​Please Note: Admission is based on first arrival, but preference will be given to RSVPs

Join us for an afternoon of panels, conversation, and connection at SXSW 2026, capped with a long happy hour.

​Futurespaces brings together 12 leaders across immersive design, spatial technology, and the business of experience for a half-day of presentations, moderated discussions, and audience Q&A. Co-presented with SoDA and Adobe.

​Three curated panels explore the craft of immersive experience, the convergence of physical and digital design, and the evolving business models behind it all — followed by an Adobe-led session and a networking reception.

​Moderated by Josh Goldblum, CEO & Founder of Bluecadet.

​Panel 1: Designing for Wonder
(1:30 – 2:15 PM)

​Christopher Fung — Creative Director & Designer, G&A — With a winding career from design and animation to visual effects supervision and now experience design for the built environment, he draws from diverse backgrounds to bring together collaborators from disparate practices in unconventional ways. Formerly at Local Projects, he now leads the Media and Interaction Design teams at G&A, bridging the craft of the entertainment world into the cultural space.

​Genell Zuciya — Biomimicry Designer & Storyteller, Formerly Meow Wolf, Walt Disney Imagineering — Immersive experience designer whose career spans Meow Wolf and Walt Disney Imagineering. She brings theme-park-level storytelling to new entertainment formats through biomimicry-inspired design.

​Andrew Haarsager — Creative Strategy, Americas, TellArt — Andrew leads creative strategy for Tellart's Americas practice, shaping large-scale immersive experiences for science museums, cultural institutions, and global brands.

​Panel 2: When Space Meets Screen
(2:20 – 3:05 PM)

​David Glicksman — Director of Creative Technology, DXD, Gensler — Leads Gensler's DXD practice in Los Angeles, blending creative innovation with emerging technologies to transform how people interact with the built environment at global scale.

​Constance Nuttall — Project Director, Journey — Leads one of Journey's multidimensional design teams in New York, shaping projects from strategy through execution, with a focus on visitor experiences in the culture and attractions sectors. Her work spans attractions, museums, observatories, immersive media installations, and film.

​Emilie Baltz — Experiential Design Leader — Award-winning immersive experience director with 20 years across design, hospitality, performance, and technology. Best known for using food as a medium to design multisensory experiences that deepen engagement through embodiment.

​Panel 3: The Business of Future Experiences
(3:15 – 4:00 PM)

​Barbara Bouza — FAIA, Executive Director, LIVE-WORK-PLAY, CannonDesign — Former President of Walt Disney Imagineering. Now leads CannonDesign's LIVE-WORK-PLAY practice, bringing decades of experience in architecture and immersive entertainment.

​Koven Smith — Principal, Arts Strategist & Technologist, Kinetic Museums —Arts strategist and sarcastic technologist. Designed Knight Foundation's arts + technology funding program and directed $80M in digital infrastructure grants. Previously led digital teams at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Denver Art Museum, and Indianapolis Museum of Art. Also a composer, former big band leader, and indie rock drummer who slept on many floors.

​Lou Pizante — Co-Founder & Partner, The Experientialists — Combines business acumen with creative vision to scale immersive experiences from inception to global expansion. Specializes in location-based entertainment and strategic financial thinking.

​SoDA Session: The Next Wave of Digital Innovation
(4:30 – 5:30 PM)

​David Schwarz — Founding Partner, HUSH — Award-winning creative leader who co-founded HUSH, an experience design firm merging technology, visual design, and physical space. Has partnered with brands like Nike, Meta, Equinox, and Goldman Sachs to create industry-leading experiential projects.

​Taryn Crouthers — CEO, Big Spaceship — Brings 20+ years of agency experience to one of the most influential digital-first creative agencies in the U.S. Previously served as president of ATTN:, helping grow the company from inception through its acquisition by Candle Media.

​Olivier Koelemij — Chief Innovation Officer, Monks — Builds, grows, and innovates companies. Grew the west coast operation to 450 Monks in under six years. His deep understanding of tech, creativity, and commerce allows him to turn strategic insights into scalable, innovative concepts across clients' modern marketing mix.

​Host & Moderator

Josh Goldblum — CEO & Founder, Bluecadet — Emmy Award-winning creative executive. Founded Bluecadet in 2006; clients include the Met, Nike, the Smithsonian, and Google. Co-founder of Artwrld and creator of Futurespaces.