ILEA Day of Education 2026: The Art of Experience

Day of Ed: The Art of Experience

This day of education is designed to immerse ourselves in fresh, innovative ways to infuse creativity into our work and elevate attendee engagement. We aim to draw inspiration from unconventional avenues empowering professionals to craft more immersive, meaningful + memorable experiences.  

On the Agenda:

Opening Keynote: Event Design For All 5 Senses

Tiffany Rose Goodyear

In her keynote, Event Design for All 5 Senses, Tiffany challenges audiences to move beyond aesthetics and begin with emotion. How do you want your guests to feel? From there, she demonstrates how lighting, color, layout, music, texture, food and beverage, and especially scent can be layered intentionally to build an emotional arc. She also explores how designing with the body in mind creates more inclusive experiences that honor different sensory needs and ways of engaging with the world. Blending research, real-world examples, and a shared live scent moment, Tiffany leaves audiences equipped with practical tools and low-barrier ideas to immediately elevate their events, transforming them from gatherings into multi-sensory, memory-making experiences.

Panel:

Beyond the Bubble: Where Creativity Lives

This cross-industry panel brings together visionary voices to explore how people, ideas, and environments spark creativity. Through fresh perspectives and real examples, speakers share how memorable experiences are shaped in unexpected places and how looking beyond the bubble can inspire new ways of thinking about experience.

• Joey Lawton, Creative Director at Gensler

• Bari Singh, Senior Event Designer at SVARIN Creative

• Patrick Macellaio, Senior Manager of Events at Obama Presidential Center

Moderator: Jessica Dalka, Owner of Chicago Planner Magazine  

Closing Keynote:

Karaoke Storytellers

Special performance featuring comedians, singers, storytellers, and everyday people telling a short story about a song, followed by a karaoke performance of the song.   

Dress Code: Pattern Play

Express yourself creatively through wardrobe. Pull inspiration from your environment and wear an article(s) of clothing in the most fun pattern you own! Let your personality shine through bold, bright, colorful clothes with a little pattern play!