Kirsten Southwell is a multidisciplinary designer and creative strategist in Chicago, Ill., currently leading service design projects with Accenture Song.

After earning her Bachelors in Graphic Design from North Carolina State University, Kirsten started her career as an Experience Designer at Second Story Interactive Studios where she did work for cultural clients including the World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame, AIGA, and the National Archives. 

Kirsten then moved in-house to the Art Institute of Chicago as one of the founding members of the Experience Design studio, initially recruited to lead the design strategy for the museums' digital ecosystem. She eventually became Creative Director, Visual Design where she led all visual design and design strategy work in the digital, print, brand, and environmental workstreams. In her tenure at the museum, Kirsten first made impact through the four-year initiative to rehaul the museum website, mobile app, and in-gallery digital products. She also re-branded and created the environmental design for the Ryan Learning Center, a free educational space for all ages that aspired to be the most accessible public space in the city of Chicago. Kirsten also worked directly on the visual and environmental design for Bisa Butler: Portraits, The Obama Portraits, and Andre Kertesz: Postcards From Paris. 

After six years at the museum, she joined Accenture Song's midwest team to expand her business strategy, design research, and service design capabilities with clients. She is also passionate about expanding imagination around workplace infrastructure, including how to be authentically employee-centered. 

Outside of work, Kirsten is passionate about her art practice, creating in-residence at Epicenter in Green River, UT, Elsewhere in Greensboro, NC, and Blueprint Residency in Chicago, IL.

Volunteer Activities      

• Girls on the Run Running Buddy

• Boys and Girls Club of Chicago

• Big Brothers Big Sisters

• NC State College of Design: student mentorship and alumni facilitation
   

Learn more about Accenture Song here

Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn

Connect with Kristen on Instagram