Daniela Vélez
Design strategist with a uniquely powerful combination of expertise in strategic design and public administration. With dual master's degrees and experience spanning both Latin America and the United States, she brings an exceptional ability to translate complex policy challenges into human-centered solutions that create meaningful impact.
As a systems thinker who thrives at the intersection of design and policy, Daniela excels at unraveling intricate problems through rigorous research methodologies and collaborative approaches. Her professional journey has taken her through diverse sectors—from the food industry to design and law consulting to civic services—where she consistently demonstrates her talent for orchestrating diverse stakeholder engagement and driving transformative change.
What truly sets Daniela apart is her capacity to "hold the tension of opposites", building structure while embracing ambiguity, managing competing priorities with both accountability and empathy, and finding elegant solutions within complex environments. Her background in Industrial Design provides a foundation for her strategic work, though her passion lies not in traditional product design but in applying design thinking to improve systems, policies, and services that touch people's lives.
Currently based in Chicago, Daniela leverages her distinctive skill set for organizations ready to approach complex challenges differently. She can bridge design thinking with real-world implementation, particularly those focused on organizational transformation and positive social impact.