Experiential Design

The Tao of Parks & Rec, G+A\’s Wordplay + Experience Design for Your Everyday Life

Experiential Design / By

I love Parks & Rec. Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows that I can\’t get enough of that show and that in much the same way that others turn to the Lao Tzu\’s The Tao Te Ching or Machiavelli\’s The Prince*, I often seek and find wisdom in the musings of Leslie Knope and her loveable band of southern Indiana misfits. 

Not sure whether to make that purchase or not? \”Treat Yo\’ Self!\” Unclear about how to prioritize things in your life? \”We need to remember what\’s important in life. Friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. It doesn\’t matter. But work is third.\” Considering taking up jogging? \”Jogging is the worst. I know it keeps you healthy, but God, at what cost?\”

Small Toddler alone in Art Museum

Friday Fast Takes Play Hooky, Y’all

Experiential Design, Uncategorized / By

Fridays are for winding down, wrapping up, and if you’re like me, maybe getting to those creative exercises we often let slip further and further down the to-do list each week. It\’s March and despite my best efforts to cut out early and play hooky… wait, it\’s March! I\’m cutting out early to play hooky and this post will show you how to as well!

Photo of a Heart on a Twine Clothesline

Friday Fast Takes Will You Be Our Valentine?!

Experiential Design, Uncategorized / By

Fridays are for winding down, wrapping up, and if you’re like me, maybe getting to those creative exercises we often let slip further and further down the to-do list each week. Since it\’s February, and we just can\’t escape little Cupid, we\’re covering everything from how to love and embrace your own personal style, to why crushing on your staff is a good thing!

Holiday Exhibit with Golden Glitter Nutcrackers and Christmas Trees

G+A’s Best of 2019 Holiday Magic List

Experiential Design, Uncategorized / By

Have you heard? It\’s the most wonderful time of the year. So we asked our friends, family, customers, heck, anyone who wanted to, to sprinkle their holiday magic on us in the form of their favorite movies, traditions, foods, or any combination thereof and to share just what makes their take on merry + bright, well, merry + bright!

National Bathtub Party Day Bath Image

National Bathtub Party Day, Lessons from Lebanon, PA + Scandia Towels

Experiential Design / By

Most days, a shower will suffice. Some days, a bath seems like the perfect solution to wash away life\’s cares. One day a year, a bathtub party is the only answer to everything. As luck would have it, December 5 is that day. Yes, it\’s National Bathtub Party Day. No, we\’re not making that up even a little. And just maybe it\’s the unorthodox key to designing a great culture experience.

Die-cuts of the word Thankful with leaves pumpkins and acorns surrounding it.

Being Grateful, Pool Chair Body Burns, and Culture + People XD

Experiential Design, Uncategorized / By

Grateful is a word that gets tossed around frequently this time of year, a time to take stock of the blessings we have and do good for others. But many of us spend our days teetering between the euphoria of Hallmark movies and cozy sweaters and the foreboding reality of holiday season preparations and that monstrous line at, well, everywhere. Grocery shopping for huge family celebrations, gift shopping for your loved ones to ensure a magical day, and traveling, whether by train, plane or automobile, through all of it during the busiest time of year.

An orange fall tree branch with pale blue water and mountains in background

Friday Fast Takes

Experiential Design, Uncategorized / By

Fridays are for winding down, wrapping up, and, if you’re like me, maybe getting to those creative exercises we often let slip further and further down the to-do list each week. Selfishly, to create accountability for myself and catapult that imagineering time back up the charts, I’m launching G+A’s Friday Fast Takes series. 

Aerial photo of 6 people sitting at a table with sketchbooks and paper designing

G+A’s Magical I2I Ratio

Experiential Design / By

When we’re trying to change something about our lives, it’s easy to be swept up in the early rush of motivational platitudes: “Just do it!”; “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with 1 step.”; “When life gives you lemons…”; all of which nudges us to begin somewhere…anywhere and helps to focus the mass of swirling energy we have around change. But what happens when the initial euphoria of taking that leap fades?

What is Experiential Design?

Experiential Design / By

That’s the question I’ve tried to answer in the first seven drafts of this blog post. I’d write something, feel good about it, and then read it only to realize it sounded like a lecture on the topic. If you\’re familiar with what experiential design is, you know a lecture about it doesn’t quite align with its core values.