11 Events 2. Strategic Integration of Belonging Belonging isn’t just a feel-good initiative—it’s a strategic imperative. Successful event designs marry business objectives with belonging goals, creating what I call a “virtuous cycle of events.” For membership organizations, this might mean focusing on member retention, recruitment, and value enhancement. Students were challenged to articulate how their approach to belonging served both the audience and the organizer. The most effective strategies began with the audience’s needs, and then identified authentic connections to the organizer’s values. This audience-first approach ensured that belonging initiatives felt genuine rather than forced. 3. The Power of Shared Stories Perhaps the most powerful tool in creating belonging is storytelling—specifically, story sharing. Stories about belonging naturally spark connection, but this principle extends to all forms of participatory engagement, whether in-person or virtual. This semester’s student projects showcased innovative approaches to narrative building. From creating community recipe books to organizing neighborhood exploration activities, they designed experiences that balanced independent discovery with collective sharing moments. These designs created natural opportunities for participants to share their stories and connect with others. Looking to the Future The results of this semester’s work extend beyond the classroom. Students reported a deeper sense of purpose when designing with belonging in mind, suggesting that this approach not only benefits event participants but also enriches the work of event professionals themselves. Through the Belonging Playbook and its companion website, experience creators now have access to a growing repository of tools and techniques for creating meaningful connections. While the complexity of belonging might seem overwhelming at first, success lies in starting in a focused and controlled area, and being intentional. As we prepare the next generation of experience designers, it’s clear that belonging isn’t just a trendy concept—it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach design. By understanding our audience, making belonging a strategic priority, and creating opportunities for story sharing, we can create experiences that don’t just gather people, but truly bring them together. The future of experience design looks promising as these emerging event professionals enter the field armed with tools and techniques for creating authentic connections. Their work this semester demonstrates that when we lead with belonging, we create experiences that resonate long after a single time-bound event ends, and that is community-building at its finest. A virtuous cycle indeed! Persona created by Helin & Huanzi drove their concept of creative expression and story. Hailey, Danica, and Joan used gamification and personalization of insights in the post-event phase to ensure meaningful community building beyond the event. 1 Understanding Your Org’s Definition of Belonging 2 Strategic Integration of Belonging 3 The Power of Shared Stories 3 Three Essential Steps to Design for Belonging
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