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Championing the future of design for all.

Big Experiential Energy
Wednesday, May 13 2026
6:00–7:30 pm
Past Event
Wednesday, May 13 2026
6:00–7:30 pm

Big Experiential Energy

Wednesday, May 13 2026
6:00–7:30 pm

Big Experiential Energy

From URL to IRL

Experiential design transforms space into story, turning physical environments into immersive, responsive moments that audiences can feel as much as they see. At the intersection of art, technology, and production, it brings ideas to life through live activations, spatial storytelling, and interactive systems that evolve in real time. From large-scale installations to culturally charged brand experiences, experiential design shapes how we gather, engage, and remember.

Join moderator, Paul McConnell of Noble in conversation with Matt Rowean of Matte Projects, NY based artists Tin & Ed, Cat Garcia-Menocal of Pink Sparrow, and Myles Bryan, Creative Director at G&A Strategy & Design, and Co-Founding Partner of Cycymymy as they explore the impact of designing for the built environment and live, reactive activations, examining how creatives translate energy into tangible experiences that move people.

Together, they will share how experiential design continues to evolve and how the fusion of disciplines can unlock new ways of creating, connecting, and experiencing space.

Event Series: Design Spotlight
These events are design talks or conversations that feature designers or creative teams sharing top of mind or breakout work.

Tickets
We are committed to keeping events accessible to all participants. Your ticket and donation supports AIGA NY and costs associated with event production costs. If ticket cost is a barrier, please contact Stacey@aigany.org.

Schedule
  • 6:00 pm Doors open & check-in
  • 6:30 pm Event begins
  • 7:30 pm Event ends
Tickets
  • Non-members $45.00
  • AIGA Members $35.00
  • SEGD Members $35.00
  • MAD Members $35.00
Museum of Arts and Design


2 Columbus Circle - Auditorium lower level
New York, 10019

Panel

Myles Bryan

Myles is a Creative Director working across experiential design, interactive media, and spatial storytelling. She is the co-founder of Cycymymy, where she partners with Cynthia Bryan to develop concept-driven work for clients ranging from startups to global brands. In parallel with her studio work, she also serves as Creative Director of Business Development at G&A, where she helps shape new business strategy, pitch vision, and early creative direction.

Myles brings a hybrid background that bridges design, narrative, and technology, with experience spanning executive briefing centers, brand experiences, museums, festivals, and immersive environments. Her work is grounded in strong creative systems and clear storytelling, with a focus on making complex ideas feel intuitive, human, and emotionally engaging in space.

Across both Cycymymy and G&A, she is especially interested in how emerging tools and media can support better experiences rather than distract from them. She cares deeply about thoughtful collaboration, ambitious ideas, and building work that feels both imaginative and well considered.

Tin & Ed

Tin & Ed are Australian artists and creative technologists based in New York. Their practice explores the shifting relationships between nature, technology, and humanity, creating immersive, interactive worlds that blur the digital and physical, encouraging curiosity and wonder through exploration, play, and discovery. Working across inflatables, textiles, real-time systems, and augmented reality, they invite audiences to see and sense the world beyond the limits of human perception.

Their work has been presented internationally at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Rockefeller Center, and Pioneer Works in New York; the Getty Center in Los Angeles; the Barbican in London; the ArtScience Museum in Singapore; and the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. They have also collaborated with global brands such as Apple, Nike, IKEA, Gentle Monster, and Hermès.

Web: tinanded.com
IG: @tinanded

Cat Garcia-Menocal

Cat Garcia-Menocal is an accomplished architect, designer, and founder of Garcia-Menocal Studio, known for her work in creative production, sculpture, and architectural design. As Pink Sparrow’s Creative Director, she leads a bicoastal team responsible for designing and pitching custom, immersive environments for brands, agencies, and institutions.

Her portfolio includes collaborations with prestigious institutions and brands like the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Museum, the Met Gala, Apple, and Hermès. Prior to joining Pink Sparrow, she worked internationally in Milan and Munich, and designed a factory during the COVID-19 pandemic that produced 1.24 million pieces of PPE for NYC in collaboration with the NYC Economic Development Corporation. She holds an M.Arch from Yale School of Architecture, where she was a George Nelson Scholar and the recipient of the AIA Henry Adams Medal.

Matt Rowean

Matt is a Partner and Chief Creative Officer at MATTE Projects. Bringing over 20 years of experience, he oversees all creative services within the company and develops visually appealing content and marketing campaigns for leading brands in the fashion, tech, music, and lifestyle space. Under Matt’s leadership, MATTE has worked with high-profile clients including LVMH, Chanel, Hermes, PUMA, The Macallan, Roc Nation, Netflix and Google. Prior to MATTE Projects, Matt was the Founder and Chief Creative Officer at RJW Collective, now known as JWalk. He was previously the Creative Director at Strategic Group, where he worked with Noah Tepperberg to pioneer early experiential marketing tactics now considered industry standard. At previous agencies, he has collaborated with the owners of CATCH/EMM Group and spearheaded the creative for clients such as Lacoste, Equinox, and Deleon Tequila. Aside from his work with MATTE Projects, Matt is a contemporary artist and painter focusing on abstract expressionism. He currently resides in New York City, with his wife and daughter.

Moderator

Paul McConnell

Paul is the founder of Noble (gonoble.io), a NYC-based consultancy specializing in integrated experiences across physical and digital environments. Their methods span interacation design, service design, spatial / data platforms, wayfinding, and placemaking, helping airports, transit systems, sports venues, and civic and cultural spaces improve how people experience places. His career spans Intersection, LinkNYC, Sidewalk Labs, and Arup, where he help build new digital design disciplines. He has collaborated with clients including the MoMA, The Saint Louis Art Museum, Rockefeller Center, Hudson Yards, MTA, Port Authority of NY/NJ, Samsung, and Alphabet. He also teaches at Pratt Institute and SVA IxD.

Museum of Arts and Design


2 Columbus Circle - Auditorium lower level
New York, 10019