Experience Design, in Practice: A Hands-On Play Lab

It's an experience-design-as-experience experience!

No matter what it is you create-- Design is more than deliverables--it's about how people feel. In this participatory session, you'll step out of deadlines and reviews, into the fresh air under the trees, and into presence, play, and human connection. **Offered as part of **

Through guided prompts, partner interviews, and a joyful gift exchange sourced from our iconic PSU Farmers Market (no more than $10), you'll practice designing to create an experience--even if the thing you normally make is a thing--so you leave feeling lighter, inspired, and re-connected to why you create in the first place.

This isn't a panel or a lecture. You'll do things. And you'll be outside!

You'll notice, listen, improvise, and lightly co-create with others.

Expect simple asks, and low pressure.

• Arrive & settle: guided sensing of place and season
• "Experiential affordance" warm-up: how spaces shape what we feel/do
• Partner interviews (guided) to listen for what someone might need right now
• PSU Farmers Market mini-quest (spend up to $10): follow intuition to select an item that facilitates that experience
• Gift exchange & meaning-making
• Group debrief: What you noticed in yourself, others, and the design lens you'll take with you

• A 3-minute presence reset to begin any creative work
• A lightweight "connection-first" ideation technique for teams/clients
• A clearer personal design compass-- and renewed creative joy

Designers and creatives of all kinds, researchers, product folks, and creative leaders seeking more meaning, less grind, and deeper connection.

10:00 Arrival with noticing prompt to settle into the outdoor space

10:10 Framing of the experience & introductions

10:30 Partner interviews (guided)

11:05 Leave for solo Farmers Market mini-quest

11:35 Regroup with partner + gift exchange

12:05 Whole Group debrief + closing

12:30 It's a wrap!

Notebook + pen, comfortable shoes, payment method for up to $10 purchase (cash/card). We'll go rain or shine, so dress for the weather. Restrooms available at the market.

Accessibility:

Light walking on a level surface, low-pressure participation, professional facilitation

Credits:

Inspired by experience-design principles taught by NYC-based Odyssey Works (Abraham Burickson). We'll translate those ideas into approachable, practical activities.

Naomi Veak-- experience designer and nature-connected life coach. Trauma-informed facilitator blending presence practices, authentic relating, and design methods to help creatives reconnect to purpose and play.

**Offered as part of **

Last year's offerings went into waitlist, so be sure to register to receive important reminder emails before the event, and please cancel if you aren't attending.

Also check out other Arts events in Portland.