The Experience Designers

What happens when cinema breaks free from the screen? In this episode, we sit down with Mike Anderson, award-winning director and creative at Nexus Studios, to explore one of the most fascinating shifts in modern storytelling: spatial cinema. Mike and his team partnered with Meta and Universal Pictures to bring Blumhouse Enhanced Cinema horror films — The Black Phone and M3GAN — into an entirely new immersive format built for the Meta Quest headset. But this isn't VR gaming. It's a new medium for film. Together, Steve and Mike unpack the history of technological inflexion points in filmmaking from the Edison kinetoscope to Dolby surround sound and why we may be at the most significant one yet. They discuss what "spatial" actually means for a viewer, how Nexus built a "visual sound design" layer on top of existing films, and what it's like to watch a horror movie inside a basement that maps to your actual room. From the future of movie theatres and back-catalogue IP, to the possibility of non-linear storytelling and filmmaking made from scratch for spatial platforms, this conversation is a deep dive into where cinema is heading and why the audience might be more ready than we think. If you're curious about immersive experiences, the future of entertainment, XR technology, experience design, or the intersection of AI and storytelling, this episode is essential listening. 00:00 Introduction and pivotal moment in filmmaking. 01:00 A brief history of cinema tech - From kinetoscopes to iPhones — how technology has always driven storytelling. 03:52 What is spatial cinema? - Mike defines spatial viewing and explains the jaw-dropping scale of an in-headset screen. 07:00 Your room becomes the film - How the Quest maps your space and overlays the world of the movie into it. 08:30 Beyond film — where else does this go? - Sports broadcasting, live events, education — the boundless applications of spatial tech. 12:00 The pitch — getting it signed off - The creative and technical complexity of convincing Meta and Universal to back this. 15:30 Inventing a new language - Creating definitions, testing what works, and discovering "visual sound design." 20:00 The viewer experience - What it actually feels and looks like to watch a film in spatial, inside the app. 21:30 The Black Phone & M3GAN - Why horror was the genre of choice and how two very different films were transformed. 24:45 Scaling the format - The tools Nexus built to productise the 2D-to-spatial conversion pipeline. 27:30 What does this mean for movie theatres? - Complementary, not competitive — why cinema isn't going anywhere. 29:10 New films, new possibilities - What happens when a filmmaker builds from scratch for spatial — and how distribution could work. 35:00 Parallel worlds — immersive art & experience design - Frameless, Marshmallow Laser Feast, how tech is opening new creative windows. 37:00 Mike's journey and what drives him - From painting at RISD to installations in Manhattan to the frontier of spatial filmmaking. 41:30 The "Jazz Singer" moment - What the tipping point looks like — and why we're just waiting for it to arrive. Nexus Studios | The Experience Designers Podcast | Mike Anderson Bio Mike Anderson, Director, Nexus Studios Mike Anderson is an award-winning director and animator who brings a mastery of technology and craft to create work often with a subtly absurd or unsettling edge. As a versatile storyteller, he moves effortlessly between aesthetics and techniques, from original series like Good Morning, Pickles! (FXX) and Hot Future (Adult Swim) to music videos for Steve Aoki and Ashnikko, seamlessly blending digital gaming visuals, motion capture, or traditional animation. Mike served as Creative Lead for Blumhouse Enhanced Cinema, guiding the project to create a deeply immersive and engaging experience for audiences. A director in his own right, he applied his narrative insight to interpret and amplify the original director’s intent....

In this episode, we sit down with immersive experience designer Frances Vieras Blanc in the heart of Paris to explore the "atomic unit" of human connection: presence. Dressed in Marie Antoinette-era attire to embody the power of anchoring and immersion (whilst in Paris!), Frances shares her journey from politics to creating the Oracle of Immersion, a tool designed to help brands move beyond the "Instagrammable" into the transformation economy. They discuss the five pillars of immersive design—multi-sensory engagement, agency, story, space, and feeling—and how theatrical techniques like "Yes, and" can bridge the gap between creative art and corporate impact. It is a grounded conversation on how intentionality and "micro-magic" can foster genuine human transformation. Episode Chapters 0:00 – The Atomic Unit of Experience: Presence: Exploring how being fully present with others forms the foundation of all immersive design. 8:50 – Defining Immersion: The Five Pillars: Introducing the Oracle of Immersion as a framework for building multi-sensory and participatory worlds. 16:35 – Designing for Feeling and Impact: Why starting with the desired emotional "peak" is essential for both creative and business success. 19:10 – Navigating the Transformation Economy: How experiences are moving beyond mere entertainment toward deep, meaningful personal shifts. 23:43 – Thinking Outside the Booth: Brand Immersion: Reimagining trade shows and retail spaces by replacing functional design with lived storytelling. 31:35 – The "Yes, And" of Collaborative Growth: How theatrical improv skills and adaptability can unlock innovation within corporate cultures. Frances biography Frances Vieras Blanc is a creative director and immersive strategist with over 30 years of experience in entertainment. Founder of Eat the Cake Studio, an immersive entertainment studio based in France, she crafts and curates immersive experiences—from bold brand activations to original narrative worlds—helping audiences connect deeply while making brands impossible to ignore. A recognized leader in the immersive space, Frances is a founding member of the World Experience Organization (WXO) and its Global Experience Council, a contributing alumna of The College of Extraordinary Experiences, and co-founder of JeDI Immersive, a non-profit advancing the immersive industry in France, and Les Journées de l’Immersif, France’s largest immersive industry gathering. Rooted in a lifelong love of storytelling—spanning stage, film, screenwriting, and video games—she brings human-centered stories to life, transforming messages into emotions and brands into living worlds. Her mission: to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary through emotion, story, and creative impact. Connect https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesvierasblanc-immersive-entertainment/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We speak with retail experience expert Ghalia at 104.fr in Paris to explore the evolving landscape of physical commerce. As the pendulum swings back from ultra-digital to physical, Ghalia shares her deep insights into why brands must move beyond transactional efficiency to embrace "story living". They discuss the strategic value of pop-up stores as experimental tools to test location and product novelty, and the need to blend high-tech with a high-touch human connection. It's a thoughtful, deep dive for experience makers and leaders into how purposeful design and local authenticity can create meaningful, destination-worthy retail experiences that resonate on a cultural and social level. #RetailInnovation #StoryLiving #TheExperienceDesigners #ExperienceDesign #HumanCentredDesign Episode Chapters 0:00 – Reimagining the Purpose of Physical Retail: Exploring why customers leave the house for meaningful destinations rather than just basic transactions. 5:20 – Beyond the Wow Factor: Utilitarian vs. Holistic Design: Understanding the balance between functional, grab-and-go convenience and immersive, time-stretching experiences. 11:52 – From Storytelling to Story Living: How brands provide authentic proof of their heritage and "know-how" through museums and interactive flagships. 26:00 – Pop-ups as a Strategic Tool for Experimentation: Ghalia shares insights from her PhD on using ephemeral spaces to test locations, products, and customer reactions. 40:47 – Human-Centric Design and Holistic Management: Breaking down internal silos to integrate retail design into the heart of the customer journey. 49:40 – The Future of Retail: Social and Cultural Commerce: Looking toward 2025, the next era of commerce must prioritise human connection over mere profit. Ghalia's bio Ghalia is a multifaceted retail expert whose work spans consultancy, insight curation, speaking, authorship, and podcast hosting. She began her career in the fashion industry in 2005 and has since collaborated closely with numerous fashion brands at both retail and management levels. Her expertise lies in ephemeral retail formats, the creation of engaging physical store atmospheres, and the analysis of consumer behavior within omnichannel environments. At a strategic level, Ghalia supports brands through transformation processes and the evolution of their development strategies. Operationally, she contributes to procedure design, training manual development, and team training programs. She holds a PhD from École Supérieure des Affaires in Lebanon, a Master’s degree from the London College of Fashion, and a BA (Hons) from Notre Dame University. Ghalia teaches marketing and retail internationally and is a frequent speaker at leading retail conferences, sharing insights that help shape the future of retail. Connect with Ghalia https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghaliaboustani/ Credits Venue - Centquatre-Paris, 5 rue Curial - 75019 Paris www.104.fr Francois Arrivae from IO Studio - A creative technology laboratory specializing in immersive experiences Links to Francois https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran%C3%A7ois-arrive/ https://io-stud.io ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A rare behind-the-scenes look inside The Traitors Live Experience in London. Creative Director Neil Connolly at Immersive Experience reveals what it really takes to turn a hit TV show into a living, breathing world, from designing a game with 475 possible outcomes, to building a four-storey immersive venue in just four months. This episode explores how the live experience extends the Traitors universe, how emotion and tension are designed into every moment, and why the audience always comes first. Whether you’re a fan of the show or fascinated by immersive experiences, this gives you a whole new appreciation of what’s really going on behind the roundtable. 00:00 – Welcome to The Traitors Live | What this experience is and why it’s unlike anything else 04:00 – From TV Show to Living World | How the Traitors universe was extended, not copied 10:00 – Designing the Game & the Tension | Turning the TV format into a live, emotional experience 18:30 – 475 Possible Outcomes | Why no two games are ever the same 25:00 – Inside the Machine | The building, technology, and operational scale behind the scenes 46:30 – Emotion First, Business Second (But Both Matter) | Why audience feeling, design, and commercial reality must work together Immersive Everywhere Company Bio An award-winning live entertainment producer on a mission to transform the world’s biggest entertainment brands into extraordinary immersive experiences. They specialise in bringing storytelling to life through interactive, play-based theatrical events that allow audiences to step directly into the worlds they love. The company has produced critically acclaimed experiences, including Doctor Who: Time Fracture, Peaky Blinders: The Rise, and The Great Gatsby — one of the longest-running immersive shows in the world. Immersive Everywhere is behind The Traitors: Live Experience in London’s West End, a fully playable adaptation of the hit TV series created under licence from All3Media International. The company’s vertically integrated model spans creative development, production, ticketing, marketing, and operations, enabling cohesive execution of complex, large-scale experiences that blur the line between spectator and participant. More information - https://www.immersiveeverywhere.com Neil Connolly - Guest & Creative Director Creative Director at Immersive Everywhere and the visionary behind some of the company’s most ambitious IP-based experiences. With a prolific career in immersive design, Neil has led creative work on live attractions such as The Crystal Maze Live, The Tomb Raider Live Experience, and other major branded events. In his work, Neil focuses on extending beloved universes into physical, interactive experiences — always with the audience front of mind. His role on The Traitors: Live Experience involved shaping a dynamic, player-driven adventure that honours the essence of the TV format while adding depth, narrative, and emotional engagement for participants. Connect with Neil https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-connolly-499054110/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What happens when leadership training stops being something you sit through and becomes something you step inside? In this episode, theatre director and experience designer Donnacadh O’Briain shares the story of a bold leadership programme that replaced slides, frameworks, and role-play with a fully immersive live theatre experience. Set inside a 1930s dockyard, leaders became participants in a unfolding story forced to navigate complex conversations, power dynamics, trust, and decision-making in real time. Together, Steve and Donnacadh explore why theatre creates deeper learning, how immersion accelerates behavioural change, and what organisations can learn from rehearsal rooms about leadership, presence, and human connection. Chapters 00:00 – From Theatre to Leadership Learning 07:10 – Why Traditional Leadership Training Falls Short 14:30 – Inside the Live Theatre Leadership Experiment 24:40 – Freezing Time: Learning Through Real Decisions 34:50 – The Impact on Leaders and Organisational Culture 44:10 – What Theatre Teaches Us About Leading Humans 51:00 – The Future of Experiential Leadership Development Bio: Donnacadh is an Olivier and Offie Award winning Director, Experience Designer and Story Architect specialising in live theatre, immersive experiences and experiential learning. He is a cross-industry expert in story and narrative. His wide ranging career has seen him working on everything from musicals, Shakespeare, West End Comedies and large scale immersive LBE's, to consulting on story and branding and creating innovative learning projects for major companies in the US and Europe. Recent clients have ranged from entertainment IP giants, to Fortune 500 finance and tech companies, and Hollywood production houses. He is a TEDx speaker, and has given lectures and mentored at the likes of Cambridge University & RADA, and spent a year as Associate Fellow of Creativity at Warwick University. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) is an experiential artist collective that believes in the power of storytelling to spark the senses and shift perception. Their work guides audiences through multisensory journeys where imagination and information collide. Bringing together coders, poets, chemists, ventriloquists, brands and institutions, MLF collaborates across disciplines to explore new cultural forms, question our relationship with the world, and leave a characteristically playful trail as they move through the cosmos. They create stories that untangle, entangle and flavour reality, blurring the boundaries between art, immersive experiences, XR and film. Their work lives in public spaces, galleries, museums, parks, nature reserves and the metaverse. Everything they produce is grounded in research and designed to carve out space for people to expose, explore and expand their relationship with the living world. MLF has exhibited internationally at institutions including ACMI, Aviva Studios, the Barbican Centre, DDB Seoul, Fundación Telefónica, Museum of the Future, Phi Centre, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, Sundance Film Festival and SXSW. Their work has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, New Scientist, Wired, The Independent, Creative Review, The Times and more. Website: https://marshmallowlaserfeast.com Barnaby Steel bio Barnaby Steel is an artist and creative director of London-based experiential art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast. His practice centres on the senses; enticing audiences into states of expanded perception, a space where the boundaries between bodies blur. His work is deeply rooted in scientific observation as a window to look through and beyond our own experience. Connect with Barney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barneysteel/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this conversation, Ben Robinson takes us on a journey from skateboarding in Liverpool and the golden age of UK clubbing, all the way into the cutting edge of immersive experience design and climate communication. Ben shares how those early subcultures. DIY, community-led, rebellious, and embodied shaped his worldview and eventually his career, leading experiential work for global brands. But the real energy of this episode lies in his current mission: "Using experience design to shift behaviour, mindset, and, ultimately, our relationship with the planet" We explore how immersive experiences can move people beyond information and into transformation, not just thinking differently, but being different. Ben breaks down concepts like aesthetic vs. extractive attention, embodied cognition, ritual, liminality, and how the “before and after” of an experience is often more important than the moment itself. Most importantly, he argues that experiential design might be one of the most powerful tools we have to communicate climate realities in a way people can actually absorb, feel, and act on. If you care about the future of human connection, creativity, or the planet, this conversation will light you up. Chapters 00:00 – Meeting Ben Robinson & Setting the Scene - Why his world begins in subculture, community, and embodied experiences. 02:00 – Liverpool, Skateboarding & The Roots of Flow - How Ben’s early life shaped his philosophy of movement, cadence and design. 06:45 – Clubbing, Communitas & Designing Collective Energy - The lessons nightlife teaches about pacing, emotion and immersion. 10:50 – From Serendipity to a Career in Experience Design - Ben’s path from DIY culture into global experiential work. 14:25 – When Experiences Create Real-World Impact - The Deutsche Telekom example and why “proving value in the real world” matters. 15:55 – The Experiential Boom & The Battle for Attention - Why experiential is exploding and why attention has become the new currency. 23:10 – Can Experiences Change Our Relationship With the Planet? - The potential for experiential to shift mindsets, behaviour and being. 29:25 – Climate Communication, Immersion & Ontological Change - Why climate facts fail and how immersive experiences reach deeper parts of us. 37:50 – Ritual, Memory & Designing for Transformation - What makes an experience meaningful, not just memorable. 50:15 – The Future of Experiential: From Entertainment to Evolution - Ben’s research, liminality, and the role designers play in shaping future mindsets. Ben Robinson bio Award-winning Agency Founder, Experience Designer and Academic Researcher. Growing up in Liverpool during the late 80’s and early 90’s Ben’s life was shaped by two things: skateboarding and clubbing. Experiences that shaped not just what he did, but how he saw the world, and who he was, proving that consciousness is not just embedded (a function of what we think), but embodied (shaped by how we feel), enacted (what we are doing) and extended (and the environment we are in). Whilst finishing a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship, Ben started working at KLP Entertainment in London. Alongside seminal agencies like Cake, Slice and Exposure, KLP created what we now know as Experiential marketing and was where the likes of V-Festival, T in the Park and Creamfields were born. From KLP Ben moved onto TBWA where he co-created GT Academy and Nissan Sports Adventure. After a number of years as Creative Director at PR agency Freuds, Ben went on to found Proud Robinson and Partners (PRP) an award winning Culture led Creative Practice and Experiential Agency working for the likes Oracle Redbull Racing, General Motors, Diageo, EY, Deutsche Telekom and Samsung. 2 years ago Ben started a PhD in Design and Informatics at the University of Sussex in an effort to better understand exactly how Immersive experiences might be used to promote more positive pluralistic...

We’re live at FRAMELESS, London’s #1 immersive art experience, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how art, technology, and emotion converge. Host Steve Usher sits down with Rosie O’Connor, the art historian and curator behind this groundbreaking space, to uncover how timeless masterpieces are transformed into living, sensory worlds. Located in Marble Arch, FRAMELESS is redefining the immersive art experience as the largest permanent multi-sensory venue in the UK. Across four galleries, visitors step inside reimagined works of some of the world’s greatest artists—where art breaks free from the frame and connects directly to our senses. From accessibility and sensory design to the choreography of sound, light, and movement, this episode explores how immersive storytelling turns art into an experience that moves both heart and mind. Website www.frameless.com Connect with Rosie www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-oconnor/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What if the future of experience design starts not on a screen but on your tongue? In this episode, food anthropologist Caroline Hobkinson invites us into her London kitchen to explore the connection between taste, sound, and human emotion. Through a live sensory experiment, she reveals how our brains respond to flavor, sound, and ritual and why modern life has numbed our ability to truly feel. From seaweed that “sings,” to the psychology of coffee rituals and the intimacy of blindfolded dining, this conversation reawakens our senses and reframes how we connect with food, with others, and with ourselves. 00:00 – Welcome to Caroline’s Kitchen 02:00 – What Is a Food Anthropologist? 06:00 – The Ritual of Coffee: Modern Communion 09:30 – Why Taste Is the Most Intimate Sense 12:00 – The Seaweed Experiment: Eating With Sound 18:00 – The Science Behind It: What the Brain Does 24:00 – Blindfolded Bananas & the Art of Surrender 33:00 – Designing for the Senses: Lessons for Brands and Experience Creators 41:00 – The Smell of Memory 44:00 – Bringing Mindfulness to Everyday Eating 46:00 – Closing Reflections: Reawakening the Senses Caroline's bio Immersive Experience Director - MultiSensory FoodArtist – Food Anthropologist investigating behaviour, ritual and interrelationships of sensory modalities Born in Cologne in 1979, trained at Central Saint Martin’s where she gained a degree in Fine Art and SOAS where she earned a master’s degree in Anthropology, she has been creating events and food installations, in galleries, museums and public spaces worldwide. She has published and co-authored numerous research and academic papers on the neuroscientific workings of eating behaviour and conducted anthropological qualitative research into food and drink habits and rituals. She is a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Operating within the intersections of technology, food and the senses, Caroline has been giving numerous interactive talks and lectures that re imagine people‘s food rituals. Her work and research has appeared in numerous publications and she has collaborated on events for Unilever, Disney, Barilla, Magnum, Selfridges, Bang & Olufsen, Kensington Palace and Pink Lady Apples. Contact www.carolinehobkinson.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-hobkinson-creative-director/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Tim Hill shares his unique insights into the magic of live events and the communal experiences they create. Drawing from his ethnographic research at Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium and Berlin's underground techno clubs, he shares how rituals, community, and emotional connections shape unforgettable experiences. He emphasises the importance of co-creation in designing atmospheres that resonate deeply with audiences, illustrating how these moments of togetherness can be both powerful and transformative. 00:00 — Opening: The Magic of Live Events 01:42 — Understanding Anfield's Unique Atmosphere 04:19 — Researching Local Football Culture 05:21 — The Challenges of Ethnographic Research 08:19 — Exploring Fan Demographics 11:36 — The Role of Rituals in Atmosphere 14:19 — Designing Experiences at Anfield 16:20 — The Impact of "You'll Never Walk Alone" 18:51 — Community Identity and Solidarity 22:46 — Designing Emotionally Engaging Experiences 24:34 — The Four-Step Ritual Design Process 31:27 — Thinking Beyond Football: Broader Applications 36:47 — Insights from Berlin Nightclubs 41:42 — The Paradox of Fitting In and Standing Out 48:39 — The Importance of Exclusion in Experience Design 51:45 — Final Thoughts on Designing Rituals Bio & links Tim Hill is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Bath and Director of Studies for the BSc Business program. His research explores the edges of consumer culture, from hardcore football fandom to Berlin’s exclusive techno scene, uncovering what these fringe worlds reveal about belonging, identity, and community. Tim’s work has been published in leading journals, and he’s also the co-author of The Dark Side of Marketing Communication and an Associate Editor at the Journal of Marketing Management. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-hill-99425b378/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sally Earnshaw brings her trademark “oomph” to this high-energy conversation about leadership, life, and the messy, brilliant realities in between. From middle-aged business travel mishaps to the humor of raising teenagers while running a company, Sally grounds leadership in humanity and positivity. We explore her philosophy of energizing and focusing people, the gaps in leadership depth today, and why creating “space to lead” matters more than ever in a world of noise, AI, and constant change. A refreshing reminder that leaders are human first and that energy and authenticity are free. Episode Chapters: 0:00 – Oomph: Energy Meets Delivery 5:00 – Positive Energy & Early Influences 9:00 – Midlife, Normality & Humour 14:30 – Business Travel Tales 18:00 – Leadership Depth in a Changing World 23:00 – Strategy, Agility & Speed of Execution 28:30 – Cutting Through Noise & Creating Space to Lead 38:30 – Communication, Energy & Authenticity 43:00 – The Future of Leadership & Generational Shifts 46:30 – Gratitude & Closing Reflections Bio and Links Sally Earnshaw, the Chief Oompher, is a leadership and organisational culture expert with over 20 years' experience. Sally’s insights on the importance of clarity, how to get everyone aligned and engaged to drive execution have helped hundreds oforganisations build a high-performance culture. Sally emphasises that "your strategy is worth nothing if you can’t communicate". Effective communication in leadership fosters resilience, boosts productivity, and enhances overall performance. Sally is known for her ability to bring out the best in people, using practical, impactful leadership tools that deliver immediate results. Sally is a TEDx speaker, a published author and top tier leadership facilitator and coach. www.linkedin.com/in/sally-earnshaw-oomph www.oomph.life ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Bio and Links Brian d’Souza is the founder and CEO of Swell Studio, a London-based creative agency working between the intersection of sound, music and well-being. Brian is also an award-winning sound artist, DJ, music producer performing under the alias Auntie Flo, and successful entrepreneur, notably as founder of leading music consultancy Open Ear Music from which he exited in 2023. Swell Studio delivers creative projects that use sound to positively benefit the listener, and is based on three principals: biophilic sound, sound therapy and generative music composition. Its clients include IHG, Imperial College, Muuto, Farfetch, Hotpod Yoga and more. It has been featured in GQ, Forbes, The Times, BBC, Discovery Channel and more. As Auntie Flo, Brian is a DJ renowned for ‘taking World Music into the future’ (The Guardian). Over a career spanning ten years, he’s played everywhere from Panorama Bar to Glastonbury, making his name as one of the most adventurous DJs around: performing in Cuba, Latin America, Asia, Africa and even the Arctic Circle. He has released four critically acclaimed albums, most notably Radio Highlife (Brownswood, 2018), which won the SAY award for Scottish Album of the Year. His fourth studio album ‘In My Dreams (I’m a Bird and I’m Free) in November 2024. It was awarded Global Album of the Month in the Guardian and Single of the Year by Disco Pogo and DJ History. He currently runs A State of Flo records and blog, which is home to his dancefloor tracks, global collaborations and nature-based sound art and writing on music and the environment. His work most often centres around the creation of bioelectrical music from living things: plants, fungi and humans. His Plants Can Dance event series uses biodata to trigger notes on his specially built modular synthesizer in a process called bionsonification, with the intention of bridging the gap between the natural world and electronic music realm. This work has been commissioned by the likes of Art Angel, National Trust, Het Hem, V&A etc and featured in New Scientist, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 4, Tate Modern, Rolling Stone, BBC Radio 1 and more. www.swellstudio.io www.astateofflo.com www.briandsouza.in ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, we’re joined by Nick Cawthon, a design leader with decades of knowledge in user experience (UX), service design, and the evolving discipline of experience design. From his childhood discovery of creative flow to shaping the culture of UX in San Francisco, Nick reflects on the pivotal shifts that transformed design from skeuomorphic interfaces to design systems, and now to the rise of AI and agents. Together, they explore what is left behind in each wave of transformation, why core human skills and principles remain essential, and how curiosity and experimentation will shape the future of design. 0:00 – Childhood Creativity & Early Flow States 6:30 – The Evolution of UX in San Francisco 12:44 – Designing for Humans: Early UX Insights 17:27 – The Impact of AI on UX 23:41 – What Gets Left Behind in Transformation 28:42 – Reinvention & The Ouroboros Mindset 32:01 – The Next Generation of Designers 38:35 – Synthetic Users & Experimentation 45:57 – Optimism for UX and Experience Design 53:19 – Core Principles That Endure Nick Cawthorn Bio Nick helps design teams stay ahead of the curve with their AI transformation. He has been curating self-assessments for UX & Design Teams at retrain.gauge.io, helping analyze industry trends and removing barriers to adoption. Nick founded Gauge in 2001 in the San Francisco Bay Area to help organizations with evidence-based strategy and product decisions. Clients have grown to include Electronic Arts, Genentech, Airbnb, Adobe and many others. Nick is a professor in Data Literacy and Visualisation in the Design Strategy MBA program at his alma mater, California College of the Arts. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcawthon-ux-digital-agency-product-design-leadership/ https://gauge.io/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

From his early fascination with synths and soundscapes to touring the world as a DJ, Tom Middleton has spent decades exploring the neuroscience and emotional power of music. In this conversation, Tom shares how his journey through burnout led him to pioneer “experience as medicine,” using sound intentionally to promote well-being, focus, and recovery. We explore neuroaesthetics, spatial audio, vibroacoustics, and how environments—from wellness spaces to workplaces—can be sound-designed to improve health and human connection. This is a deep dive into the future of sensory wellness and functional sound design. #SoundDesign #WellnessInnovation #TheExperienceDesigners #ExperienceDesign Episode Chapters 00:00 – Beginnings & Sonic Fascination 06:30 – From Cornwall to Global DJ 14:09 – Nature Sound & Soundscape Ecology 18:44 – Touring, Burnout & Recovery 30:31 – Therapeutic Music & Sleep Science 39:33 – Soundscaping Everyday Life 47:14 – White Mirror & Sensory Wellness Innovation 54:21 – Experience as Medicine Bio and Links Tom Middleton is a multi-award-winning composer, sound and sensory designer, and pioneer of Sonic Therapeutics for sleep, stress, pain, and performance. As co-founder of White Mirror, he creates health-promoting audio and sensory content grounded in salutogenic design - spanning digital therapeutics, immersive environments, and multi-sensory experiences. Originally mentored by Aphex Twin, Tom draws on classical and electronic roots, as a designer, orchestral cellist, DJ, and neuroscience researcher. His work continues to help millions via Calm, Apple Music, Sleep Cycle, and UMG’s Sleep Better. He also created the world’s most relaxing noise and explores acoustic ecology, archaeo-acoustics, and sonic storytelling to raise awareness for planetary and human wellbeing. Tom serves on the Global Wellness Institute’s Music for Health & Wellbeing board and co-authored the sleep chapter in Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual. He’s committed to scaling evidence-based, humanity-first interventions in a world craving calm, care, and connection - where empathy becomes exponential, and design becomes medicine. Links www.whitemirror.studio https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommiddletonmusic Music Here's the track 7-year-old Tom heard by Isao Tomita - https://open.spotify.com/track/2w0URaMReZtoWWDkboobkL?si=d884d327d15e4098 Also, here are two albums we love here at The Experience Designers Podcast - Enjoy! Spatial Focus Music - https://open.spotify.com/album/0AVuGKpxfe3d9xJM90YbmN?si=XtqG2P1eTuu4BaCoScSrqQ Spatial Sleep Music - https://open.spotify.com/album/6Ifo4VtUVq1a3evYQ6zMtM?si=Z5ZOIgsjTYGRmrScuF1i-Q

Jessica Weickert joins The Experience Designers to explore how emotional regulation, neuroscience, and story-living are reshaping the future of experiential design. Drawing from her personal journey with ADHD and her role at XDA, Jessica shares how neuroaesthetics is helping brands design immersive, purposeful experiences that support well-being and create real emotional impact. From luxury as presence to collective rituals, we unpack trends transforming events, retail, and hospitality. It’s a deep dive into how experiences can help people feel, connect, and heal—moving from escapism to what Jessica calls “inscapism.” Episode Chapters 00:00 – Beginnings & Backstory 06:15 – Designing for Emotion & Well-being 14:30 – The Shift in Experiential Marketing 26:50 – Rethinking Creative Strategy 34:20 – Story-Living & Brand Immersion 46:45 – Designing Against Loneliness 58:15 – Life, Leadership & Saying Yes #ExperientialMarketing #Neuroaesthetics #EmotionalDesign #TheExperienceDesigners #ExperienceDesign Bio and Links: Jessica Weickert is a creative strategy powerhouse whose expertise thrives at the intersection of science and creativity. She is driven by an unshakeable belief that transformative experiences hold the power to solve our world’s most complex challenges. As Vice President of Creative Strategy at XD Agency, an award-winning creative agency, Jessica leads a team of creative scientists — committed to applying neuroaesthetics to craft powerful moments that improve wellbeing and ultimately amplify human potential. In 2024, Jessica was recognized as Women We Admire's Top 50 Women Leaders as a testament for her nearly two decades of work on clients such as LEGO, Poosh, and Lowe’s. She also earned a coveted seat on the World Experience Council (WXO), a global institution of leading experience visionaries dedicated to improving the quality of experiences. But above all her professional accolades, Jessica’s proudest role is the one she holds at home: being a mom. A little more about XD Agency: XD Agency (XDA) is an award-winning creative agency, bred from production chops, creating badass experiences for brands who want to redefine industries and rewrite the rules. For 25 years, they've been delivering groundbreaking ideas and unforgettable moments, earning the title of Ad Age Experiential Agency of the Year 2024. XDA proudly plays across B2B and B2C worlds with clients like LEGO, HBO, Cisco, Lowe’s, Adult Swim, and more. With hubs in New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles, their teams are strategically positioned across the US and beyond dedicated to creating better — experiences, stories, relationships, worlds — everydamnday. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaweickert/ https://www.xdagency.com/

In this rare and deeply personal conversation, Colin Nightingale, Associate Artist at Punchdrunk and Co-founder of Right/Left Project, takes us on an immersive journey through his creative evolution. From his early days immersed in London’s underground music and DIY culture to co-shaping some of the most iconic immersive theatre productions of the 21st century, Colin shares the moments that shaped his path. We explore the origin story behind Punchdrunk’s masked worlds, the power of atmosphere in storytelling, and how emotional design continues to guide his work today. Whether it’s transforming derelict warehouses or crafting meditative audio experiences for overwhelmed audiences, Colin’s perspective invites us to rethink how we build experiences that people truly feel. ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 Colin's Unique Journey into Immersive Experience Design 08:05 The Cultural Landscape of London in the 80s and 90s 12:20 Early Career and the Transition to Creative Work 14:36 Life and journey into Punchdrunk 15:07 Finding Opportunities in London's Creative Scene 16:52 Finding My People: The Journey Begins 21:42 Finding Punchdrunk: The Lost Persons Parties 25:41 The Transformative Power of Space: Punchdrunk's Inspiration 30:40 From Concept to Reality: The Evolution of Punchdrunk 34:59 Navigating Growth: Balancing Creativity and Commercial Success 54:44 Collaboration and Communication in Creative Processes 56:42 The Influence of DJ Culture on Sound Design 58:57 Exploring Three-Dimensional Music Experiences 01:01:29 The Journey of Beyond the Road Project 01:06:18 Transitioning from Punch Drunk to Independent Artistry 01:07:23 Creating Calm and Meditative Spaces 01:14:45 The Importance of Disconnecting in a Digital Age 01:25:58 An Invitation to Mindfulness and Exploration Colin's Bio and Links Colin Nightingale is a British artist, creative producer and curator with over two decades of shaping audience experiences through cross-disciplinary storytelling. Holding a 1st Class Honours degree in Management and a background in music, DJ culture, event production, and outdoor arts festivals, Colin brings a unique blend of creative and operational expertise to the world of immersive performance. In 2002, Colin encountered one of Punchdrunk's early experimental works in London and was instantly drawn to its groundbreaking approach to theatre. His connection with the company's founder, Felix Barrett, quickly evolved into a lasting creative collaboration. From 2003 onwards, Colin became a key member of Punchdrunk's core team, contributing to major productions such as Woyzeck, Faust, The Masque of the Red Death, Sleep No More (productions in Boston, New York, Shanghai and now Seoul), The Drowned Man and The Burnt City. He also co-conceived with Barrett, and produced unique projects including Tunnel 228, a collision of Visual and Art and Performance and Vescovo, a one off collaboration with the rock musician Jack White & XL Recordings. Over the years, he has held roles including Senior Producer, Creative Producer, and Audience Experience Curator, helping shape the company's globally influential immersive theatre experiences. In 2019, along with artist and sound designer Stephen Dobbie, he founded A Right/Left Project, a creative studio specialising in immersive sound and art installations. Their recent work includes ORIGIN (2024), a bespoke deep listening experience at Dunham Massey, a National Trust historic property in Cheshire, as well as Beyond The Road, a genre-blending audio-visual walk through album installation in collaborated with James Lavelle/UNKLE that premiered at Saatchi Gallery (2019) before enjoying an extended 6 month run at Alt1 Gallery at The Hyundai Seoul (2021). He continues to serve as an Associate Artist at Punchdrunk but his core focus is now A Right/Left Project, allowing him and Stephen to explore a range of collaborations and interests that fuse music, sound, and immersive storytelling to reimagine...

In this episode of The Experience Designers, Steve is joined by James Warren, expert storyteller, experience strategist, and founder of Share More Stories to explore how storytelling unlocks deep human connection and business insight. Together, they unpack the true power of stories: as tools for building trust, designing immersive experiences, and revealing hidden emotional truths that traditional surveys and metrics often miss. James shares his personal journey from childhood storytelling to launching a platform that uses AI and narrative analytics to transform how brands understand their customers and employees. The conversation explores: • The shift from storytelling to storyliving • How emotions in stories reveal untapped insights • The link between employee experience (EX) and customer experience (CX) • Why belonging and trust are core to both culture and performance • And how leaders must listen, reflect, and design for impact, not just intention If you’re in brand strategy, customer experience, HR, insight, leadership, or simply passionate about the human side of business this episode is a must-listen. ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and Warm Welcome 00:18 – The Essence of Storytelling 03:11 – Evolution of Storytelling 05:10 – Immersive Storytelling Experiences 07:05 – Storytelling in Travel and Retail 14:06 – Personal Storytelling Journey 15:21 – Leveraging Storytelling for Business Insights 22:03 – Challenges in Storytelling and Research 31:32 – Analyzing Customer Stories for Emotional Insights 32:28 – Integrating AI for Deeper Emotional Understanding 34:48 – The Intersection of Customer and Employee Experience 37:00 – The Relationship Between Employees and Customers 38:36 – Building Trust Through Story 42:55 – Creating Belonging in the Workplace 45:34 – Empathy at Scale: Designing for Real Impact 51:52 – Leadership’s Role in CX + EX Transformation 54:44 – Storytelling, Inclusion, and Community 59:10 – Reflections on Human Connection and Purpose James' Bio and Links James Warren is the Founder and CEO of Share More Stories, a human experience insights company. The company’s primary offering is the SEEQ Platform, which helps organizations and brands uncover the emotional drivers behind employee and customer experiences. James is a researcher, strategist, writer and facilitator who blends storytelling, AI, and insights to help companies better understand themselves, their customers, and their communities. With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, insights, strategy, and innovation, he is passionate about the intersections of humanity, technology, brands, communities, and culture. An active community leader, he volunteers on several boards. He studied economics and literature at Princeton, and creative writing at Columbia. Originally from New York, James now calls Richmond home. Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-warren-seeq/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/share-more-stories/ Instagram: @warrenjwric Instagram: @sharemorestories Website: sharemorestories.com | SEEQPlatform.com

Join us as we talk with Laura Hess, who attended 500 experiences in 5 years, about building a 25-point “Remarkable” rubric for scoring immersive theatre, fine-art installations, XR activations, brand activations, and more.... Learn how intentionality, multi-sensory design, and post-show reflection can help creators craft moments that truly resonate, transport audiences into flow states, and leave a lasting impact. Tune in for practical experience design tips, real-world case studies (including Hermès’s non-transactional activation), and a fresh framework for evaluating remarkable experiences. DOWNLOAD the REMARKABLE experience report - https://www.reuleaux.world/#remarkable-2025 Laura Hess is an experience strategist for interactive and immersive mediums. She champions experiential design and its power to move and change people for the better. Past projects include brand activations, experiential marketing, participatory theatre, film, VR, installation art, and themed entertainment. Drawing from her interdisciplinary background, she specialises in creative strategy and concept development across new and traditional formats, delivering meaningful solutions for independent and global media companies. In 2021, she founded Reuleaux, an experiential consultancy. She’s also a founding member and advisor for the World Experience Organization and No Proscenium’s arts editor. After completing a Master of Science in Leadership for Creative Enterprises at Northwestern University, she has no plans for another degree with a longer title. Contact links https://www.linkedin.com/in/hess-laura https://www.reuleaux.world/ https://laurahess.substack.com/ Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Exploring 500 Experiences 04:55 The Importance of Reflection in Experience Design 09:10 Creating the Remarkable Model 14:57 Understanding the Components of the Remarkable Model 20:45 Evaluating Experiences: The Rubric Explained 28:38 Understanding Experience Scoring 31:33 The Importance of Flow and Connection 33:43 The Role of Audience Participation 35:57 Navigating Commercial vs. Meaningful Experiences 38:28 Intentionality in Experience Design 41:43 Hermes: A Case Study in Non-Transactional Experiences 47:02 Cultural Exchange and Brand Relationships 51:12 Themes in Experience Design 54:24 The Shift Towards Intentionality in Experiences 54:58 Sensorial Aspects: The Key to In-Person Engagement 56:31 The Power of Live Performers in Experiences 59:47 Exploring the Beyond Cognition Case Study 01:03:32 The Importance of Sensory-Driven Experiences 01:04:38 Reflections on Experience Design and Improvement 01:10:08 The Need for Reflection and Iteration in Design 01:12:00 Closing the interview and contacting Laura

What makes a workplace worth the commute? In this episode, we sit down with workplace experience explorer and content creator Tom Hitch to uncover how the best office environments are co-created, not commanded. From sensory design to return-to-office (RTO) policies, Tom shares powerful insights from his travels into global workplaces, highlighting where companies get it right (hello, Miro and Santander) and where they fall flat with flashy but functionless design. Expect bold ideas, real-world stories, and a challenge to rethink the office not as a place you have to go, but one you’re drawn to. If you're interested in employee experience, workplace culture, or the future of work, this one’s for you. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:34 Debating the Return to Office Mandates 01:22 Challenges and Perspectives on Office Policies 02:44 Communication and Clarity in Workplace Policies 03:56 Examples of Office Policies and Their Impact 08:25 Shifts in Workplace Dynamics Post-Pandemic 12:14 Innovative Office Designs and Employee Experience 17:38 Wellness and Wellbeing in the Workplace 22:23 The Future of Office Spaces and Employee Engagement 26:20 Exploring Office Environments: Personal Experiences 32:51 Exploring Miro's Office Culture 36:20 The Importance of Functionality in Office Design 40:31 Santander's Innovative Office Space 49:05 Future Trends in Workplace Experience 56:37 Reimagining the Office Environment 01:01:53 Conclusion and Where to Find More Content Tom's Bio & Links Co-Founder and Creative Director of WRKPLC, a first-of-its-kind workplace strategy business that uses creative content and media about office design. Our content is designed to help inspire and educate people on how to make decisions on their workplace. YouTube: https://youtube.com/@wrkplc Website: https://www.wrkplc.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thitch

Steve sits down with experience-design pioneer Pigalle Tavakoli to explore what she calls "StoryFeeling". The shift from telling stories at people to orchestrating the feelings they live through. Building on her recent keynote at the London Experience Week and forthcoming book - The Building Blocks of Experience Design. She explains how emotion-first design unlocks deeper narrative power. Starting with detective-grade audience research, designing for a full spectrum of feelings (not just "happy"), and letting those emotions drive lasting thought and behaviour change. We explore her journey from theatre and fashion production to founding the School of Experience Design, showing why tech should amplify rather than replace human insight, and share practical tools like her "Emotion Change Equation" for crafting truly transformative experiences. Find out more about Pigalle’s upcoming book: schoolofexperiencedesign.net/book-form LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pigalletavakkoli 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:05 Formative Years and Parental Influence 06:15 Journey into Experience Design 08:47 Teaching and Developing Methods 14:36 Human-Centred Design Philosophy 22:15 The Role of Technology in Design 31:00 The Role of a Producer: A Two-Way Dialogue 32:17 Exploring Human Emotions in Experience Design 34:08 The Emotion Change Equation 35:48 Designing Memorable Experiences 41:27 Reflecting on Emotional Impact 45:46 Defining Experiences and Transformations 49:12 Personal Transformational Experiences 51:56 The Interconnectedness of Human Experiences 56:28 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find More