What

The Dusk Circus was an experiential design research experiment, bringing together a diverse range of 24 creators, including psychedelic therapists, circus directors, improv actors, videographers, and game designers, to learn about the conditions needed to imagine great play experiences. We took a tool that folks had strong and limiting associations with – Miro, and transformed it into a journey-based experience full of delight, mystery, feelings, and relationships.

Why & Who

While there is a lot of focus on the logistical, functional, financial tools for creatives, there is a dearth of thick, inspiring, tended space where creatives get to be the ones who are cared for. In other words…“You don’t do yoga in a dumpster.” We produced the Dusk Circus to test hypotheses we had about what creators might need, and about what makes for great play. This digital event was a collaboration between an interaction designer, a graphic designer, a creative technologist, and myself (playing the role of experience lead, design researcher, and circus director).

Emergent questions

• What do creators need in order to imagine and make the future of great play experiences? 

• How do you build environments and experiences that nurture both individual and collective creativity? 

• How do you make something that feels like magic?