An ambitious team of
scientists-turned
communicators
Scientists, Filmmakers, Designers, and Strategists
committed to making science accessible, while helping researchers feel confident, visible, and differentiated in an increasingly digital world.
At Impact Media Lab, we help scientists and science-driven organizations articulate why their work matters through emotionally resonant storytelling and world-class creative execution.
We create logos, websites, documentary films, and multimedia campaigns that transform complex research into stories people can connect with. Along the way, we create messaging and communication strategies for clients, that build storytelling power far beyond the media deliverables.
Too often, groundbreaking research is buried beneath generic academic branding and emotionally flat institutional communication. Scientists are doing ambitious, world-shaping work, yet their online presence rarely reflects the creativity or urgency behind the science itself.
Our clients come to us because they are tired of blending in. They want communication that feels bold, human, and aligned with the significance of the work they have dedicated their lives to advancing.
Unlike traditional marketing firms that approach science from the outside, Impact Media Lab operates from within science culture. We understand where traditional academic storytelling falls short.
Founded by PhD scientists, our studio combines scientific fluency with award-winning strategy, media, and design, to create communication tools that are emotionally compelling as well as scientifically credible. Our work does more than explain science. It helps people connect with it on personal and emotional levels.
meet the lab
A collective of award-winning visual storytellers
Kika Tuff, PhD
Founder & Creative Director
Kika is a scientist and storyteller based in Boulder, Colorado. At Impact Media Lab, Kika collaborates with scientists around the world to create multimedia campaigns that inspire action and awareness. Outside the office, you can find her chasing snakes with her two daughters, rebuilding her gecko terrariums, or playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends.
Keisha Okafor
Lead Illustrator
Keisha is a Nigerian-American artist and designer whose work depicts joy and celebrates people. Keisha captures the vibrancy of everyday moments in her bold and colorful designs that celebrate her heritage and community. In her personal time, you can find Keisha on the hunt for dolls to add to her collection or belting her favorite Spice Girls tracks.
Emily Vriesman
Lead Web Designer
Emily is a Midwestern artist and designer whose work is full of bright colors, illustrations, and hand-lettering. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two-year-old daughter. When she's not designing or hanging out with her family, you can find her rooting for her favorite college sports teams: Indiana University and Xavier University!
clare ong
director, producer
Clare is a Singaporean filmmaker and storyteller based in Brooklyn, New York. She draws on her background in documentaries, photojournalism, and marine science to tell heartfelt stories about complex issues. In her free time, she's probably people-watching on her fire escape or planning her next cold New England dive.
Matt Talarico
Director of Photography
With over 20 years of experience and a commitment to conservation, Matt combines artistic intuition with technical expertise to tell compelling stories that inspire change. When he's not behind the camera, you can find Matt exploring the mountains, perfecting his sourdough recipe, or nurturing his garden.
Alice Sun, MSJ
Content Strategist & Writer
Alice is a science writer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her work is rooted in curiosity, and covers a wide variety of topics within science, health, and the environment. In her free time, she is most likely nose-deep in a book, baking focaccia, or volunteering at her local community garden.
Where did we come from?
In case we haven't bumped into each other at a SciComm workshop, my name is Kika. I started Impact Media Lab in 2016, just a few weeks after finishing my PhD in ecology.
Kika earned her PhD in ecology in 2016 from the University of Colorado at Boulder. At Impact Media Lab, Kika helps scientists and science organizations find the compelling stories in their research and develops media campaigns to share those stories with the world.
It’s not that I disliked being a scientist, but I realized I could do more for science as a communicator than I could as a practicing researcher. Scientists wear so many hats, have so many obligations, are expected to be good at so many things. What if I could help them run their outreach more effectively?
And I didn't just build Impact Media Lab to help scientists. I wanted to help SCIENCE (as in, that process of gaining understanding about our world). I wanted to show people WHY we do what we do, how it works, and why science is worth fighting for.
And I've realized, along the way, that better storytelling helps scientists have more successful careers - write better papers, build stronger grant proposals, and get noticed for new opportunities.
IT TURNS OUT THAT BETTER STORYTELLING IS BETTER FOR YOUR SCIENCE, YOUR CAREER, AND OUR SOCIETY.
So if you want to expand the impacts of your work and open new doors through better communication, then join me, young Jedi, and the other scientists-turned-communicators at Impact Media Lab. We want to help you make huge waves with your work through powerful story- and strategy-driven media.