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Matters of Experience

Matters of Experience

Lorem Ipsum Corp 71 Episodes May 13, 2026

Matters of Experience is a podcast about the creativity, innovation, and psychology driving designed experiences and encounters. Each week Abby and Brenda dig into the who, how, so what and why of exhibitions, branded experiences, events, spectaculars, and all the crazy things designers and creatives are putting out there for people who just can't get enough.

Episodes

From Expo Pavilions to Immersive Futures May 13, 2026 1562 What defines excellence in experiential design? In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abby Honor and Brenda Cowan welcome Travis Stanton, an award-winning editor, strategist, and global design competition leader. Travis reflects on his role judging the “World Expolympics” at Expo 2025 Osaka, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how international pavilions are evaluated. From emotionally resona
“Nobody Has a Good Idea at First” — Inside the Messy Truth of Creativity Apr 23, 2026 1634 What does it take to turn a blank space into an unforgettable experience? In this episode, Carl Rhodes—Creative Director and exhibit design veteran—pulls back the curtain on the creative journey behind today’s most engaging museums.Starting as a painter unsure of his path, Carl shares how a willingness to explore led him into exhibition design, where storytelling, space, and technology intersect.
Art, Science, and Time at the Exploratorium Mar 4, 2026 1467 What happens when a museum treats its floor like a laboratory? In this episode of Matters of Experience, we sit down with Allyson Feeney, Senior Project Director at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, to explore how experimentation, storytelling, and spatial design come together in one of the world’s most iconic interactive museums. Allyson takes us behind the scenes of the museum’s Time Corridor
Blueprints for the Future Feb 9, 2026 1636 If you’ve ever ridden an elevator, zipped a jacket, watched IMAX, or tapped a touchscreen, you’ve experienced the legacy of a World’s Fair—whether you knew it or not. In this episode of Matters of Experience, hosts Abby and Brenda Cowan welcome Charles Pappas, one of the world’s leading authorities on World Expos, to uncover how these massive, temporary gatherings quietly shaped everyday life.From
The Invisible Music of Museums Nov 3, 2025 1545 Designer and creative leader Lucy Holmes traces a life shaped by letters and by people. From hand drawing alphabets at RISD to orchestrating typographic rhythm through major museums, she reveals how the most resonant design often disappears so visitors can be fully with the work. Holmes describes turning words upside down to see relationships rather than read them, printing and pinning, tracing an
From Clay to Code: Rethinking Experience Design Sep 3, 2025 1680 Creative designer and AI educator Marlena Emig reveals how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the exhibition design process, not by replacing human creativity, but by amplifying it. She discusses how AI has transformed the painful constraints of pitch deadlines into opportunities for deeper research and richer storytelling, allowing designers to iterate freely and course-correct without fe
Every Light a Paintbrush Aug 12, 2025 1532 Light carves stories from darkness, transforming spaces into emotional journeys that transcend mere illumination. Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan explore the sculptural art of lighting design with Steven Rosen, founder of Available Light and recipient of the Edison Report’s Lifetime Achievement Award.From his theatrical roots to museum environments, Steven reveals how lighting designers serve as st
Truth, Repair and the Role of the Museum Jul 3, 2025 1539 What does it take to transform a colonial institution into one that centers healing, justice, and shared humanity? In this episode of Matters of Experience, hosts Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan speak with Micah Parzen, anthropologist, attorney, and CEO of the Museum of Us—formerly the San Diego Museum of Man.Micah shares the museum’s bold journey toward anti-racist, anti-colonial practice: from th
The Architecture of Play Jun 4, 2025 1337 Spencer Luckey doesn’t just build playgrounds—he sculpts experiences that invite curiosity, joy, and exploration. In this episode of Matters of Experience, hosts Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit down with the artist, designer, and president of Luckey Climbers to talk about the intersection of play and public space.Spencer shares what it’s like to grow up inside a creative legacy and how he bring
Where Stories Becomes Spaces May 7, 2025 1417 Design can do more than communicate—it can captivate, transport, and transform. In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit down with Shirin Frangoul-Brückner, founding partner of the globally acclaimed design studio Atelier Brückner.Shirin shares her journey from architecture to experience design, the philosophy of “form follows content,” and how immersive exhibit
What If It Doesn't Work? (And What If It Does?) Apr 2, 2025 1567 What does it mean to design for dialogue—not just display? In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit down with Jonathan Alger, founding partner at C&G Partners and a leading voice in exhibition and experience design.Jonathan shares how designing with empathy, navigating creative discomfort, and embracing uncertainty can lead to deeper, more inclusive storytel
Creativity and Courage with Murilo Melo Mar 5, 2025 1594 How do creativity and courage shape the future of design? In this episode of Matters of Experience, Abigail Honor and Brenda Cowan sit down with Murilo Melo, a design leader who believes that great design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about meaning, connection, and bold decision-making.Murilo shares insights on the evolving role of designers as problem definers, the power of taking risks in bra

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