The Phygital Evolution of Industry Events: What’s Next?

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The return to in-person events is not a return to business as usual. As trade shows, conferences, and live events thrive, some brands are redefining the event experience, while others risk making events feel outdated.

In this episode, Marco Ghiberti—a leading expert in live event innovation—returns to Design Nerds Anonymous to revisit his 2021 predictions and share insights on what’s next for events, sponsorships, and engagement strategies.

After listening, you will be able to:  

• Rethink events beyond logistics—focusing on why people gather, not just how
• Leverage AI & data to measure event ROI and engagement
• Use hybrid and virtual experiences strategically (hint: they’re not dead)
• Integrate events into a year-long marketing strategy, instead of isolated activations
• Create meaningful event experiences that resonate with changing audience expectations

• Marco Giberti

Links Mentioned: 

• Watch Amanda’s TEDx talk on the future of work: “Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it” on TED.com. 
• Follow Amanda on LinkedIn for more insights. 
• Sign up for ThinkLab’s Newsletter to stay updated on industry trends.

Design Nerds Anonymous is a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. Discover more shows from SURROUND at surroundpodcasts.com. This episode of Design Nerds Anonymous was produced and edited by SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to the podcast production team: Hannah Viti, Rob Schulte, and Rachel Senatore. 

Special thanks to our podcast season sponsors, Palladian West, THE MART and NEOCON – companies doing big things to move the design industry forward. 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? 

Design Nerds Anonymous is the only podcast of its kind – holding an engaged audience of architects, designers, CRE leaders, and end users – and delivering the most insights per minute on the forces shaping the built environment. With over 100K+ downloads, the show features industry powerhouses from brands like Chik-fil-A, Hilton, and StoryBrand, having bold conversations on what’s next in business and design—market shifts, process innovation, and the hidden dynamics driving change.

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