Our Work

Projects our team members have worked on
How Pontes CEO Tom Wustenberghs saw a different future for cremations.

Less Darwin,
​More Da Vinci

We're told to adapt.
​Digitalise. Agentify. Accelerate.
Always accelerate.

But speed and efficiency are just table stakes.
To thrive, we need to help humans become who they want to be.

Be modern day Da Vinci's that combine AI, ingenuity and boldness.
Create moments of beauty. Enrich lives. 
​Profitably. At scale.

In 2024 we assembled to do just that.
Intervene where industry practice is out of sync with human needs. 

​Today, we seek to partner with a few leaders a year who are ready to create new profit, and outpace their competitors by enriching lives.

Wanted:
​'Grounded mavericks'

​Leaders who can see that their current model won't work forever.
Who understand that AI-automation is pointless without reinvention.
Have the appetite, mandate and resources to change the game.  

Not with Silicon Valley hit-and-run abandon.
Or 500-slide presentations in endless workshops.
​But deliberately. Insight-led. Profit-focused.

So let's talk, if you are:

  • A C-level or board executive in a privately held mid-market company ready to turn commoditisation into a bolder future.
  • ​An industry body or ecosystem orchestrator aiming to make a conservative sector more competitive.
  • A leader in a group or holding company who sees parts of the portfolio mature towards harvest and seeks new and adjacent areas of growth.

Start here

Rewriting the rules of an industry is a big claim, which requires big trust. 
If you want to start smaller, here are a few profitable ways to get to know each other.
PROFITSCAN: THREE NEW PATHS TO PROFIT FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Customer expectations and technologies change faster than we can update our Powerpoint slides.
Using the Profitscan method, we look beyond the hypes and trends to identify the 3 most promising paths to profit for your business, portfolio, or sector. 

​Along the way, we consider:
  • What your customers really seek beyond what your industry offers.
  • Where your market's vision is lagging technological evolution.
  • How your teams and AI can achieve more than either alone.
  • The opportunities, risks and next steps ahead.

Deliverable:
A 6-hour workshop* where we review and deep-deep dive into:
  • The 3 most promising new paths to profit for your business.
  • 20+ practical innovation opportunities you can explore
  • A toolkit allowing your teams to continue in the chosen direction.

Project fee are structured so we only make our upside if you feel our input is worth acting on.

* or online equivalent
VISUALISE YOUR human edge in a world of AI
Listening to the news, AI is both our doom and salvation. But hope and anxiety aren't strategy.

We work with your leadership team or whole organisation to:
  • Address the elephant in the room: yes, AI is coming for our jobs
  • Identify the human edge your teams bring that technology cannot replicate
  • Turn those insights into new propositions, roles and momentum

The deliverable:
​A one-day work session* where we use VisuAIse and other tools to explore:
  • The practical ways AI will affect your industry and business
  • What this means for the way work happens today
  • Where your people's human edge comes into play
  • The practical steps toward tomorrow's job reality

For maximum impact, combine this workshop with a Profitscan.
​
*or online equivalent

How we work

As transformation architects we help you envision possibilities, draw blueprints and supervise the build.
You can engage us for one phase or the full journey. Either way, our goal is to get you the result.

CUSTOMER

Create offers and experience that help your customers become more of who they want to be.

ORGANISATION

Craft a concept experience that allows your customers, teams, funders and ecosystem partners to 'feel' how your future vision applies to them.

CO-PILOTING

Access our ever expanding braintrust to continuously update and refine your thinking as you move from vision to implementation. 
Want to explore which path fits you best?

Projects

Real transformation starts with a new story that resonates with teams and customers.
Supported by the infrastructure to match.
​
Explore our past projects to see how we do that.

Ars Moriendi

Crematorium group Pontes wanted to do more than improve on existing practices. They wanted to reduce complicated grief.

It triggered a bigger vision: one that 66% of customers prefer and for which a third are willing to pay up to €750 more. 

Workplacemaking

62% of employees are disengaged, costing $8.9 trillion in lost productivity world-wide.  

After prototyping a new global head office for an international service firm, we developed a framework to redefine the concept of workplace.

Coming H2-2026

We're developing next generation offers and experiences for professional services firms, luxury brands, education,  travel and various other industries. Creating premium profit by enriching lives.

Get in touch to discuss your industry.

Meet the team

Industry rewrites require many perspectives:​ science, insight, experience design, art, tech and strategy. 
This multi-disciplinary approach integrates them all.

​Click on our picture for full bios.

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Joe Pine−Experience Economy Pioneer
 A leading voice in business, Joe is best known as the co-author of The Experience Economy, a book that redefined how companies create value. A sought-after speaker and advisor, Joe has addressed the World Economic Forum, TED, and SXSW. He is currently working on his next book, The Transformation Economy.

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COO
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International event company

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Katherine Templar-Lewis−Human Scientist & Behavioural Expert
A neuroscientist and behavioral strategist, Katherine specialises in neuroaesthetics, trust, connection, and positive behaviour change. She is the Chief Science Officer for the world's largest experiment in uncertainty, and helps brands like Chanel, Bentley, Nike, and Apple design transformative experiences.​ 

Owner
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Interior design 

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​Pigalle Tavakkoli−Experience Design Strategist
Founder of the School of Experience Design, Pigalle helps teams create emotionally charged, high-impact experiences and transformative interactions that drive loyalty and behaviour change. She has worked for The Guardian, Unilever, L’Oréal, and Ketchum, and taught experience design at leading universities across Europe.

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​Paul Zak−Neuroscientist & Trust Expert
A pioneer in neuroeconomics and neuromarketing, Paul’s research on trust, immersion, and human behaviour has shaped how businesses design engaging and impactful experiences. Ranked among the top 0.3% most cited scientists, his latest book, Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary, explores what makes experiences truly memorable and measurable.

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​Dorothy Di Stefano−Art Curator & Creative Strategist
A global leader in immersive and interactive art, Dorothy blends cutting-edge technology, artistry, and interactivity to create experiences that captivate, challenge, and transform. Named one of Blooloop’s 50 Immersive Influencers and #1 Female Art & Culture Creator on LinkedIn (2023), she is a sought-after speaker and a driving force in the evolution of narrative-based art.

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​Henry Coutinho-Mason−Reluctant Futurist
A leading authority on consumer trends and future innovation, Henry helps businesses decode today’s signals to anticipate tomorrow’s opportunities. As former Managing Director of TrendWatching, he shaped the insights used by 100,000+ B2C professionals worldwide. Author of The Future Normal and Trend-Driven Innovation, Henry has delivered 150+ keynotes in 30+ countries.

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Michael Lai−Transformation consultant & Experience Strategist
An expert in experience-driven transformation, Michael helps organisations turn bold visions into scalable business realities. As the author of X Thinking, he connects best practices from East to West, shaping the future of global customer experience. With expertise across various industries, Michael has worked with Adidas, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and Jaguar Land Rover. 

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​Jen Rice−Transformation Strategist & Coach
Jen helps organisations transform from the inside out, ensuring that new strategies and experiences are not just designed—but truly believed in. A former CX Principal at Forrester, Jen has shaped transformation strategies for Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, and Principal Financial. She ensures that culture, brand, and customer experience align to drive real impact at scale.

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​Alain Thys−Customer Transformation Architect
A pioneer in customer-centricity and corporate transformation, Alain's work has impacted 30+ brands and half a billion customers, leading  international projects for Generali, Vodafone, Philips, Lexus, and Toyota. As author of So You Want To Be Customer-Centric? and The Transformation Code, he continues to push the boundaries of what great looks like.

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Alessia Clusini−Digital Ethnographer & Customer Insights Expert
A multi-award-winning digital ethnographer, Alessia specialises in uncovering deep audience insights. She has pioneered AI-driven research methodologies, blending social sciences with technology to decode human behaviour. Alessia has worked with Burning Man, BBC, Google, Prada, Microsoft, and Rolling Stone, shaping the future of audience intelligence.

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Sheena Patel−Experience Designer & Creative Director
A world-class immersive experience designer, Sheena translates storytelling and interactive techniques from entertainment, escape rooms, and immersive theatre into corporate reality. Ensuring strategies aren’t just understood—but deeply embodied. She has worked on immersives like Sherlock and Peaky Blinders as well as with brands like Disney, Nike, Unilever, and Diageo.

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Ready to rewrite some rules?

Are you ready to claim the next profit opportunity in your industry?
​Then arrange a virtual coffee with our founder, Alain Thys, to discuss.
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