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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260617T095500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260617T113000
DTSTAMP:20260612T102556Z
CREATED:20260612T102556Z
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UID:49202-1781690100-1781695800@worldxo.org
SUMMARY:We Are All Curators Now
DESCRIPTION:At the STRAAT Museum in the Netherlands\, Geoff Thatcher and his wife came across a story about Johanna van Polanen\, who became a countess at the age of 11. \nThe museum gave them the outline. But it left out the question they immediately wanted answered: how old was the count she married? \nSo they did what more and more audiences now do. They took out their phones\, asked AI\, checked the answer\, and filled in the missing context themselves. \nThat small moment is the heart of this Campfire. \nThatcher’s argument is that AI is changing the balance of power inside museums\, attractions\, cultural spaces and live experiences. Audiences are no longer just receiving the story chosen for them. They can question it\, extend it\, challenge it\, compare it\, and in some cases re-curate it in real time. \nIn other words: we are all curators now. \nThis raises useful questions for anyone designing experiences. \n\nWhat do professional curators\, storytellers and institutions still uniquely provide when the audience has a research assistant in its pocket?\nDoes AI deepen curiosity\, or fragment shared meaning?\nHow do we design for people who can go off-script at any moment?\nAnd where is the line between audience interpretation and the hijacking of a story?\n\nThe piece also draws a provocative comparison with journalism: a profession reshaped by technology\, declining trust and the loss of control over distribution. Thatcher asks whether museums and experience designers are about to face a similar disruption. \nThere is a further layer to this Campfire. \nThe article this Campfire is based on was originally written as a TEDx Savannah talk. You can read it here » https://geoffthatcher.substack.com/p/canceled-by-tedx-savannah \nThatcher says the talk did not go ahead after he declined to remove a line that an editor considered “provocative and offensive.” This isn’t the reason for running this Campfire\, but it does make for an interesting case study: a talk about audiences taking control ran into the content-control process of the platform that was due to host it. \nRead the piece before the Campfire and bring your questions\, your pushback and your own examples. \nWe are all curators now. What should we do with that power? \n\nAbout Geoff Thatcher: \nFrom Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island to the Coastal Heritage Society in his hometown of Savannah\, Georgia. Geoff Thatcher’s work transcends borders. \nHis career spans brand experiences at FM’s Science & Technology Center\, theme parks like Doha’s Quest and museums like the Ozark Mill. Most recently he and his firm led the design of The Humanitarian Center Tour in Salt Lake City. \nOther recent projects include the AI experiences at the College Football Hall of Fame\, renovation of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the JEA H2.O Purification Center. \nHe got his start in the experience industry as a teenage “clean-up boy” at Utah’s Lagoon Amusement Park and after a brief stint as a journalist later worked on the CNN Studio Tour for Jack Rouse Associates\, the Rio 2007 Opening Ceremonies for Five Currents and the Lockheed Martin Space Experience Center for The Brand Experience. \nHe founded Creative Principals in 2017. Geoff is author of The CEO’s Time Machine\, creator of Ask.Buzz\, writer on hot topics\, podcast guest and a regular speaker at industry conferences. \nAfter leading the groundbreaking work that turned guests into football players\, coaches and cheerleaders\, he can often be heard online talking and writing about how AI will transform experiences. \n\n  \n \n  \n\n  \nHow to watch this Campfire:\n\nCampfires are available for WXO members only\nTo join the WXO\, please head to our Application page\nThe WXO is a global home for the leaders\, shapers and doers in the Experience Economy\nAs a member\, you’ll get live access to Campfires like this one plus unlock an on demand library of over 100 Campfire recordings\n\n  \n\n  \nTimings:\nCampfire #1 is suitable for those in the APAC region or Europe\, but everyone is welcome! Here’s when we kick off in your time zone: \n\nLondon: 9:55 – 11:25 (BST)\nParis: 10:55 – 12:25 (CEST)\nDubai: 12:55 – 14:25 (GST)\nMumbai: 14:25 – 15:55 (IST)\nShanghai / Singapore: 16:55 – 18:25 (CST/SGT)\nTokyo: 17:55 – 19:25 (JST)\nSydney: 18:55 – 20:25 (AEST)\nAuckland: 20:55 – 22:25 (NZST)
URL:https://worldxo.org/event/we-are-all-curators-now/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:WXO Campfire
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://worldxo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Geoff-Thatcher-4.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260617T175500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260617T193000
DTSTAMP:20260612T152336Z
CREATED:20260522T141216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T152336Z
UID:48972-1781718900-1781724600@worldxo.org
SUMMARY:Creating Impactful Experiences: How Story\, Technology and Place Can Turn Moments into Memories
DESCRIPTION:What do we value more as a society: moments or memories?\nExperiences define our lives. They shape how we connect across cultures and communities\, how we grow\, and how we remember the people\, places and ideas that move us. Today\, as technology and consumer expectations evolve\, experiences can be more diverse\, integrated and convergent than ever before. \nAmid this convergence\, designers have the opportunity to orchestrate full ecosystems through live engagement\, digital access and physical environments — evoking curiosity and emotion while shaping indelible\, unforgettable memories. \nIn this Campfire\, Barbara Bouza\, FAIA\, NOMA\, IIDA — CannonDesign’s Executive Director of Market Strategies & Growth – Live\, Work\, Play and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering — will share insights from her global journey through discovery\, impossibilities and storytelling. Her career has consistently fused story\, technology and design to create memorable\, immersive destinations across the globe\, including her work leading the team behind Disney’s theme parks\, resorts\, cruise ships and immersive entertainment experiences. \nDrawing on her experience at Disney and with some of the world’s leading architecture and design firms\, Barbara will explore how designers can reimagine their approach to experience design — creating connected experiences that bring people together\, respond to changing expectations\, and leave space for joy\, surprise and wonder to unfold. \nKey takeaways\n\nInsights from a global journey of discovery\, impossibilities and storytelling\nHow connected experiences bring people together across cultures and communities\nWhy consumer expectations are reshaping the future of experience design\nHow story\, technology and physical environments can create lasting memories\n\nAbout Barbara Bouza\nBarbara Bouza is CannonDesign’s Executive Director of Market Strategies & Growth – Live\, Work\, Play and the former President of Walt Disney Imagineering. An architect celebrated for shaping inspiring spaces that bring people together across cultures and communities\, she focuses on people-centred markets where life\, work and play increasingly intersect. \nHer career stands out through her ability to fuse storytelling with technology and design\, creating some of the most memorable and immersive destinations across the globe. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects\, a member of Fast Company’s Impact Council\, and serves on the SCI-Arc Board of Trustees. \n\n  \n \n  \n\n  \nHow to watch this Campfire:\n\nCampfires are available for WXO members only\nTo join the WXO\, please head to our Application page\nThe WXO is a global home for the leaders\, shapers and doers in the Experience Economy\nAs a member\, you’ll get live access to Campfires like this one plus unlock an on demand library of over 100 Campfire recordings\n\n  \n\n  \nTimings:\nCampfire #2 is suitable for those in the US or Europe\, but everyone is welcome! Here’s when we kick off in your time zone: \n\nLondon: 17:55 – 19:25\nParis: 18:55 – 20:25\nLos Angeles: 09:55 – 11:25\nSanta Fe: 10:55 – 12:25\nChicago: 11:55 – 13:25\nNew York: 12:55 – 14:25\nSão Paulo\, Santiago & Buenos Aires: 13:55 – 15:25
URL:https://worldxo.org/event/impactful-experiences-the-unexpected-and-the-memorable/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:WXO Campfire
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://worldxo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Barbara-Bouza-3.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260618T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260618T210000
DTSTAMP:20260615T140246Z
CREATED:20260522T144307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T140246Z
UID:48978-1781805600-1781816400@worldxo.org
SUMMARY:Functional Experiences: The Multi-Billion-Dollar Opportunity for the Experience Economy
DESCRIPTION:What if the most powerful experiences don’t just entertain us but change how we feel\, think\, and act?\n​Join WXO and Pixel Artworks for a special IRL Campfire exploring Functional Experiences: an emerging shift in the Experience Economy where immersive design\, technology\, sound\, space\, and storytelling are used not just for spectacle\, but for lasting human impact. \n​Hosted at the The Lighthouse\, this intimate industry gathering will bring together experience professionals to explore how brands and creators can design experiences that outlast the moment – from spatial audio and sensory environments to transformative\, wellbeing-led and behaviour-shifting encounters. \n​Expect a thought-provoking discussion\, examples from the cutting edge of experiential design\, and plenty of time to connect with the WXO community inside Pixel Artworks’ immersive studio. \n​Read more about the ‘The Unstoppable Rise Of Brain-Boosting “Functional Experiences‘. \n​Speakers:\n\n​James Wallman\, Founder\, WXO\n​Miranda Pincott\, Managing Partner\, Pixel Artworks\n​Tom Middleton\, Founder\, Senzomi\n\nWant to come along?\nIt’s free to attend. Head to https://luma.com/n1yf0zv4 to RSVP \nPriority access to WXO members. \n \n  \n—————– \nDetails: \n\nWhen: Thursday\, June 18\, 2026 | 18:00-21:00 BST\nWhere: Address will be sent out once your registration is approved.
URL:https://worldxo.org/event/functional-experiences-irl-campfire/
CATEGORIES:WXO Campfire,IRL Campfires
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://worldxo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IRL-Campfire-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260624T095500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260624T103000
DTSTAMP:20260616T071840Z
CREATED:20260616T071840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T071840Z
UID:49236-1782294900-1782297000@worldxo.org
SUMMARY:Beyond Attention: Can Experiences Improve Quality of Life? (Early)
DESCRIPTION:The Experience Economy has become remarkably effective at capturing attention\, creating engagement and creating memorable moments. \nBut what if the next frontier isn’t attention\, immersion or even transformation? \nWhat if it is quality of life? \nEvery experience affects us. It can elevate or deplete\, connect or isolate\, calm or overstimulate. Yet while designers routinely consider safety\, accessibility and sustainability\, far less attention is paid to the lasting impact experiences have on human health\, wellbeing\, performance and flourishing. \nAs advances in neuroscience\, psychology\, sensory design and immersive technology deepen our understanding of human experience\, a new category is emerging: Functional Experiences – experiences intentionally designed not only to entertain or engage\, but to create meaningful outcomes for individuals\, communities and society. \nThis isn’t a talk about wellness. It’s a conversation about what happens when the Experience Economy meets the Wellness Economy – and the opportunities and responsibilities that emerge as a result. \nAs organisations increasingly seek to support engagement\, performance\, recovery\, connection and overall quality of life\, experience design is becoming a powerful bridge between memorable moments and meaningful outcomes. \nIn this Campfire\, Tom Middleton\, Founder of Senzomi\, will explore how brands\, destinations\, workplaces\, cultural institutions and experience creators can move beyond designing for attention towards designing for positive human outcomes. \nDrawing on examples from hospitality\, entertainment\, immersive environments\, healthcare\, education and sensory design\, the session will explore whether quality of life could become one of the most important measures of success for the next generation of experiences. \nIf experiences shape people\, what responsibility do we have for the outcomes they create? \nKey Takeaways \n• Why Functional Experiences may represent the next evolution of the Experience Economy \n• What happens when the Experience Economy converges with the Wellness Economy \n• How experiences influence human states\, behaviours and quality of life \n• Why quality of life may become a new measure of experience success \n• The opportunities and responsibilities of designing experiences that leave people better than they found them \nAbout Tom Middleton \nTom Middleton is Founder of Senzomi\, an award-winning composer\, sensory designer and creative director working at the intersection of science\, technology\, design and human experience. \nHis work spans hospitality\, mobility\, wellness\, entertainment and immersive environments\, helping organisations create experiences that support health\, wellbeing\, performance and human connection. He serves on the board of the Global Wellness Institute’s Music for Health & Wellbeing Initiative and is recognised for pioneering approaches that combine sound\, sensory design\, technology and immersive experiences to improve quality of life. \n\n  \n \n  \n\n  \nHow to watch this Campfire:\n\nCampfires are available for WXO members only\nTo join the WXO\, please head to our Application page\nThe WXO is a global home for the leaders\, shapers and doers in the Experience Economy\nAs a member\, you’ll get live access to Campfires like this one plus unlock an on demand library of over 100 Campfire recordings\n\n  \n\n  \nTimings:\nCampfire #1 is suitable for those in the APAC region or Europe\, but everyone is welcome! Here’s when we kick off in your time zone: \n\nLondon: 9:55 – 11:25 (BST)\nParis: 10:55 – 12:25 (CEST)\nDubai: 12:55 – 14:25 (GST)\nMumbai: 14:25 – 15:55 (IST)\nShanghai / Singapore: 16:55 – 18:25 (CST/SGT)\nTokyo: 17:55 – 19:25 (JST)\nSydney: 18:55 – 20:25 (AEST)\nAuckland: 20:55 – 22:25 (NZST)
URL:https://worldxo.org/event/beyond-attention-can-experiences-improve-quality-of-life-early/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:WXO Campfire
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://worldxo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Tom-Middleton-early.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260624T175500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260624T193000
DTSTAMP:20260616T072359Z
CREATED:20260616T072359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T072359Z
UID:49240-1782323700-1782329400@worldxo.org
SUMMARY:Beyond Attention: Can Experiences Improve Quality of Life? (Late)
DESCRIPTION:The Experience Economy has become remarkably effective at capturing attention\, creating engagement and creating memorable moments. \nBut what if the next frontier isn’t attention\, immersion or even transformation? \nWhat if it is quality of life? \nEvery experience affects us. It can elevate or deplete\, connect or isolate\, calm or overstimulate. Yet while designers routinely consider safety\, accessibility and sustainability\, far less attention is paid to the lasting impact experiences have on human health\, wellbeing\, performance and flourishing. \nAs advances in neuroscience\, psychology\, sensory design and immersive technology deepen our understanding of human experience\, a new category is emerging: Functional Experiences – experiences intentionally designed not only to entertain or engage\, but to create meaningful outcomes for individuals\, communities and society. \nThis isn’t a talk about wellness. It’s a conversation about what happens when the Experience Economy meets the Wellness Economy – and the opportunities and responsibilities that emerge as a result. \nAs organisations increasingly seek to support engagement\, performance\, recovery\, connection and overall quality of life\, experience design is becoming a powerful bridge between memorable moments and meaningful outcomes. \nIn this Campfire\, Tom Middleton\, Founder of Senzomi\, will explore how brands\, destinations\, workplaces\, cultural institutions and experience creators can move beyond designing for attention towards designing for positive human outcomes. \nDrawing on examples from hospitality\, entertainment\, immersive environments\, healthcare\, education and sensory design\, the session will explore whether quality of life could become one of the most important measures of success for the next generation of experiences. \nIf experiences shape people\, what responsibility do we have for the outcomes they create? \nKey Takeaways \n• Why Functional Experiences may represent the next evolution of the Experience Economy \n• What happens when the Experience Economy converges with the Wellness Economy \n• How experiences influence human states\, behaviours and quality of life \n• Why quality of life may become a new measure of experience success \n• The opportunities and responsibilities of designing experiences that leave people better than they found them \nAbout Tom Middleton \nTom Middleton is Founder of Senzomi\, an award-winning composer\, sensory designer and creative director working at the intersection of science\, technology\, design and human experience. \nHis work spans hospitality\, mobility\, wellness\, entertainment and immersive environments\, helping organisations create experiences that support health\, wellbeing\, performance and human connection. He serves on the board of the Global Wellness Institute’s Music for Health & Wellbeing Initiative and is recognised for pioneering approaches that combine sound\, sensory design\, technology and immersive experiences to improve quality of life. \n\n  \n \n  \n\n  \nHow to watch this Campfire:\n\nCampfires are available for WXO members only\nTo join the WXO\, please head to our Application page\nThe WXO is a global home for the leaders\, shapers and doers in the Experience Economy\nAs a member\, you’ll get live access to Campfires like this one plus unlock an on demand library of over 100 Campfire recordings\n\n  \n\n  \nTimings:\nCampfire #2 is suitable for those in the US or Europe\, but everyone is welcome! Here’s when we kick off in your time zone: \n\nLondon: 17:55 – 19:25\nParis: 18:55 – 20:25\nLos Angeles: 09:55 – 11:25\nSanta Fe: 10:55 – 12:25\nChicago: 11:55 – 13:25\nNew York: 12:55 – 14:25\nSão Paulo\, Santiago & Buenos Aires: 13:55 – 15:25
URL:https://worldxo.org/event/beyond-attention-can-experiences-improve-quality-of-life-late/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:WXO Campfire
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://worldxo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Tom-Middleton-late.png
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