Bringing Their Stories to Light: Behind the Lens of SEGD’s Voices of Experience

May 14, 2025

Abigail Honor

In 2023, during SEGD’s 50th Anniversary Conference, we sat down with a group of SEGD Fellows—design legends whose work has helped define and expand the field of experiential design. Over the past year, filmmaker and editor Abigail Honor, Founding Partner of multimedia studio Lorem Ipsum and longtime SEGD collaborator, worked to shape those conversations into the Voices of Experience series. In this reflection, she shares what she learned from editing the stories of these remarkable individuals—and what their voices can teach us about legacy, leadership, and the evolving role of design in the world around us.

Over the past year, I had the privilege of interviewing and editing stories from SEGD Fellows—individuals who have shaped the field of experiential design over the past five decades. Through these conversations, I gained a deeper understanding of how SEGD has evolved, from its roots in graphic design and wayfinding to the multidimensional world of experiential design we know today.

Designing Community, Not Just Places

What struck me most was the sense of community. These SEGD Fellows weren’t just pioneers in their practices—they were part of a supportive network that uplifted one another through collaboration, mentorship, and mutual respect. Their personal stories reveal how much of the designed world we interact with every day—transit hubs, museums, hospitals, public parks—originated from SEGD members asking thoughtful questions about how people connect with place.

Hearing about their journeys, challenges, and what kept them going was profoundly moving. It reminded me of the importance of celebrating and sharing these voices. Recognition gives us the language to explain—and show—clients, students, and the broader public what experience design truly is and why it matters.

Another theme that emerged in these interviews was how much graphic design has evolved. From hand-drawn signage to immersive digital environments, the field has transformed alongside shifts in technology, culture, and how we move through space. And yet, the core remains unchanged: it’s about creating meaning in place. That kind of work doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes a community of curious, generous minds—a group like SEGD—to keep asking the right questions and pushing the field forward.

Above all, what stood out to me during these conversations was the joy of creating, collaborating, and experimenting. It’s the joy of working in a discipline that is both rigorous and open-ended, personal and public. Many Fellows spoke of how this work stayed with them for life—how it challenged them, lifted them, and gave them enduring purpose.

Capturing Legacy Through Film

As a filmmaker, I believe strongly in the power of video to preserve stories—not just for today, but for future generations. At Lorem Ipsum, we use media to deepen understanding and give voice to vision, and this project was no exception. I feel incredibly privileged to help tell these stories. They’re not just a record of the past, but a call to the next generation of designers to continue listening, experimenting, and designing for people.

---

Voices of Experience: A Living Archive of Design Leadership

Over the next six months, SEGD will premiere a new Voices of Experience short film every two weeks—each profiling a current SEGD Fellow whose work has shaped the world of experience design. From landmark transportation systems to transformative cultural spaces, these stories spotlight the creativity, mentorship, and impact of the individuals who have helped define our profession.

The series launches May 21 with a special feature on Bruce Mau and culminates in a celebration at the SEGD Conference Experience San Francisco, November 13–15, 2025.