Designing clarity in complexity.

HUMAN-CENTERED & SYSTEMS-THINKING DESIGN

Designer of worlds.

I’m a designer, strategist, and founder of SpacetimeLabs — a consulting studio where narrative intelligence, conceptual design, and advanced play are used as tools for real-world innovation.

With over two decades of experience in UX, motion graphics, and strategic communications, I help think tanks, research institutes, and R&D teams explore bold ideas, solve complex problems, and design what’s next.

My work combines science fiction thinking with systems design to create world-building workshops, speculative prototypes, and serious games — all built to accelerate discovery, unlock creativity, and support better decision-making in complex environments.

I believe the best way to build a better world is to build lots of worlds. So I’ve built a practice around making that process accessible, rigorous, and transformational — for organizations ready to imagine differently and lead bravely.

Nic DiPalma
Principal & Executive Creative Director
NicDiPalmaCreative

Family Services

For the DC Office of Attorney General’s initiative to modernize the District’s child support services and family courts, we led the UX research and design to streamline online applications, track case establishments, and digitize court processes.

Client: District of Columbia Office of Attorney General (Karl Racine)

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HealthLink

After a successful launch of their first online healthcare exchange, the District of Columbia wanted HealthLink 2.0 to be a next-level transformation. We led the design R&D that cut DC’s uninsured rate in half, achieving nearly 96% coverage, and earning a best-in-class ranking among U.S. healthcare exchanges since 2016.

Client: District of Columbia Healthcare Benefit Exchange (DCHBX)

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Capstone

For the first, real-time geospatial analytics platform combining imagery, mapping, and live data for operational awareness, we designed Capstone so DoD leadership could interface with any team, location, or logistic anywhere in the world.

Client: GeoEye/Maxar Technologies (DoD)