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.

Let's Work Together