Our Story

Drive results with the system designed, built, and tested by an award-winning, mission-driven team with 20+ years of innovation experience.

Most product, service, program and system development fails—and it doesn't have to.

Ana Monroe founded Ishmael Interactive because logic, reason, and process should guide development—not gurus, design snobs, or technologists pushing shiny tools. Since 2009, the company has been quietly revolutionizing how organizations approach human-centered design, from creating award-winning encrypted messaging platforms to training the US federal government's first professional designers.

After adding world-renowned product designer Scott Kellum, operations and education Ph.D Felecia Edwards, and data and contracting specialist Aaron K. Meyers to the team, Ishmael Interactive has cracked the code on producing reliable, replicable, and delightful solutions for stakeholders. With a collective 30+ years in private and private sector groups, working in organizations of 350,000+ people, Ana and the team know how to effectively innovate in any context.

The result is the HCD Guides, trainings, and consulting offered by Ishmael Interactive. These are the world's only full-cycle, real-world tested, technology platform-agnostic development resources. The system was born in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Personnel Management, and General Services Administration, then battle-tested at the CDC, NIST, EPA, and other major agencies.

Now you can access the same systematic approach that transformed how some of the largest organizations in the world built products and services. The 2025 edition combines proven government-scale methodology with agile business practices, featuring new AI-focused sections and entirely redesigned illustrations and formatting.

Ready to systematize great development for your organization? Get the HCD Guide Series and stop leaving success to chance.