State of Awe | Digest Topic Catalogue and Map
The Latest Wonders in Experience Design, Festivals and Gatherings
State of Awe is a regular trend briefing from experience designer, Jordan Kallman and event brand curator, Tyson Villeneuve at The Social Concierge. This periodic letter covers the latest wonders, most influential psychological movements, emerging ideas, tactile designs and hottest patterns keeping attendees, producers, designers, operators, sponsors, organizers and leaders engaged in the experience economy.
This page is a catalogue of topics we have deployed in past digests, along with a listing of future areas we are interested in, and curating ideas around.
Note: the format and focus of the digest changed after #30. The catalogue below has been sequenced to show the most recent topic areas at the top, with older topics closer to the bottom.
House of Focus 🎯 Feature Article Thinking
A topic area dedicated to trying new things, asking for feedback and encouraging participation:
Digest #15 featured a piece on the shift age, pointing to the collapse of legacy thinking.
Digest #16 on the rise of audiotech and audio-only experiences.
Digest #17 provided a focal point around four unique large gathering scenarios that could materialize based on a clever matrix.
Digest #18 dove deep on the feelings of anticipation.
Digest #19 covered a feature piece on why we really go to restaurants.
Digest #20 on the deliberately unreal.
Digest #21 the Metaverse and why it matters.
Digest #23 how the good vibe of a gathering communicates a message.
Digest #24 what is saudade? A beautiful word for our time.
Digest #25 on why we miss random social moments.
Digest #26 on what will endure post-pandemic.
Digest #27 on psychological timidness and social anxieties that may hold back a Roaring ‘20s.
Digest #28 on participant-rich multiplayer formats and why they will dominate.
Digest #29 on the ancient, non-commercial city of Cahokia and how social-first physical design is possible for our cities.
Digest #30 on virtual vibes.
Digest #31 unpacked how our phones are now a space we identify as a home.
Digest #32 what is desirable is changing quickly, habits and preferences have shifted permanently.
Digest #34 why your festival squad might need a redesign, now.
Arena of Design Thinking 🔎
Topic conversations at the intersection of design and the future:
Digest #6 on the collapse of traditional audio-visual supply chains, and the increased miniaturization of event technology.
Digest #7 on maximalist design and the future of aesthetics.
Digest #13 on game theory and the digitization of traditional board games.
Digest #14 on the Overton Window for gatherings.
Digest #17 on reducing event tribalism.
Digest #20 on hybrid events.
Digest #23 covered the practice of mapping hearts and minds.
Digest #24 the four spirits of enjoyment.
Digest #26 on the great unbundling of live event content.
Digest #30 on a set of moderation techniques for virtual gatherings.
Digest #33 extending enjoyment-per-dollar.
Digest #34 we are all hardwired for worship, how can you leverage this?
Experience Design Strategy 🏔️
Strategic experience design approaches:
Digest #8 on the first principles of greatness.
Digest #11 on status seekers and prestige predators.
Digest #14 on virtual bundling.
Digest #15 on unique virtual content programming layers.
Digest #18 on worldbuilding.
Digest #20 on micro events.
Digest #23 covered expressive escapism.
Digest #27 on frictionless exploration.
Digest #28 “always on” persistent use culture, part one.
Digest #29 “always on” persistent use culture, part two.
Digest #31 on intimate scarcity.
Digest #32 on shapeshifting social spheres and the Dunbar number.
Digest #33 outlines the dominance of emotional networks as an organizing structure.
Digest #34 on compelling characters across the event format spectrum.
Arena of Economics 💰
Event business models, pricing and monetary-related topics of conversation:
Digest #5 on virtual event pricing strategies.
Digest #11 with research showing the sweet spots for virtual event pricing.
Digest #24 on the AMEX Effect for virtual experiences.
Digest #28 on the two future ROI channels for experiences.
Digest #31 big tent events versus small tepee economics.
Digest #32 exclusive community drop models.
Digest #33 on the cooperation economy.
Digest #34 an unprecedented era of novelty.
Meaningful Virtual Experiences 📱
A catalogue of “quick hits” on our latest fads and crazes (currently virtual gatherings):
Digest #4 kicked off our exploration of the virtual craze with a long section summarizing the real-time innovation and the needed optimizations required to increase adoption and enjoyment.
Digest #7 dove deep into virtual platforms and we graphed them against the various gathering styles that exist, and each of those gathering’s core needs. Visual graphic here.
Digest #8 and Digest #9 have continued the exploration with lists of cool virtual things.
Digest #10 provided a range of useful guides and “how to’s” on virtual event tactics.
Digest #11 on the most straightforward principles to good virtual.
Digest #12 a huge slate of new online experiences, including DC FanDome, political conventions and Burning Man, with learning lessons.
Digest #13 interactivity > entertainment in the rising virtual economy.
Digest #14 more virtual, nothing wildly innovative.
Digest #15 winners and losers in the virtual gathering space.
Digest #16 summarized a few interesting things but noted a levelling in virtual innovation.
Digest #17 deep fakes in virtual spaces.
Digest #18 technology is actually making life for us better?
Digest #19 validation, recognition and support.
Digest #20 games as tools for enjoyment, intensity matters and why characters drive desire.
Digest #21 events-management-as-a-service.
Digest #22 what is your randomness plan?
Digest #23 on dopamine rewards.
Digest #24 Clubhouse as a meaningful virtual experience.
Digest #25 provided insights on marrying content and community.
Digest #26 on the eight generative powers of virtual.
Digest #29 on the latest from the spheres of virtual engagement.
Digest #30 on the supply of virtual experiences going exponential.
Digest #31 on the scale of event tech growth.
Digest #32 on spatial audio platform growth.
Digest #33 virtual events as social currency.
Digest #34 on hybrid event trends.
Fads and Crazes ⚡
The cycle of hype and fall:
Digest #25 on the emergence of NFTs and how they relate to experience design.
Digest #26 on further wow moments from the sphere of NFTs.
Digest #27 on NFTs specifically for experiences.
Digest #30 featuring Gary V’s experience-based NFT project launch.
Digest #31 on NFT concert moments.
Digest #33 a visual value proposition for experiential NFTs.
Thinkers and Philosophers 🕵
A section of our digest that looks back on influential minds from history, and how their thinking models affect gathering psychology:
Digest #4 Marcel Proust and our Inner Child.
Digest #6 John Ruskin on Beauty.
Digest #8 René Noël Théophile Girard on Imitation.
Digest #10 Joseph Pine II’s Experience Economy.
Digest #12 Spike Lee on racial inequity told through film.
Digest #14 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on experience as therapy.
Digest #16 on Roger Callois and the essence of play.
Digest #18 on Joseph Campbell and the hero’s journey.
Digest #20 on Ida C. Benedetto on designing transformational experiences.
Digest #22 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on flow.
Digest #24 profiled Akbar the Great on inclusive design.
Digest #26 featured Friedrich Nietzsche and his prediction that we all need a new church of worship.
Digest #28 highlighted Coco Chanel and her designer principles.
Digest #30 dove deep on James Turell’s immersive light and space work.
Digest #32 Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, creators of Studio 54.
Digest #34 Jon Levy and the hacks of influence.
Belonging and Longevity Arena
How belonging and the feelings of being together positively affect our health, our wellness, lifespan and longevity:
Digest #4 covered Blue Zone principles and the curse of loneliness.
Digest #15 on a few simple reminders to fend off isolation impacts.
Digest #31 on the rise of community-building as a business strategy.
On Persuasion, Hype and Contagious Behaviour
How do we convince people to attend? Buy a ticket? This topic area looks at persuasion through the lens of event promotion:
Digest #9 on contagion theories, FOMO and principles of persuasion.
Digest #16 on complex contagion, changing someone’s mind and word-of-mouth.
Digest #33 on viral community building strategies.
Experience Economy Stories 📖
Good stories from the experience economy, just for the sake of a good tale:
Digest #16 featured 3 raw experience economy stories.
Digest #22 the story of Hacienda, the year of no gigs and the story of concerts returning.
Digest #25 on the secret lives of ushers.
Digest #32 on the festival magic trick.
Creators and Builders Coliseum
Inspiration from artists, creators and those building new things:
Digest #3 on Marc Andreessen’s “Time to Build” feature.
Digest #9 “you can see it from space”, art from above.
Digest #16 on trying new things.
Digest #23 on new age projection art galleries.
Digest #33 on the future of stagecraft.
Designer Data Drop 🧮
Nice visualizations on relevant conversation topics:
Digest #2 included a chart on the fastest changing economic products and services.
Digest #3 on the hero’s journey.
Digest #4 featured the Event Canvas, a visual way to map your experience designs.
Digest #5 on the countries most impacted by reduced tourism.
Digest #6 on conference statistics.
Digest #8 on insurance waiver likelihoods.
Digest #9 on restaurant trends.
Digest #10 on the projected growth of Expanded Reality.
Digest #11 on countries that consume the most alcohol.
Digest #12 on the music industry’s digitization history.
Digest #13 on the rise of the multi-billion dollar video game industry.
Digest #15 on live streaming stats.
Digest #16 on the psychological tricks to making you purchase.
Digest #17 on when normal returns based on activity.
Digest #18 on when event producers feel we go back to in-person events.
Digest #19 on vaccine herd immunity timelines.
Digest #20 on AR and VR headset adoption curves.
Digest #21 percent of automation in the workplace.
Digest #22 illustrated event trends for 2021.
Digest #23 an array of trend reports for 2021.
Digest #24 what is experience design?
Digest #25 covered word-of-mouth importance.
Digest #26 showcased the gathering technology hype cycle curve.
Digest #27 on the evolution of trust.
Digest #28 on the steep virtual transformation underway.
Digest #29 the hybrid desire.
Digest #30 on microtransactions and the impact they may have on future models.
House of Experimentation 🔮
A topic area dedicated to trying new things, asking for feedback and encouraging participation:
Digest #9 asked for comments predicting when a WHO-endorsed vaccine would arrive.
Digest #10 asked for your topic areas, not being covered already by State of Awe. Submit ideas at any time by replying to our digest emails.
Digest #11 asked “what experiences in your life will never go back to normal”?
Digest #12 pondered whether live events is having its Napster moment?
Digest #13 gave a playbook for rapid evolution.
Digest #14 covered a set of personal stories within live events. You’re not alone.
Digest #17 gave a long look back on where we have come from.
Digest #21 experience economy predictions for 2021.
Why Do We Dance? 💃
A summary of dance-driven activities:
Digest #4 outlined the history and psychology of why we dance.
Digest #26 on collective effervescence and its role in societal evolution.
Stadium of Sponsorship
The hot topic of sponsorships, corporate patronage and how this economically drives events:
Digest #4 on the initial and emerging conversations about sponsorships in a post-COVID era.
Neurochemistry of Gatherings 🧠
Digest #22 the happy hormones and the opportunity for oxytocin.
Odeum of Event Fundraising
Events and the world of charity fundraising and non-profit impacts:
Digest #10 on charity happenings since the onset of COVID-19.
Theatre of Long-Term Thinking
A conversation around long-term thinking strategies:
Digest #7 on why long-term thinking is critical for the event industry, a few examples and best practices.
Digest #22 the big boundary blur of live entertainment content spheres.
The Boutique of Food and Beverage
All things food, beverage, cuisine, catering and nutrition:
Digest #9 on the future of IRL food at events.
Digest #19 covered the notable changes taking place in food over the pandemic.
The Catwalk 💃
An area dedicated to the future of fashion events, runway shows and the industries around them:
Digest #5 on how the fashion world was adapting quickly to COVID-19.
Digest #15 on innovations after the wrap of fall fashion shows.
Digest #28 the roundup from a season of fashion week shows, mostly virtual.
Stadium of Sweat 🤸
Topics at the intersection of fitness, sweat connection and group gatherings:
Digest #10 on lululemon’s purchase of Mirror, and what that means for at-home experiences.
Arena of Environment, Architecture and Installations 🌆
The all-important topic of how our built environment affects gatherings, developments with art installations and architectural design:
Digest #5 on Work From Home and how this might affect human connectedness.
Digest #8 on Gall’s Law, proximity design and various emerging design trends.
Digest #12 on the urban exodus debate.
Arena of the Environment
Climate change, global weather changes and the environment, framed in the context of events, festivals and gatherings:
Digest #3 the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Digest #7 provided an update on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the steps we need to take to be carbon negative.
Digest #20 featured the social life of forests.
Digest #29 on regenerative gatherings.
Arena of Sport, eSport and Gaming
A conversation on the importance of game theory on human engagement, professional sports, eSport and all things competition:
Digest #2 covered a wide variety of happenings in the sport and eSport worlds.
Digest #3 a record of sporting events “going virtual”.
Digest #8 on the return of IRL sport and pandemic prevention strategies.
Digest #13 sport streaming and eSport growth.
Digest #19 on viewership valuations and changes in attention.
Digest #25 on when to gamify and when to hold off.
Digest #27 on the dropping boundaries of gaming genres and the blend with social experiences.
Arena of Altered States 🤩
A topic area concerned with mindset and the impacts of mind altering consumption:
Digest #1 covered the interest in legalizing psychedelics and the explosion of non-alcoholic consumption patterns.
Digest #11 provided a few legalization updates in the “social lubricant” space.
Digest #18 on election night influences on decriminalization.
Digest #27 on the (mostly) sober movement.
The Nostalgic Force
The power of nostalgia and memory:
Digest #10 on the basic principles of how to wield the force.
Department of Kid Gatherings
Varied thoughts on events, children and the family unit:
Digest #13 on the return to school, kid bedrooms and high school cliques.
A Brief History
A look back in history:
Digest #8 on historical teachings of the music festival.
Digest #19 included five, big broad lessons from history.
Digest #21 a look back at New Year’s Eve origins.
Arena of Improvement, Self-Love and Betterment
Digest #3 began looking at what it might take to survive long-term social distancing measures.
Rituals and Ceremony ⚰️
A topic area covering the latest (and more accurately the traditions) in our human rituals and sacred ceremonies:
Digest #2 told the story of Sen no Rikyū, a historical figure who had a profound influence on the Japanese “Way of Tea” (this section inspired the “Thinkers and Philosophers” topic area).
Digest #5 on death, end of life and passing.
Digest #13 on coffin confessions, digital embalmers and planning rituals.
Exploration, Experience and Transformation ⛺ Journey of Nomadic Escapes
Tourism, travel and the experience of exploration and escape:
Digest #6 on how COVID was affecting the tourism industry and a large section on transformative travel.
Brief Obsessions
Larger topic areas that we are currently obsessing over:
Digest #9 on video games and their impact on virtual events.
Digest #16 on haptics and the power of touch.
Digest #19 on what we are missing.
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics 🦿
Digest #11 on GPT-3 and autonomous robot experience futures.
Digest #21 AI’s growing creative prowess.
Event Feedback ⚔️
Digest #12 on data-insight belief and how to collect.
Arena of Safety and Security 🦠 and 👮♂️
An area dedicated to understanding a foundational tier of our human needs on Maslow’s hierarchy. Safety, particularly in the time of a coronavirus pandemic:
Digest #1 started it all with the question: What does COVID mean for events, festivals, venues, sporting leagues, tourism and those in the experience economy?
Digest #2 dove back into the history of gatherings after previous health pandemics.
Digest #5 framed our experience in terms of “the hammer and the dance”.
Digest #6 began with an open letter about the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted across the world.
Digest #7 outlined a few new insights into our anti-racism awareness.
Digest #7 and Digest #8 began looking at the specific tactics of what it might take to bring back IRL events.
Digest #10 covered experiments and insights observed into the return of IRL events.
Digest #11 paper, rock, scissors. Testing, cure, vaccine. The only three scenarios to return to IRL.
Digest #12 covered the progress of testing and contact tracing, particularly in Germany. And the on-going protests and civil unrest of Black Lives Matter.
Digest #13 provided evidence for the eventual “COVID pass”, or immunity passport.
Digest #14 a huge list of innovative options surrounding hybrid events.
Digest #15 on stories from the crisis of IRL.
Digest #16 outlined advances in the holy trinity of IRL return: testing, cure, vaccine.
Digest #17 on airborne insights.
Digest #18 on Ticketmaster immunity passport controversy.
Digest #20 vaccine testing trials announced.
Digest #22 when are big celebrations appropriate?
Digest #25 the moral question on when to return to IRL.
Digest #27 tracking and charting developments in the return to IRL.
Digest #29 charting further developments, but also identifying how long the road back to normal might be.
Digest #30 on the long road back to IRL.
Beautiful event instas to inspire your next project
Included in each digest. We like beautiful things. They inspire. Enjoy.
Hot morsels to ace your next event conversation
Included in each digest. A smattering of unique things that we think would start interesting cocktail conversation.
Topics of Future Interest
Play and Joy
Entertainment, Musical Talent and Celebrity Culture
Honesty, Transparency and Woke-ness
Cultural Differences
Festival Innovations
Scarcity in Events
Identity, Inclusivity and Connection
Adversity and Suffering
Changing Moods and Mindset Contagion
Outer Space Travel
Humour in Gatherings
Privacy and Anonymity
Physical Print Best Practices
Demographic Insights
Technology, Data and Wearables
Event Reviews and Listings
Centralization vs Decentralization
Don’t see an area you’re interested in? Drop us a comment or reply to this email with the area you would like to see featured.