Visual Ideation & Design Strategy

Work with Creative Consultant Devlin Shea

With over 20 years of global experience in consumer insights and market research, I help clients make clearer decisions to support meaningful growth.

My expertise spans communication design, production management, personal development and strategy, complemented by a parallel fine-art practice.

This unique blend of skills enables me to create innovative, tailored and impactful tools and generate insights that are both practical and actionable.

Background

I’m a visual researcher, marketing strategist and artist, and this combination continues to shape how I approach my work.

I began my career at Harvard University’s Mind of the Market Lab, studying neuromarketing and the mind’s use of metaphor to ‘file’ thoughts and shape beliefs. Since then, I’ve worked as a creative consultant with global brands across Europe, North America and Asia — supporting projects in branding, advertising, product design, R&D and innovation.

I also work with mission-driven organisations in the nonprofit, education and community arts sectors, using visual tools to support insight, collaboration and meaningful social impact.

My workshops and consulting projects help teams align around shared values, communicate more effectively and work through complex challenges together.

I’m also a practicing visual artist whose work has been exhibited internationally. I’m the Chair of my local ceramics collective, contribute to museum steering groups, and spend time with my family and our new puppy.

How I can help

I help clients make sense of complex thinking — bringing clarity, structure and direction to what they’re working through.

I work with clients in a few different ways:

  • Clarity Sessions — focused one-to-one sessions to think something through and define clear next steps

  • Workshops — collaborative sessions that help teams build shared understanding and move towards action

  • Research — qualitative and insight-led work to understand people, behaviours and needs, and inform strategy and decision-making

Alongside this, I also work across strategy and communication, and as a Creative Community Producer — exploring ideas, connection and shared experience through creative practice.

What I can help with

  • CONSUMER INSIGHTS

I help marketing teams understand their audiences more deeply, so strategy is grounded in real needs and behaviours.

  • RESEARCH

I work with R&D teams across the product development process — from early exploration and concept design through to testing and refinement.

  • COMMUNICATION

I help ALIGN MESSAGING for external communication. I also work internally with teams to help them hear one another, so a project can move forward with common goals. 

  • CREATIVE WORKSHOPS 

I conduct workshops where we Ideate to GET UNSTUCK, working with teams or individuals.

  • COACHING

I work with individuals on their PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT goals.

Who I work with

I have extensive experience working with a diverse global portfolio of brands, industries and nonprofits.

Including:

CPG: Nike, P&G, Kimberly-Clark, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Kraft, Kelloggs

Durable Goods & Services: Audi, VW, Intel, Cisco, Ikea, E.on, 3 Mobile

Fine Fragrance: Gucci, Hugo Boss, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Escada, Lacoste, Puma, D&G

Nonprofit, Arts & Education: Amnesty International, Susan G. Komen, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Harvard University, Brooklyn College, HKBU, OUTSIDE Arts

How I work

I primarily work remotely, making use of the flexibility and efficiency of online collaboration.

I’ve spent many years working in-country across North America, Europe, Asia and South America, which continues to inform how I approach projects and work with different teams.

I’m based in the UK (GMT). London and Manchester are both within commuting distance.

Start with a short call

If you’re thinking about working together, we can begin with a short call to understand what you’re working through and whether this is the right fit.