Zeitgeist experiences: The 6 shared attributes of the worlds most successful mega events
In our study of the worlds most successful and influential mega-events, we discovered 6 themes supported by 2 fundamental elements that have allowed them to achieve their sucess.
These mega-events have achieved 'zeitgeist' like status. A time and place where like-minded people share an experience, where ideals and beliefs motivate and influence action.
All 50 events produce impact at the individual level, at the brand, community, commercial and economic levels. The world most successful Mega-events across Sport & Leisure, Arts & Entertainment Festivals, Cultural, Business & Trade events.
As UX people, we are in a constant competition to win hearts & minds. Attention, desire, action. With increasing expectations.
How do we design to engage with people? How do we design to connect like-minded people together? Build communities? Provide memorable experiences? Physically and online? How can we create shared/shareable experiences? That influence behaviour and attitudes. This is fundamentally what mega-events are about. And we can learn from the great ones.
Why is a ‘Zeitgeist event' status interesting? The events influence specific desirable behaviours and attitudes. They allow their audiences to do more, feel more, belong more, to be more. Creating attention, action, engagement, reflection, uprising, or celebration. In that moment, as a catalyst prior to the event, and as a legacy.
Six elements exist that your experience could strive for:
- a sense of Purpose, a shared passion
- Communitas, the art of collective joy
- in a state of Play ‘ activity engaged in for enjoyment’
- to enable Flow states, where capability meets aspiration
- with moments of Awe, a sense of something immense which stimulates one’s understanding
- to be Shareable. Remark-able, shared experiences, amplified due to their social currency.
We know there is no one ‘roadmap’ to success but we know with UX we have some proven methods and principles. We also know we can keep learning, and look for inspiration in our world. You can take your customer experiences from the routine status quo to something special.
Bring your ideas to life, invent or reinvent your UX journeys based on Zeitgeist experiences.