About Us

Peopledesign helps companies change.

Define strategy.
Connect dots.


We help organizations become more user-centric, aligning value propositions, technology, customers, and internal teams. We help you connect the dots between an organization’s business strategy and customer interactions.

Strategy

Brand Experience

Integrated Marketing

Peopledesign Value Map
Diverse experience.
Deep expertise.

We help many kinds of organizations and have unique expertise in the commercial furniture industry.

Thinkers and makers.
Problem-solvers and Communicators.
Designing for people requires a nuanced understanding of what people believe, want, and need. This is why we are Peopledesign.
Jake Himmelspach


Jake Himmelspach

Principal and Strategy Director

Jake is our lead researcher and strategist. He applies human-centered design methods to help companies develop growth strategies.

MBA Innovation Strategy, FSU
BA Communications, WMU
Board of Directors, Rockford Public Schools

Chas Appleby
Chas Appleby

Creative Director

Chas leads our creative solutions. With a background in design and business, he empowers teams to create innovative answers to strategic questions.

BFA Design & Illustration, Columbia College

Ted Bingham
Ted Bingham

Account Manager

Ted guides our client relationships for mutual success. His teaching and customer service background helps us stay aligned with our clients and their strategy.

BA Psychology, GVSU
Photographer
Former Special Education Teacher

Yang Kim
Yang Kim

Executive Creative Director and Co-Founder

Yang's peers have recognized her work for its clarity, distinctiveness, humanity, and charm. Her no-nonsense style, wit, and devotion to her work have earned her long-standing client relationships.

“One of the most influential designers working today.”
- Graphic Design USA

BFA Design, Carnegie Mellon University
Co-Author, Brand Identity Essentials
AAF Silver Medalist
AIGA Fellow

Kevin Budelmann
Kevin Budelmann

President and Co-Founder

Kevin oversees the firm's strategic direction and helps manage client relationships as a designer, strategist, and change catalyst. He advises, teaches, writes, and discusses strategic design in various organizations.

“You would be lucky if Kevin and his remarkable team put their creativity, passion, and dangerous intelligence to work for you.”
- Brian Collins

MDM Innovation, IIT Institute of Design
BFA Design, Carnegie Mellon University
Co-author, Brand Identity Essentials
Professor, Northwestern, MSU
Board Member, IxDA Global, APDF, AIGA

Recognition makes us proud.
And puts us in good company.
Our work has been celebrated by many organizations, publications, and competitions worldwide.

AIGA
American Corporate Identity
Communication Arts
Communicator Awards
Critique magazine
Grand Design: USA
Graphis →
How magazine
Print magazine
ReBrand 100
Step: Inside Design magazine
The American Center for Design
The Creativity Annual
The New York Art Directors Club
W3 Awards
Webby Awards
Many regional competitions...

Peopledesign-Graphis
We share our thinking
to stay sharp.


Brand Identity Essentials

"A model for clarity in a field that rarely has any."

Now in its second edition, our book is available in six languages.

Introduction | 100 Principles for Building Brands
Download Brand Framework | Brand Audit Template | Course Curriculum

Buy Brand Identity Essentials on Amazon