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Liminal:
the space between
Why we exist
To inspire people to think, feel, and act differently about the space between right now, where we’ve been, and where we’re going.
A world where systems (products, experiences, relationships) are designed and built to sustain long-term time horizons.
What drives us
What drives us
A world where systems (products, experiences, relationships) are designed and built to sustain long-term time horizons.
Our origin story
Liminal is a collaboration between futures consultants, researchers, and multimedia designers aiming to build resilient, more adaptable organizations. As a design futures consultancy, we leverage design methodologies to imagine, explore, and create future possibilities—thereby bringing strategic foresight to life.
While many strategic plans only look as far as the current annual plan, we develop strategies 5–20 years into the future. We build prototypes, immersive experiences, games, and other artifacts to encourage stakeholders to engage with—and take agency in—future possibilities.
We infuse design-centered methodologies into every stage of the strategic foresight process, inspiring short-term actions for long-term sustainability. By eliminating the catastrophic consequences of short-term solutionism, leaders are better equipped to understand the risks and opportunities associated with long-term change.
How we operate
[1]
We don’t predict the future.
The future is a concept that doesn’t exist, and therefore, is impossible to predict. By embracing the fact that we never know exactly what’s coming, we foster adaptability and resilience in every organization.
[2]
In our dictionary, futures is always plural.
There is no one, predetermined future, but multiple possibilities shaped by different choices, trends, and uncertainties. By considering multiple outcomes, we’re best prepared for various scenarios.
[3]
We toe the line between dystopia and utopia.
By balancing utopian and dystopian views, we open ourselves up to more realistic possibilities. By rejecting blind optimism or resignation, we strike a balance between opportunities and risks.
[4]
We don’t work within a silo.
Involving stakeholders, community members, and experts ensures futures reflect the needs, values, and insights of those directly impacted, and fosters a sense of shared responsibility.
Our collaborators
Julienne is a former multimedia designer turned futures consultant after gaining a front row seat to the often catastrophic results of short-term thinking and consumption. Julienne launched Liminal to help organizations reimagine what’s possible and take agency in their future. Blending strategic foresight, systems thinking, and speculative design, Julienne creates tangible, experiential representations that showcase the future impact of today’s actions.
A staunch advocate of the democratization of learning, Julienne encourages professionals, students, and adult learners to challenge assumptions, anticipate change, and engage in long-term thinking. She is an adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design, where she teaches AI design, future studies, and speculative design to undergraduate and adult learners. Her subversive teaching environment turns classroom hierarchy on its head, resulting in experiential learning for both student and teacher.
Julienne is a Resident Researcher studying Embodied Futures at Studio Atelierista and the chapter lead for the NYC arm of Futures Friends. She was awarded a research grant in 2024-25 to create an AI Design Ethics Toolkit, and has published multiple peer-reviewed papers on the topic. Julienne has presented at AIGA DEC, Primer22, Dubai Future Forum, Learn X Design, among other conferences, leveraging creative experiences to bridge present day and possible futures.
Julienne DeVita
FOUNDER
Matthew Jensen
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGN FUTURES PRACTITIONER
For 25 years and the foreseeable future, Matthew Jensen is a creative hybrid both impatient with and overwhelmed by the rate of change. He soothes his flummox with multi-modal expression: digital design, enterprise brand strategy, and a daily dirty limerick. He's currently exploring the intersection of generative AI, behavioral economics, strategic foresight narratives, and purposeful play.
Lourdes Rodrìguez
SENIOR TRENDS ANALYST & FORESIGHT PRACTITIONER
With a background in psychology, Lourdes combines her work as a senior trend analyst and foresight practitioner with lecturing, facilitating workshops and seminars for executives, organizations, and public bodies worldwide for over 14 years. Recognized as one of the top futurists in Spain by Forbes (2021, 2022), Lourdes is Co-Executive Director at Teach the Future, promoting the inclusion of futures thinking in education. She also works as a foresight consultant, including as an external expert for the European Commission on initiatives related to youth, foresight, and new technologies.
Eric Popiel
STRATEGIC FORESIGHT ADVISOR
Eric Popiel is a nationally recognized expert in strategic foresight and long-term planning, who previously led the Future of Work group at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Evergreen Program at the U.S. Coast Guard. With over two decades of federal service, including 11 years in executive facilitation and foresight roles at OPM and the U.S. Coast Guard, he specializes in applying innovative methodologies to address complex workforce and organizational challenges. Eric is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and trainer. A retired Coast Guard aviator with over 4000 hours, he also serves as the Treasurer of the National Capital Soccer League, demonstrating broad leadership across sectors. In his spare time, he is a competitive youth soccer referee.
Kara McCartney
COPYWRITER & DIGITAL STRATEGIST
Kara McCartney is a copywriter, web designer, and SEO specialist who specializes in uncovering the unique genius of every individual. The first website Kara McCartney ever wrote was for a 100-person startup with a $100M valuation. Since then, she’s written copy and designed websites for national nonprofits, publicly-traded companies, billion-dollar organizations, government agencies, and mom-and-pop businesses in DC and across the country.
Henry Lee
INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGNER
Henry Lee is an interdisciplinary designer, researcher, and part-time lecturer. His design and research is systems based and focuses on design disciplines and methods like speculative design, strategic design, futures thinking, and graphic, industrial, and UX design. He has designed various websites, products, and systems for businesses, non-profits, universities, and other organizations. Henry received a BFA in Industrial Design from Brigham Young University, and an MFA in Transdisciplinary Design from Parsons School of Design, where he currently lectures on the intersection of AI and design.
Phil Balagtas
DESIGN FUTURES STRATEGIST
Phil is a design strategist and futurist based in Barcelona. He has over 20 years of experience designing digital products, services and strategies for a variety of devices and platforms. Within the last decade he has served as a Design Director for General Electric’s Digital Aviation group and for McKinsey & Company. Today he is a professor at Elisava University and leads his own consultancy training organizations on Futures Thinking. He has just published the book on O’Reilly called, Making Futures Work: Integrating Futures Thinking for Design, Innovation and Strategy.