Case Studies
The projects I’ve undertaken over the years reflect a journey of navigating complexity, embracing creativity, and championing collaboration—principles that align deeply with Multiverse Thinking and converge in Citizen One: A Memoir of the Future. Each case study, whether managing high-stakes deadlines or crafting visionary narratives, tells a story of reimagining possibilities and bridging the gap between what is and what could be.
When I worked on the NEOM Spine proposal out of Bechtel's offices in London in the early days of the pandemic, for instance, the challenge wasn’t simply technical; it was about envisioning a city’s lifeline—a corridor of connectivity and innovation—while translating that vision into actionable plans. Similarly, the worldbuilding previsualization for NEOM’s LINE set 75 years into the future demanded not just technical precision but speculative imagination. Collaborating with futurists, architects, and scientists to visualize a deeply human-centric narrative reinforced a key idea: the future is as much about humanity’s aspirations as it is about the systems we build to support them.
This thread of focusing on people extends to my work with NASA, where a tight 45-day deadline to produce a video proposal for the Mobile Launcher 2 contract required bringing engineers’ technical brilliance into a form the NASA selection committee would find compelling. This common, human-centered thread carried through the Sarbanes-Oxley compliance workshops I co-developed and taught for Bechtel attorneys and paralegals, where the goal was not just to teach legal requirements but to empower teams with the confidence to act decisively. Even designing resort uniforms with Hollywood costume designers exemplified the value of crossing disciplines to create something functional yet iconic—stories that remind us that creativity flourishes where perspectives intersect.
Throughout, the core idea driving my work has been that solutions emerge from embracing interconnectedness—linking disciplines, industries, and narratives to craft futures that are both practical and inspiring. This is the essence of Multiverse Thinking: the ability to see systems not as isolated challenges but as networks of possibility, where the human element is always central.
Citizen One: A Memoir of the Future distills this philosophy into its core narrative. It’s not just a recounting of professional milestones but a broader reflection on how we can all navigate a rapidly evolving world. By sharing my own journey through urbanism, sustainability, and personal transformation, the book becomes a capstone—an invitation to think boldly, act with purpose, and imagine futures that are as inclusive as they are innovative.
In many ways, these case studies represent only a few of the stepping stones of a life journey that has led to to this moment. Each project, however, taught me that the most profound solutions come not from linear thinking but from embracing the richness of multiple perspectives and possibilities. And that’s the story Citizen One tells—a story about building futures that matter.
2023 NEOM Exhibition – Venice Architectural Biennale
Putting an exhibition about the city of the future in the Abbazia di San Gregorio, a 9th century monastery on the Grand Canal in Venice was no small feat. As one of the producers for the NEOM exhibition, I directed a high-stakes production that involved flying to multiple international locations to interview visionaries and manage film crews in North America and Europe.
Archaeology Strategy for Urban Planners
A challenge to protect NEOM’s historical and cultural heritage while enabling sustainable progress, aligning with its vision for future urbanism. As the project manager for this initiative, I collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of archaeologists, planners, and cultural experts to create a strategic framework for archaeology in the NEOM region.
Authoring Bechtel’s Winning Proposal for the NEOM Spine
Doug was one of the lead authors for Bechtel’s multi-billion dollar proposal for the Project Management Consultant (PMC) contract for the critical infrastructure of the NEOM Spine, a critical infrastructure corridor designed with cutting-edge urban planning and transportation and utilities systems aligned with NEOM’s goals for sustainability, innovation, and livability.
Citizen One: A Memoir that Advances Multiverse Thinking
Exploring the intersection of futuristic urbanism, sustainability, and personal transformation. The challenge was to craft a compelling narrative that could resonate with global audiences, secure a publishing deal with a leading brand, and position Multiverse Thinking—a framework for embracing complexity and innovation—as a cornerstone of my thought leadership.
NASA’s Mobile Launcher 2
In 2018, Bechtel sought to re-enter the space industry by competing for NASA’s $400 million Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) contract to support the Orion program and Artemis missions. To meet the challenge, Doug directed and produced a 58-minute explainer video as the core of Bechtel’s proposal. The video showcased the ML2 design's alignment with NASA’s mission objectives by integrating advanced visualization techniques.
Reimagining Hospitality Uniforms for a Luxury Resort
As a creative, solutions-oriented project manager with extensive connections in Hollywood, I spearheaded a dynamic redesign exercise. Working with the Intelligent Design Agency www.idea.la) we engaged costume designers with vast experience working on blockbuster Hollywood films, including Dune, House of the Dragon, and Harry Potter.
Sarbanes-Oxley Training: Building Innovative Compliance
Three to four years after the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, I partnered with Bechtel’s corporate legal team to co-developed a comprehensive curriculum tailored to the stringent requirements for records retention and preservation holds for the company's attorneys and paralegals.
Visualizing Complex Solutions for Congressional Support
Leveraging narrative 3D modeling and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies to support the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in securing $2 billion in Congressional appropriations for the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program. The project required a compelling and accessible narrative to bridge technical and legislative priorities.
Worldbuilding Previsualization to Imagine the Future of Cities
Partnering with a number of Hollywood production designers, Doug led a team to develop a previsualization framework that focused on human-centric narratives while leveraging cutting-edge methodologies in worldbuilding that could be applied to future cities.