elevate clients by understanding their domain opportunities and bringing their experiences to life.
Expertise
Ideation and leadership, UX research, design systems, production, and prototypes. Agile and otherwise. Startups to enterprise.
Off the beaten path
Family, food, and movies. Also, the cat.
Why innovate with Guidea
Inventing the future requires more than a good idea.
It takes tenacity to test, explore, evolve, and sometimes even change a good idea. Together we imagine a good future and make it come true.
Stephanie Wilson-Wagner
VP Strategy

Sharon Wells
Director of Client Engagement
Teamwork Completion Optimism
Approach
Craft clear, helpful, and enduring digital experiences that stand out in the noise of modern life.
Expertise
Ideation, conceptual & detailed design, evolution of brand experiences for digital, visual design; fitness, education, healthcare.
Off the beaten path
On a bike, a mountain, or splashing in water with my kiddos and bride.

Karin Dahlstrom
Assoc. Director
Actuate Clever Attentive
Approach
Strategically assess short- and long-term plans and tactics. Untangle complex problems, simplify and execute.
Expertise
Client management; building consensus; creating & communicating tactics for ease of execution; creative solutions to roadblocks.
Off the beaten path
Exploring art & the outdoors with my fam; reading everything–poetry to sci-fi to social theory; teaching & practicing krav maga.

IX
Principal UX Designer
Invention Balance Playfulness
Approach
Model users & systems to make complexity coherent, describe ideal future, build incrementally & strategically.
Expertise
Product, service, & ecosystem innovation & strategy, complex systems & experiences spanning digital, physical, & spatial UI.
Off the beaten path
Traveling with my family. Building tools for foster children. Papercutting, laser cutting, electronics, science fiction, & games.

Nikki Clark
Assoc. Dir. of Research & Strategy
Inclusivity Thoughtfulness Inquisitiveness
Approach
Facilitate an understanding of humans and the systems that impact them to guide sustainable & meaningful work.
Expertise
Generative & evaluative research, facilitation, planning complex systems, conversational design. FinTech, IT, Security, and IoT.
Off the beaten path
Hiking the Pacific Northwest & never missing a good sunset

Ryan Bruner
Assoc. Director of Strategy & Design
Imagination Tenacity Pragmatism
Approach
Build a holistic view of business objectives, user needs & context of use through research & iterative design.
Expertise
User research, concept development, visual design, motion graphics.
Off the beaten path
Learning the piano & guitar, playing drumset, watching classic movies, biking around town, and going on adventures with the doggo.

Stori Walker
Principal Designer & Researcher
Synergy Sagacity Structure
Approach
Cultivate a deep understanding of both business and user needs to discover, design, and resolve complexity.
Expertise
Specialize in complex business products, design ideation, usability research methods, client collaboration, IA, & DB design.
Off the beaten path
Enjoying single track via bicycle or foot, drawing, reading, traveling, and forever in love with the ancient Appalachians.

Sharon Wells
Director of Client Engagement
TEAMWORK
COMPLETION
OPTIMISM
Approach
Foster high-caliber teamwork with clients to overdeliver and create lasting relationships.
Expertise
Team Building & Leadership, Client Success, Project Management, Digital Marketing.
Off the beaten path
Cultivating my garden, enjoying the performing arts, practicing yoga, swimming in tropical water, staying open to what’s possible.

Karin Dahlstrom
Assoc. Director
ACTUATE
CLEVER
ATTENTIVE
Approach
Strategically assess short- and long-term plans and tactics. Untangle complex problems, simplify and execute.
Expertise
Client management; building consensus; creating & communicating tactics for ease of execution; creative solutions to roadblocks.
Off the beaten path
Exploring art & the outdoors with my fam; reading everything–poetry to sci-fi to social theory; teaching & practicing krav maga.

IX
Principal UX Designer
INVENTION
BALANCE
PLAYFULNESS
Approach
Model users & systems to make complexity coherent, describe ideal future, build incrementally & strategically.
Expertise
Product, service, & ecosystem innovation & strategy, complex systems & experiences spanning digital, physical, & spatial UI.
Off the beaten path
Traveling with my family. Building tools for foster children. Papercutting, laser cutting, electronics, science fiction, & games.

Nikki Clark
Assoc. Dir. of Research & Strategy
INCLUSIVITY
THOUGHTFULNESS
INQUISITIVENESS
Approach
Facilitate an understanding of humans and the systems that impact them to guide sustainable & meaningful work.
Expertise
Generative & evaluative research, facilitation, planning complex systems, conversational design. FinTech, IT, Security, and IoT.
Off the beaten path
Hiking the Pacific Northwest & never missing a good sunset

Ryan Bruner
Assoc. Director of Strategy & Design
IMAGINATION
TENACITY
JOY
Approach
Build a holistic view of business objectives, user needs & context of use through research & iterative design.
Expertise
User research, concept development, visual design, motion graphics.
Off the beaten path
Learning the piano & guitar, playing drumset, watching classic movies, biking around town, and going on adventures with the doggo.

Stori Walker
Principal Designer & Researcher
SYNERGY
SAGACITY
STRUCTURE
Approach
Cultivate a deep understanding of both business and user needs to discover, design, and resolve complexity.
Expertise
Specialize in complex business products, design ideation, usability research methods, client collaboration, IA, & DB design.
Off the beaten path
Enjoying single track via bicycle or foot, drawing, reading, traveling, and forever in love with the ancient Appalachians.
Why launch with Guidea
We live to launch.
We bring good ideas to fruition as quickly and painlessly as possible. With almost 200 product launches in our history, we’ve run into pretty much every obstacle imaginable and overcome them. Use our experience to your advantage.
Theresa Neil
CEO

Ivan Bachev
Principal UX Designer
Rigor Beauty Excellence
Approach
Apply emerging trends in technology and design to the precise execution of refined design deliverables.
Expertise
Design for responsive web & mobile apps, data viz, prototyping, style guides, design systems; healthcare, edu, fintech, nonprofit.
Off the beaten path
Spending time with my son and our labrador. Reading popular science books, taking photographs and playing music.

Jessica Higgins
Assoc. Dir. of Research & Strategy
Exploration Clarity Harmony
Approach
Create experiences people love and stories worth telling through meaningful content and design.
Expertise
Structure content via models, maps, & information architecture; craft stories through conversational design & content strategy.
Off the beaten path
Travel, music, all things culinary, trying to keep plants alive, taking too many photos of my pets.

Khati Paul
Principal UX Designer
Enthusiasm Ingenuity Curiosity
Approach
Modeling tasks, identifying patterns and exploring possibilities to simplify processes and shape direction.
Expertise
Design synthesis for conceptual exploration; Information displays for learning and decision making; enterprise software and complex systems.
Off the beaten path
Playing board games and reading with my family, defending our garden from hordes of ravenous wildlife, and trying out new hobbies in case I have an undiscovered talent.

Jes Albro
Principal UX Designer
Thoughtful Innovative Perceptive
Approach
Assessing user and business needs to create an experience that delights, informs and exceeds expectations.
Expertise
Usability research, idea generation, prototyping, IA, design strategy, functional design, agile; startups to large corporations.
Off the beaten path
Traveling and exploring new places and going back to old favorites, spending time with my favorite people and my french bulldog.

Claire Zimowski
Principal UX Designer
Diligence Reflection Order
Approach
Become a storyteller for users by transforming thoughts and feelings into crafted experiences.
Expertise
UX, interaction, product, concept, and visual design; data visualization; web and mobile; enterprise.
Off the beaten path
Playing music and walking real far; writing, drawing, and sewing when inspiration strikes.

Amy mcgovern
Assoc. Dir. of Design & Strategy
Continuity insightfulness Persistence
Approach
Facilitate shared objectives and common language between users and business, to craft effective experiences.
Expertise
Responsive web and mobile design, working with dev teams to take ideas to fruition, roadmaps, rapid wireframes, finance.
Off the beaten path
Anything outdoors – climbing, running, surfing, hiking, bushwhacking. Time with family & friends, exploring and traveling.

Ivan Bachev
Principal UX Designer
RIGOR
BEAUTY
EXCELLENCE
Approach
Apply emerging trends in technology and design to the precise execution of refined design deliverables.
Expertise
Design for responsive web & mobile apps, data viz, prototyping, style guides, design systems; healthcare, edu, fintech, nonprofit.
Off the beaten path
Spending time with my son and our labrador. Reading popular science books, taking photographs and playing music.

Jessica Higgins
Assoc. Dir. of Research & Strategy
EXPLORATION
CLARITY
HARMONY
Approach
Create experiences people love and stories worth telling through meaningful content and design.
Expertise
Structure content via models, maps, & information architecture; craft stories through conversational design & content strategy.
Off the beaten path
Travel, music, all things culinary, trying to keep plants alive, taking too many photos of my pets.

Khati Paul
Principal UX Designer
ENTHUSIASM
INGENUITY
CURIOSITY
Approach
Modeling tasks, identifying patterns, and exploring possibilities to simplify processes and shape direction.
Expertise
Design synthesis for conceptual exploration; Information displays for learning and decision making; Enterprise software and complex systems.
Off the beaten path
Playing board games and reading with my family, defending our garden from hordes of ravenous wildlife, and trying out new hobbies in case I have an undiscovered talent.

Jes Albro
Principal UX Designer
THOUGHTFUL
INNOVATIVE
PERCEPTIVE
Approach
Assess user and business needs to create an experience that delights, informs and exceeds expectations
Expertise
Usability research, idea generation, prototyping, IA, design strategy, functional design, agile; startups to large corporations.
Off the beaten path
Traveling and exploring new places and going back to old favorites, spending time with my favorite people and my french bulldog.

Claire Zimowski
Principal UX Designer
DILIGENCE
REFLECTION
ORDER
Approach
Become a storyteller for users by transforming thoughts and feelings into crafted experiences.
Expertise
UX, interaction, product, concept, and visual design; data visualization; web and mobile; enterprise.
Off the beaten path
Playing music and walking real far; writing, drawing, and sewing when inspiration strikes.

Amy mcgovern
Assoc. Dir. of Design & Strategy
CONTINUITY
INSIGHTFULNESS
PERSISTENCE
Approach
Facilitate shared objectives and common language between users and business, to craft effective experiences.
Expertise
Responsive web and mobile design, working with dev teams to take ideas to fruition, roadmaps, rapid wireframes, finance.
Off the beaten path
Anything outdoors—climbing, running, surfing, hiking, bushwhacking. Time with family & friends, exploring and traveling.
Why lead with Guidea
It’s a challenge to consistently deliver exceptional UX.
We help our clients to be UX leaders by partnering to create the UX teams, systems, practices and momentum necessary to continuously improve and realize new customer-centric opportunities.
KC Teis
Advisor

Tim Gaertner
Principal UX Designer
Effectiveness Learning Humility
Approach
Create products and services in complex environments that are aligned and in harmony with one another.
Expertise
Information architecture, UX research, UX design, Service design, Experience orchestration
Off the beaten path
Hanging with my family and dogs. Standing sideways on a surfboard, skateboard, or snowboard year-round.

Tom Gonzalez
Technical and Creative Advisor
Elegance Precision Intention
Approach
Leverage the intersection of technology, human cognition, & art to create aesthetically compelling & communicative displays of information.
Expertise
Data Visualization and Information Displays, Advanced technical proof-of-concepts. Software architecture and development.
Off the beaten path
Time in the ocean, spending time with family, heavy equipment and landscaping. Making art out of the every day.

Rebecca Loar
Assoc. Director of Research & Strategy
Ingenuity Resourceful Intensity
Approach
Building strategic alignment around goals, assessing critical knowledge gaps, & crafting elegant methodologies to correct them.
Expertise
Generative research, workshop facilitation; global health, fintech, consumer packaged goods, tech, ecomm, B2B.
Off the beaten path
Producing art of varying quality, reading military history & watching melrose place reruns. Better at drywall than people assume.

Erik Hunter
Principal UX & Visual Designer
Intuitiveness Awareness Efficiency
Approach
Work at the intersection of design and development to create intuitive software products that inspire.
Expertise
Brand Identity Design, Art Direction, UI Design and UI Motion Design
Off the beaten path
Mediocre beekeeper, long walker, runner and tennis player. Enjoys chopping, stacking and drying wood.

Alicia Hall
Principal UX Research & Content Strategist
Connection Reasoning Perspective
Approach
Find the sweet spot where user needs, business objectives, and best practices overlap.
Expertise
Content strategy, information architecture, usability, helping teams get from discovery to launch.
Off the beaten path
Exploring my new hometown in NW Indiana, neverending house projects, knitting, sewing, and hanging out with my partner.

Angela Strohbeck
UX Research Assistant
Appreciation Exploration Empowerment
Approach
Cultivate a holistic understanding of the human experience to inform and create meaningful work.
Expertise
Generative & evaluative research, project management, and ideation in healthcare.
Off the beaten path
Playing guitar, enjoying live music, writing, cooking, exploring new places, trying new foods, and expanding my comfort zone.

Tim Gaertner
Principal UX Designer
EFFECTIVENESS
LEARNING
HUMILITY
Approach
Create products and services in complex environments that are aligned and in harmony with one another.
Expertise
Information architecture, UX research, UX design, Service design, Experience orchestration
Off the beaten path
Hanging with my family and dogs. Standing sideways on a surfboard, skateboard, or snowboard year-round.

Rebecca Loar
Assoc. Director of Research & Strategy
INGENUITY
RESOURCEFUL
INTENSITY
Approach
Facilitate creation of products & services at the intersection of what’s possible, meaningful, & impactful.
Expertise
Product vision and strategy, group facilitation, strategic storytelling, executive coaching; FinTech, new-to-market offerings.
Off the beaten path
Exploring the Hudson Valley with my husband and stalking the giant squirrels in our backyard with our cat, Arthur.

Tom Gonzalez
Technical and Creative Advisor
ACHIEVEMENT
EXPERIENCE
CREATIVITY
Approach
Leverage the intersection of technology, human cognition, & art to create aesthetically compelling & communicative displays of information.
Expertise
Data Visualization and Information Displays, Advanced technical proof-of-concepts. Software architecture and development.
Off the beaten path
Time in the ocean, spending time with family, heavy equipment and landscaping. Making art out of the every day.

Erik Hunter
Principal UX & Visual Designer
INTUITIVENESS
AWARENESS
EFFICIENCY
Approach
Work at the intersection of design and development to create intuitive software products that inspire.
Expertise
Brand Identity Design, Art Direction, UI Design and UI Motion Design
Off the beaten path
Mediocre beekeeper, long walker, runner and tennis player. Enjoys chopping, stacking and drying wood.

Alicia Hall
Principal UX Research & Content Strategist
CONNECTION
REASONING
PERSPECTIVE
Approach
Find the sweet spot where user needs, business objectives, and best practices overlap.
Expertise
Content strategy, information architecture, usability, helping teams get from discovery to launch.
Off the beaten path
Exploring my new hometown in NW Indiana, neverending house projects, knitting, sewing, and hanging out with my partner.

Angela Strohbeck
UX Research Assistant
APPRECIATION
EXPLORATION
EMPOWERMENT
Approach
Cultivate a holistic understanding of the human experience to inform and create meaningful work.
Expertise
Generative & evaluative research, project management, and ideation in healthcare.
Off the beaten path
Playing guitar, enjoying live music, writing, cooking, exploring new places, trying new foods, and expanding my comfort zone.

