I <3 speaking (scroll down for more)! My talk at the 2024 BOPP Design Conference was written up here and highly praised: “Angie’s presentation was so good, it was one of my favorites. I have sat through a lot of ‘understanding Gen Z’ conversations... This one felt totally different… it was definitely refreshing.” - Zoe Licata, Reporter at Brewbound
A sampling of recent projects
SPIRITS
In-home and remote qual research on why and how some spirits drinkers are imbibing less these days, to inform a spirits brand’s business strategy from innovation to marketing / comms
FANDOM & MONEY
A trend report on how fans spend money, shining a light on emerging behaviors and expectations in fandom for a music label looking to understand what’s next
FOOD & BEV
Explored meanings of “premium” and how it shows up across food & bev products and culture to inform future product development for a CPG food brand
THE FUTURE OF BEAUTY
Multiple projects (from qual to quant to trend reports) on the future of beauty, often with a spotlight on Gen Z attitudes and experiences to help beauty brands prepare to connect with consumers of the future
SPORTSWEAR & LIFESTYLE
A trend report on consumer behavior and cultural shifts that impact the world of outdoor activity, fitness, and fashion to help a European footwear brand keep a pulse on their key US markets
CPG PACKAGING
Decoded the design of prestige / masstige personal care (CPG) packaging to inform future pack design for a premium oral care product
DECODING CONFIDENCE
Uncovered the meanings (semiotic codes) of confidence across a spectrum of categories to inform and inspire a new design world that could be ownable for the client brand
WELLNESS CULTURE
Analyzed emerging trends in the culture of wellness and care among Gen Z to envision what the future of care could look like for a personal care brand’s product innovation and brand strategy
US YOUTH CULTURE
Expert consultation on shifts in US popular and youth culture for a intl agency hoping to help their client gain relevance with young Americans
GLOBAL YOUTH CULTURE
Identified how Gen Z in 4 global markets discover brands, and what they expect and want out of social media advertising, in order to guide strategy for brands looking to advertise on the client’s platform
ENTERTAINMENT
Partnered with a tech giant to dive deep into the motivations and attitudes video streamers have when signing up and using their favorite streaming services, for the client’s streaming product launch
RESTAURANTS
Multiple projects with a food & bev fintech brand on creative concept, brand positioning, and trend research to make sure the visuals and messaging for their upcoming brand campaign are resonating the right way with the right audience
RESTAURANTS
Uncovered foundational insights for a food industry startup to understand what drives decision-making among independent restaurateurs and chefs, to use as the basis of their product and design strategy
SMALL BIZ
A semiotic analysis which decoded the culture of entrepreneuership, the financial services category, and client’s own brand for a challenger fintech brand to inform strategic planning and a brand refresh
Speaking gigs
“Guess What’s Coming to Dinner? Signs of Life in an Ultra-Processed World”
Semiotopia (NYC, upcoming June 2025)
“Unpacking the Future Consumer: How Youth Culture Shows Up in Branding and Packaging Design”
BOPP Design Conference (Chicago, Sept 2024)
“Crafting Your Brand (Panelist)”
Boston Startup Week (Boston, Sept 2024)
“Your Right to Party: Emerging Signals and Trends”
Future Friends 333 (London, Feb 2024)
“Mixing Mixing Methods: How Surveys and Interviews Go Hand-in-Hand”
Quant UX Con (Virtual, June 2022)
“Driving Deeper Insights with Mixed Methods Research”
R&D, Product Development, & Design Thinking Summit (Boston, June 2022)