Hi friends,
As the year winds down, I’ve been thinking about what truly moved the needle across the events I worked on and the industry groups I’ve been part of this year.
A confession: I was never a sorority girl (shocker), and I tend to get so deep in the work that I forget to fully engage in professional circles.
But this year felt different.
Spending time inside communities that genuinely care about designing better experiences has changed the way I think. Being exposed to other sharp, generous minds has sharpened my own.
And from that, I’ve come away with something I want to pass on:
The 10 questions I believe are the difference between “having an event” and “creating an experience.”
The big takeaway:
These questions help you shift from speed to intention.
That shift, more than any tool, trend, or tactic, is what actually improves events.
So before we all press reset for 2026, here’s my gift to you:
🎯 10 Questions to Ask Before You Plan Anything in 2026
- Why does this event exist?
What shift is it meant to create?
- What emotion should people feel when it’s over?
That’s your north star.
- Who is the audience today, and what do they need right now?
Not who they were last year.
- If this event disappeared, what would people miss?
That reveals your real value.
- What story are we telling, and how will people experience it?
Story lives in the environment, the transitions, the flow.
- Are we designing for participation or consumption?
Consumption informs. Participation transforms.
- Where is the intentional white space?
Serendipity needs oxygen.
- What will people talk about after?
Design your aftertaste/after-dinner mint
- What is the simplest way to say what matters?
If you need 47 slides, you don’t have a message.
- Which decision right now has the biggest ripple effect?
Strategy makes priorities obvious.
I hope this list makes sense, helps you slow down, and inspires better questions inside your team. Never assume everyone is answering the same question the same way.
A FINAL INVITE:
I’ve opened the first cohort for my Event-to-Experience GPT trilogy, built for two groups:
- The accidental planner who knows they need a strategy but doesn’t know where to begin.
- The event owner/boss who wants their team to think better, ask better questions, and make better decisions.
I have a few remaining first-user slots before the doors close.
Want access? Reply with the word GPS, and I’ll add you to the launch.
Below is an overview of the 3 tools
Keep thinking, keep winking,
— Denise
Twofold Story: Helping you build journeys, not agendas.
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