The Experience Designers

In this episode, we explore Stefan's career journey, sparked by an epiphany during a friend's 50th birthday in Italy. This experience led him to prioritize quality over quantity in his work. Stefan shares his approach to restructuring his workload by focusing on fewer projects, which fosters creativity and personal growth. The discussion explores how AI can transform work dynamics, emphasizing the importance of intentionality, collaboration, and leadership. Highlighting AI's potential to enhance human capabilities and create meaningful work experiences, along with the significance of self-awareness and social sustainability in modern workplaces. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:21 The Mosaic Career Metaphor00:56 Moments of Clarity and Self-Experimentation01:32 AI and Leadership02:32 Reimagining Work and Life Balance05:37 Failures and Learnings08:52 The Human Experience and AI16:26 Leadership and AI Integration36:08 Setting Guardrails for AI Integration36:19 AI in Blue Collar Jobs37:56 AI in Customer Support and Beyond39:05 Personal Experiences with AI43:03 The Impact of AI on Work and Society54:43 Future Leadership in an AI Context01:02:44 Final Reflections and Closing ThoughtsStefan's Bio & links:Stefan is a hands-on visionary and globally recognized thought leader in service design, innovation, and the future of work. With over 20 years of international experience, he has held senior leadership roles at global companies, award-winning agencies, and McKinsey. He works as fractional Head of Innovation at Max Matthiessen, a leading Nordic pension, insurance and wealth management company with 135 year history as one of the most trusted brands embarking on an exciting journey.Known for his ability to translate complex challenges into human-centered strategies, Stefan works across industries to help organizations empower employees, create thriving cultures, and deliver standout customer experiences. His work blends service design with systems thinking, leadership development, and emerging technologies like AI to unlock new pathways for growth and transformation.Stefan has advised governments, public sector organizations, and iconic global brands including IKEA, LEGO, Ericsson, Amex, Nordea, Disney, and adidas. He is passionate about guiding organizations to not only design better services—but to design better futures.Stefan Moritz {LinkedIn}Website: https://www.stefan-moritz.com/  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What if life, work, and transformation were just better versions of play? In this episode, you’ll meet Claus Raasted, Experience Designer, Viking impersonator, and founder of The College of Extraordinary Experiences. From a childhood spent LARPing to advising McKinsey, Klaus shares how designing intentional, immersive worlds can lead to real-world change. Whether you're building onboarding for a sales team or a castle-based retreat, this one’s for anyone curious about how experiences can shape who we are and who we become.00:00 The Persona of Klaus Raasted03:51 Foundations of LARPing: A Journey Begins09:39 From Participant to Organizer: Building a Career13:21 Evolving Narratives: The Growth of Role-Playing18:01 Transformative Experiences in LARPing18:04 The College of Extraordinary Experiences: A New Chapter19:55 The College of Extraordinary Experiences21:19 The Power of Shared Experiences22:42 Intentional Experience Design26:20 Co-Creation and Chaos in Experiences28:21 Insights from McKinsey: Data-Driven Decisions33:49 The Evolution of Experience Design40:46 Finding the Right Balance in Experience Design44:58 Resources for Experience Design EnthusiastsClaus’s bio & linksClaus Raasted helps organizations both big and small become better at GETTING S**T DONE and serves as Director of the College of Extraordinary Experiences. He travels the globe as a keynote speaker and has been both a Coach and Senior Advisor at the consulting giant McKinsey. Raasted is the author of 46 books, the latest of which is fittingly titled Claus Raasted’s Little Book of Getting Shit Done. He also has a past in reality TV, but these days, who hasn’t?www.clausraasted.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/clausraasted ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dive into a captivating discussion on experience design with Mat Duerden, Department Chair of Experience Design and Management in the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University and Co-Author of the book Experience Design. Reveals how intentional design can transform everyday moments into powerful experiences. Mat shares his journey from adventurous childhood whitewater rafting to pioneering leadership in experience design education, illustrating the “experience ladder” from ordinary to transformative.They also explore how attention has become scarce in today’s fast-paced world, emphasising co-creation, reflection, and lessons learned from recent global shifts. Discover how thoughtful design can spark meaningful change in personal and professional realms.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Experience Design02:47 Personal Journey and Early Influences05:59 Defining Experience Design08:57 Academic Environment and Experience Design Education12:00 Global Trends in Experience Design14:59 Intentionality in Experience Design18:13 The Experience Ladder: From Ordinary to Transformative21:12 Reflection and Meaning in Experiences24:03 The Importance of Transformative Experiences26:47 Navigating Transformation in a Rapidly Changing World32:47 The Scarcity of Attention35:44 Guided Transformations in Experience Design37:40 The Role of Experience Designers41:51 The Evolution of Work Experiences50:28 Future of Experience Design01:01:25 Connecting Through ExperiencesMats bio & linksMat is the Department Chair of Experience Design and Management at the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University. His experience design research focuses on memorable, meaningful, and transformative experiences. He also collaborates on research exploring the neurological connection between storytelling and social connection. Mat’s publications have appeared in various journals, including the Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Journal of Adolescent Research, and Journal of Leisure Research. Mat co-authored Designing Experiences with Robert Rossman, which was published in 2019 by Columbia Business School Press. In 2021, Axiom Business Awards selected the book as a silver medalist winner in the Business Intelligence/Innovation category. Mat works with organisations across various sectors, including healthcare, education, not-for-profit, tourism, manufacturing, and consumer product goods, to provide training and consulting around experience design. Mat Duerden (LinkedIn)ProfessorAlumni Distinguished FellowDepartment of Experience Design and ManagementMarriott School of BusinessBrigham Young University Co-author of Designing Experiences ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode of The Experience Designers, I sit down with Dr. Paul Zak, the neuroscientist who wrote the book on trust and human connection. A TED speaker, best-selling author, and founder of Immersion Neuroscience, Paul has spent decades uncovering the brain’s hidden responses to experiences, brands, and relationships.Link to Six App - https://your6.com/Connect with Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-j-zak-91123510/TED talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_zak_trust_morality_and_oxytocin ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What if the magic behind your favourite experiences wasn't just a coincidence? In this second part two of this two-part series with Goc O'Callaghan, Co-owner of ArcTanGent Festival and Global Experience Lead at Buro Happold. In this episode, we peel back the curtain on the often-overlooked and unknown 'dark side' of Disney's magic. From the hidden infrastructure at Disney parks to designing festivals that feel like second homes, Goc reveals how intentional design can transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary memories. Get ready to explore behind the scenes of thoughtful details, and see how the environments around us are engineered to make us feel, move, and connect in profound ways.00:00 Introduction to the Experience Designers Podcast01:05 Guest Introduction: Goc O'Callaghan02:06 The Dark Side of Disney03:13 Disney's Design Secrets07:07 Real-Time Feedback and Customer Experience08:47 Designing for the Senses10:48 Applying Disney's Principles to Business15:36 Experience Design in Structural Engineering18:55 Quantifying Experience31:26 Personalizing Office Spaces38:02 Final Thoughts and Recommendations43:55 Conclusion and Farewell ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're taking you behind the scenes of an incredible journey, exploring the power of memorable experiences and the lessons we can learn from one of the major memory makers out there: music festivals. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Goc O'Callaghan, co-founder, owner, and festival director of the legendary ArcTanGent Festival in the UK.This is a festival that started as a childhood dream in a bluebell forest and grew into a multi-award-winning independent festival. This is the first of a special two-part series in which Goc shares her story of building something extraordinary from the ground up. In this episode, we dive into those early days and the magic of creating memorable experiences. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode of The Experience Designers, we dive deep into the world of neurodiversity with Tina Squire, an expert in fostering neuro-inclusive environments. Tina shares her personal journey with ADHD and how it has fueled her passion for creating workspaces where neurodiverse individuals are not just accommodated, but truly celebrated. This episode explores the importance of designing work experiences that embrace every individual's unique strengths, from recruitment to retention, and everything in between. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, we’re joined by John Sills, managing partner at The Foundation and author of The Human Experience. John shares an incredible story of how a broken train in Switzerland became one of the most memorable customer experiences he’s ever had—and not because it went wrong, but because of how it was handled.Together, we dive into the heart of what makes customer experiences truly remarkable: human connection, ownership, and care. We explore why so many business leaders feel disconnected from their customers, the role technology plays in both enhancing and damaging experiences, and how companies can cultivate human traits like empathy, respect, and responsibility in everything they do.Join us as we uncover the real secret to turning an ordinary—or even negative—experience into something extraordinary. Whether you're in customer service, leadership, or just curious about the magic of human-centred design, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, Elena Aylott shares her unique journey from executive assistant to Vice President of Global Communications and Employee Experience at Oriflame Cosmetics to founding her own company, The Aylott Group. She emphasizes the importance of trust, adaptability, and community-building within organizations. Key takeaways include the impact of personal and corporate trust, the role of HR as a mega facilitator, and leveraging employee communities for organizational success. Elena also highlights the power of authentic personal branding and the crucial role of human experiences in fostering strong, interconnected networks.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:12 Reflecting on a Unique Journey02:26 Starting at Oriflame04:38 Challenges and Growth09:32 Building Trust and Impact14:22 The Role of HR and Leadership32:01 Community and Networks35:48 The Power of Connection and Trust36:51 Challenges in Corporate Values37:22 Creating Unified Communities39:47 Moments That Matter43:09 Leveraging Internal Strengths48:59 Authentic Personal Branding54:13 Humanizing Leadership59:53 Belief and Leadership01:02:01 Final Thoughts and Reflections ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We are used to leadership being hierarchical. Always talking about the tone from the top. But what happens when we share leadership and power throughout the organization? And challenge our current ways of working in the most profound ways?With Mette Aagaard we explore the benefits, guiding principles and biggest challenges of shifting our corporate paradigm from delegated to truly distributed. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★