Emily Holmes

I help people navigate uncertainty & solve complex problems using human-centered design.

Some of the best work I’ve done has started with a mess... an ambiguous challenge, a high-stakes decision, or a team struggling to align. I thrive in these moments, not because I have all the answers, but because I know how to ask the right questions, uncover hidden patterns, and use creativity and curiosity to guide teams toward clarity.

I've led projects that shaped policies, reimagined industries, and helped organizations solve problems they weren’t even sure how to define at first. I’ve collaborated with the Smithsonian, the Nature Conservancy, the CDC, and Fortune 500 companies; helping leaders think differently, navigate complexity, and turn uncertainty into opportunity.

But what really drives me isn’t the logos on my résumé, it’s the moments when a team sees a path forward that wasn’t obvious before, when creativity unlocks new possibilities that can shape our collective futures, or when people leave a session feeling more energized than when they walked in.

Some of my favorite projects have been:

• Researching, imagining, and building a new digital edTech SaaS product from scratch that helped tens of thousands of first-generation high school students find their way toward post-secondary success.
• Leading a design sprint in Nairobi that brought together rural African farmers, global investors, and climate scientists to design creative but viable solutions to a very complex challenge.
• Working with a plastic packaging company to imagine what the future will look like - and what their business might be - when there is no more plastic.
• Helping some NASA scientists save the planet (you'll have to ask me about this one!)

At my core, I’m endlessly curious about people: how they think, what they need, and how systems shape their experiences. I believe creativity isn’t just for designers and artists; it’s a survival skill for business, leadership, and life.

When I'm not working, you’ll probably find me:

🎨 Making art with paint, stained glass, or metal

🎸 Playing music and singing

🎓 Supporting young STEAM leaders through the National Youth Science Camp Alumni Association

If you're tackling a challenge that doesn’t have an easy answer, I’d love to connect. Let’s explore what’s possible.

Dynamic facilitator, design strategist, and creative leader with 7 years of experience as a design thinking instructor. Skilled at embedding human-centered design in complex organizations, including healthcare, technology, and sustainability sectors. Passionate about applying human-centered systems thinking to social impact initiatives.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Design Thinking Instruction – 2 years adjunct faculty at Franklin University (online courses). 7 years as a LUMA Institute Certified Senior Instructor, teaching dozens of design thinking cohorts per year on behalf of the LUMA Institute (online and in person.)
• Human-Centered Design & Systems Thinking – Expertise in applying design methodologies to complex challenges, ensuring user-driven solutions.
• Facilitation & Stakeholder Engagement – Skilled at leading workshops and aligning cross-sector stakeholders.
• Workshop Leadership & Multi-Day Event Design – Experienced in designing and executing high-impact innovation sprints.
• Turning Research into Actionable Insights – Synthesizing user research into journey maps, clearly-framed problems, and strategic recommendations.
• UI/UX Design & Prototyping – Rapidly developing and iterating low- to mid-fidelity prototypes to validate concepts.
• Strategic Visioning & Storytelling – Translating insights into clear, compelling narratives to drive decision-making.

Masters in Human Factors, Bentley University

BA in Art, Duke University