This workshop was originally scheduled for August 27th, but was moved to September 3rd due to a power outage.

In this two-part workshop, participants will explore innovative approaches to experience design under the guidance of Ida Benedetto, renowned for creating transformative experiences for cultural icons.

Drawing from her extensive research and practice, Ida will introduce participants to the key components of experience design: risk, the magic circle, structure, and transformation. Her work examines how these elements interact to create meaningful and impactful experiences across various contexts, from wilderness adventures to social gatherings.

Workshop Outline

The sessions will delve into four core concepts:

• Risk: Understanding and managing different types of risk in experiences

• The Magic Circle: Creating boundaries and conditions for immersive experiences

• Structure: Designing frameworks that support transformative experiences

• Transformation: Facilitating meaningful change through experience design

The workshop consists of two 2-hour sessions separated by one week.

Each session will include a short lecture introducing key concepts, followed by small group discussions and hands-on exercises. Participants will apply these concepts to hypothetical scenarios and their experiences, gaining practical tools for experience design.

This workshop aims to equip participants with a new vocabulary and framework for creating impactful experiences by engaging with these fundamental principles in various personal and professional contexts.

Logistics

Dates: September 3rd and September 10th, 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 7 PM CET / 10:30 PM IST

Cost: We offer variable pricing based on your needs and career status. We recommend $99, but 20% of the tickets are pay-what-you-can. Since this workshop has limited seating, please respect all attendee's financial needs.

Format: Online workshop via Zoom. We will send you an invite post-purchase.

Experience Level: This workshop is designed as an introduction to experience design, making it suitable for beginners and those with limited experience in the field. Participants from various creative and professional backgrounds are welcome. While no specific experience in experience design is required, a general interest in design, creativity, or event planning will be beneficial. The course is also valuable for professionals in related fields looking to expand their skill set or gain a new perspective on their work. More experienced designers may find value in the unique framework and vocabulary presented, which can enhance their existing practice.

Additional Info: No refunds or exchanges. Please review our Code of Conduct here. Email info@gameplayarts.org for any questions.

Artist Information

Ida Benedetto is an experience director, design strategist, and researcher. She designs high-stakes meetings, adventures, and celebrations, creating opportunities for insight, innovation, and change. Ida is most delighted when people surprise themselves by stretching beyond their known limits, and she believes good design can make this possible.

She is recognized as an innovator in the field of experience design for creating intrepid adventures for cultural icons and transformative strategy sessions for heads of corporations. Industry clients have included BlackRock, Activision, IBM, Starbucks, Google, NBCUniversal, Ogilvy, Pfizer, and Ralph Lauren. Her research on the design of transformative social experiences has been used in coursework at Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, and NYU, among others. She has been featured in multiple New York Times Bestselling books, Businessweek, Fast Company, NPR, and the New Yorker.

Earlier in her career, Ida co-founded two design practices, in game design and adventure design, originating creative methodologies grounded in the experience of the participants. She traveled extensively doing documentary and collaborative media projects in Guatemala, India, and Brazil and was a Fulbright Fellow to Ethiopia.

Ida holds an MA in Design Research, Writing, and Criticism from the School of Visual Arts, a BFA in Design and Technology from Parsons, and a BA in History from the New School. She is a volunteer conflict mediator for the New York Peace Institute. In junior high, she was voted “most likely to discover time travel.” Ida is a 5th-generation New Yorker who loves to kayak and read library books.