Author and multiverse thinker Douglas S. McDaniel is a veteran of research and innovation megaprojects across the nuclear, space, civil infrastructure, architecture, and urban planning industries. He is Director of Research  and Innovation for IDEA Studios.

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With offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and London, IDEA is dedicated to crafting the cities, resorts, and real estate developments of the future, seamlessly integrating physical and virtual realms.

 

At IDEA, Doug is supporting innovative projects in advanced Digital Twin and Metaverse application development. He is pioneering new 'digital infrastructure ecosystems' across sectors that include span architectural design and construction of smart cities, industrial plant design, construction, and operations, as well as advanced commercial and residential real estate visualization tools. Through these advancements, Doug is helping redefine what's possible in worldbuilding, visual storytelling, and research and innovation in design thinking. 

 

Previously, Doug served as Senior Manager of Communications, Research, and Innovation in Urban Planning at NEOM, where he spent over four years shaping the future of this ambitious city in Saudi Arabia. His work at NEOM helped redefine urban planning by incorporating urban research, technology, and human-centered design with visual storytelling, creating urban environments that are not just smart or cognitive, but deeply human.

 

Doug was a producer of the NEOM exhibition that ran parallel to the 2023 Venice Architectural Biennale, which highlighted cutting-edge design principles for THE LINE, NEOM’s flagship urban project. He facilitated pivotal discussions with leading figures like Sir Peter Cook, Jean Nouvel, Thom Mayne, Ben van Berkel, Alex McDowell and Dr. Kent Larson, exploring new cities like NEOM as laboratories for the future.

 

Before NEOM, Doug spent 17 years at Bechtel, a global leader in engineering and construction, where he led a number of initiatives across nuclear, space, and civil infrastructure sectors. His standout achievement was as one of the authors of Bechtel’s landmark proposal for the NEOM Spine, which earned his team the prestigious 2020 Bechtel Global Marketing and Business Development Award.

 

An author, filmmaker, and digital urbanist, Doug resides in Barcelona, where he continues to explore the intersections of storytelling, urban design, and digital innovation. His new book, “Citizen One: A Memoir of the Future,” will be published in 2025. He is currently available for speaking engagements worldwide. 

 

Experience

 

• Director of Research and Innovation, the Intelligent Design Agency (IDEA)

  • ​Leading innovative projects in advanced Digital Twin and Metaverse application development.

  • Pioneering new 'digital infrastructure ecosystems' across sectors like architectural design, construction, real estate, and industrial operations. 

  • Redefining what's possible in worldbuilding, visual storytelling, and urban research and innovation.

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• Senior Manager, Communications, Research, and Innovation in Urban Planning at NEOM

  • Led advanced urban research and communications projects

  • Collaborated with architects, urban experts, archaeologists, economists, behavioral scientists, and science fiction futurists

  • Was one of the producers of NEOM's “Zero Gravity Urbanism: Principles for a New Livability” exhibition at the 2023 Venice Architectural Biennale

 

• Communications, Marketing, and Business Development Leader at Bechtel

  • Led projects in global nuclear, security, space, environmental, and civil infrastructure industries

  • Lead author and editor on numerous multi-billion-dollar proposals

  • One of the recipients of the 2020 Bechtel Global Marketing and Business Development Award

 

• Independent Literary and Cinematic Projects

  • Author of five books

  • Producer and director of theatrical plays, music videos, and award-winning feature films

  • Notable works include "The Lovelies of John Alan Maxwell," "Legends of Appalachia: The Ace Miller Story," and "Flirting with Azrael: A Psychedelic Rock Musical”

 

Skills

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• Urban Planning and Digital Urbanism

• Communications and Marketing

• CEO-Level Strategy and Planning

• Business Development

• Software Development

• Visual Storytelling

• Literature and Filmmaking

• Speechwriting and Public Information