Mitch Carter Jafery

Co-Founder @ Friday Gallery, former Chief Creative Officer and current Design Fellow @ IDEO

“Olivia is a world-weaver, spinning together meaning, myth, ritual, language, and the full spectrum of the sensorial into spaces and experiences that unlock new possibilities.  

But rather than floating off into the clouds, her work has the thoughtful grounding and warm depth of a philosopher mixed with the playful spirit of a curious explorer. 

When we speak of “magic,” we mean delight in the unexpected, the joy of wonder, emotional care, and a full-bodied sensorial immersion we are happy to surrender to. 

Quite simply, Olivia is a magician.”

Jenny Gottstein

Creative Director and Founder @ Playscapades Studio, Creator of the Climate Action Game Show

"Olivia is a phenomenal experience designer at the top of her craft, who is taking the rigor of the design thinking processes that she rocked at IDEO and combining it with the intangible art of experience design. She has created a process around the chaos of creating both the emotional and the transformational. 

As a trained learning designer and talented facilitator, she has the ability to draw out the collective genius in a room and craft something greater than the sum total of its parts. And you can feel it. I have had the distinct honor and privilege of working on a multitude of experiences and experience design tools with Olivia, and I cannot sing her praises enough. 

Run, don’t walk, to whatever she makes, or whatever she invites you to experience."

Alysha English

Moderator, Leadership Programs @ Netflix, Founder + Facilitator @ With Space Between

“Olivia is a magician. She brings together a rare harmony of rigor and magic when it comes to experience design.

She is endlessly curious about herself, about the world, and about others. Through her curiosity, she finds inspiration for new frameworks and new experiences.
As a collaborator, she has expanded my own thinking. As a designer, she has inspired my own practice.

If you’re looking for someone to stretch your own imagination around what an experience can feel like, Olivia is your person.

Blending heart and mind, she is truly gifted at designing memorable and meaningful experiences that leave people finding awe and wonder in the world.”

Keely Adler

Cultural Futurist @ RADAR & Dentsu Creative

“Olivia is such an inspiring and refreshing voice in the world of experience design.

She challenges your existing perspectives with tenderness; brings depth, texture, and emotion to every topic she writes and talks about; and takes participants in her sessions on a gentle and provocative journey into what's next in truly beautiful ways.

Work with her! You might cry? You'll definitely feel warm and fuzzy. And maybe a little upset by the world as it is.

But that's ok, because you'll already be on your way to building what could be, instead.”

Isis Arias

Executive Experiential Producer & Brand Marketer, former Marketing Lead of Global Live Experiences @ Netflix

“As an executive producer of experiential marketing, I find Olivia’s approach to designing with emotions super aligned with how we should all approach creating experiences.

Her ability to create safe space with intention is unique, allowing others to collaborate with the right balance of guidance and input. I find her strategies and tactics incredibly valuable and useful.

Besides trying to manifest a way to work together, I am always passing her workshops on to others in the industry that I think could benefit!

If you get a chance to spend some time in her welcoming space, definitely take it!”

Emily Owens

Director of Events @ Rewiring America

“Run, don't walk to start designing experiences alongside Olivia Vagelos, who I once described as an ‘emotional cartographer.’

As an events pro, I try to remember that gathering humans is ultimately an act of emotional orchestration — and that every single one of the 100820342708 event planning decisions makes an impact on the emotional resonance of an event.

Learn how to make the right decisions from the best.”

Savannah Kunovsky

Managing Director of Emerging Technology @ IDEO

“Olivia is my go-to thought partner for creating unique experiences.

During our time together at IDEO, she created company-wide experiences to help our colleagues and clients shift into new ways of being and seeing the world.

Olivia is an incredible facilitator and designer, who knows how to tap into the soul of an audience and craft experiences that transcend, inspire, and ground.

With her background in learning design, she's broken down the art of experience design and been a longtime teacher teacher for me in the art of crafting moments people love.

Could not recommend learning with and from Olivia more!”

Melanie Kahl

Innovation Director, Community Weaver, & Educator @ Meld Strategy

“Olivia lives, breathes, and dreams experience.

Beyond crafting containers that liberate and delight, she models a facilitation style that is equal parts bold and soft — inviting others into the magic of an experience.

I actively seek out experiences she orchestrates as both a participant and practitioner, as I know I’ll leave inspired and refreshed.

As a collaborator, I admire how Olivia toggles between artful experience, rigorous strategy, and masterful tactics. She jumps in joyfully. And people follow.

Anybody that works with Olivia grows. The sector is lucky to have her wisdom.”

Rob Strain

Founder and Principal @ Lemon Battery

“Few people push, inspire, and shape my thinking on experience design like Olivia.

I first encountered her work in a virtual space she hosted, where her blend of intentionality and strategic facilitation moves created some lasting magic.

Since then, I've had the privilege of understanding the art and science behind her deeply human approach. Olivia is a master of her craft, yet she distills her expertise into memorable concepts I return to time and again.

If you're looking to elevate an experience, personal or professional, you'd be lucky to learn from her wisdom.”

Ravon Ruffin Feliz

Director of Strategic Partnerships @ Kinfolk Tech, Artist, Cyber Anthropologist, and Facilitator @ Citation Studio

“No matter the format, Olivia creates a space of authentic grounding and connection to oneself and to others.

Olivia is truly able to help folks across disciplines tap into what is human and reimagine inside possibility.

Her work feels like magic.”