Making better beautifully simple
My name is Abigail Shemoel, and I am an urban designer and landscape architect. Since 2009, my work has spanned continents and scales, from an intimate courtyard in Oslo to a 294,000-acre growth study in the Florida Panhandle. At the heart of it all is a fascination with the spaces and systems that shape our everyday lives. The way we design our streets, parks, neighborhoods, and communities influences how we experience the world around us. I believe thoughtful design and creative problem-solving have the power to make those experiences meaningfully better.
I studied Landscape Architecture at Ball State University and earned my master’s degree in Urban Development Planning at The Bartlett, University College London. After more than a decade of professional practice in Oslo, I moved to Málaga, Spain, in 2024, where I now serve as Design and Communications Lead at Inspire Placemaking Collective, collaborating with local governments across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
At the heart of my work is a passion for making complex ideas clear, compelling, and accessible. From hand-drawn sketches to immersive 3D visualizations, I use design and communication to bridge the gap between technical analysis and public understanding. I believe this connection is essential to helping communities and decision-makers envision possibilities, explore alternatives, and participate in shaping the places around them.
More recently, this philosophy has evolved to embrace digital innovation. I design and develop tools that simplify complex workflows, challenge conventional processes, and expand what is possible in planning and design. From interactive 3D town models built from public data to offline field survey applications, my focus is on finding practical and innovative ways to improve our work.
Beyond the Projects
At Inspire Placemaking Collective · 2024 to 2026
Brand Strategy
& Creative Direction
In 2026, I became the Design and Communications Lead at Inspire Placemaking Collective, taking responsibility for guiding the firm’s visual identity, marketing, and communications strategy. Working collaboratively with a talented team, we implemented updated brand guidelines and developed cohesive marketing materials. Together, these efforts have strengthened brand consistency, elevated the quality of our communications, and created a more unified and compelling presentation of the firm’s projects, expertise, and values across digital and print platforms.
Digital Innovation
& Artificial Intelligence
I am currently leading am extensive AI integration initiative while also designing and developing tools that reduce repetitive tasks, simplify complex workflows, and expand the firm’s capabilities. My innovations include automated mapping and modeling tools that accelerate project production, an internal portal that centralizes resources and improves communication, a customized project management system that streamlines coordination, and a community engagement app that makes public participation more accessible and engaging.
Street Visualizer
Enter a right-of-way and a lane arrangement, or sketch one on a map, and get an editable plan, section and isometric.
Field Notes
Log geotagged observations and photos and upload them to a central hub for team review.
Review Panel
Submit work to a panel of specialized AI agents for detailed, actionable feedback from multiple perspectives.
Scenarios
Public information and design proposals get assembled into an interactive 3D scene with an illustrated-map style.
Design Toolkit
for Code Graphics
I spearheaded the development of a comprehensive graphic toolkit for the firm’s land development code projects. This involved leading a team to create a flexible library of illustrations that can be readily adapted to project-specific regulations, design standards, and color palettes. The toolkit establishes a cohesive visual language across projects, streamlines graphic production, and improves the clarity, consistency, and quality of the firm’s deliverables.
Analytical Framework
for Urban Studies
I believe the quality of a design solution is directly tied to the depth and rigor of the analysis that informs it. Guided by this philosophy, I developed a series of analytical frameworks that help us understand the complex relationships between the social, economic, and environmental conditions that shape a place. This holistic approach allows us to identify opportunities, make more informed design decisions, and translate complex findings into clear, compelling ideas that resonate with stakeholders and the public.
Experience, Education, Honors & Skills
Experience
- 2024 to presentDesign and Communications Lead, Senior Urban DesignerInspire Placemaking Collective · remote from Málaga
- 2022 to 2024Landscape Architect and PlannerLARK Landskap, Oslo
- 2017 to 2022Landscape Architect and PlannerGottlieb Paludan Architects, Oslo
- 2013 to 2017Landscape Architect and Plannertegn_3, Oslo
- 2009 to 2011Landscape designerRapid City, South Dakota and Indianapolis, Indiana
Education
- MSc Urban Development Planning, specialising in urban agricultureThe Bartlett, University College London
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, minor in International Resource ManagementBall State University
- MemberNorwegian Architects’ Union (AFAG)
Honors
- 2026William C. Kercher, Jr. Memorial AwardInspire Placemaking Collective
- 2011National Olmsted ScholarLandscape Architecture Foundation
- 2011ASLA Merit Award
- 2011US-Brazil University of the Future Consortium Award
- 2010Udall Scholar
- 2010Rhodes Scholarship finalist
Skills
- Drawing and modellingAutoCAD Civil 3D, Revit, SketchUp, Lumion, Hand drawing
- Mapping and analysisArcGIS
- CommunicationAdobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite
- Code and generativeWeb tools, ComfyUI, AI-assisted research pipelines