Why Your Brain Loves a Good Floor Plan: The Psychology of Designing for Connection
Humans are creatures of habit, and that’s great news for event planners. This session dives into the psychology behind how people experience events—not just the layout, but the full journey. Learn how thoughtful design fosters comfort, sparks connection, and delivers moments of unexpected hospitality. From large conferences to intimate gatherings, you’ll take away practical strategies to turn layouts into experiences that feel less like logistics and more like magic.
Julie Teplitzky
Julie Teplitzky is a seasoned event strategist and experience designer with over 15 years leading large-scale transformative conferences, festivals, and brand activations around the world. Before co-founding 11 Zebras, she held leadership roles at FreemanXP, Jack Morton, ConferenceDirect, and Czarnowski, where she built a reputation for blending creative vision with operational precision. Julie has curated impactful experiences for clients including Microsoft, Budweiser, LG Electronics, IHG, and The Television Academy. Her passion lies in crafting human-centered experiences that connect people, build trust, and turn brands into communities.
Co-Founder & Head of Program Strategy and Operations
11 Zebras
Julie Teplitzky is a seasoned event strategist and experience designer with over 15 years leading large-scale transformative conferences, festivals, and brand activations around the world. Before co-founding 11 Zebras, she held leadership roles at FreemanXP, Jack Morton, ConferenceDirect, and Czarnowski, where she built a reputation for blending creative vision with operational precision. Julie has curated impactful experiences for clients including Microsoft, Budweiser, LG Electronics, IHG, and The Television Academy. Her passion lies in crafting human-centered experiences that connect people, build trust, and turn brands into communities.
Chris Metzger
Chris is a transformative growth architect and strategic marketing leader with 20+ years of experience driving revenue, shaping vision, and building high-performing organizations for global brands. His career spans leadership roles at FreemanXP, Access TCA, Czarnowski, and now 11 Zebras, where he helps brands unlock new market opportunities through disruptive strategies and data-driven insights. Chris has delivered hundreds of millions in revenue by launching profitable disciplines, creating large-scale international programs, and leading transformative initiatives for clients across industries. His work includes developing omnichannel strategies and experiential marketing engagements for brands such as USPS, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Harley-Davidson.
Co-Founder & Head of Business Strategy and Growth
11 Zebras
Chris is a transformative growth architect and strategic marketing leader with 20+ years of experience driving revenue, shaping vision, and building high-performing organizations for global brands. His career spans leadership roles at FreemanXP, Access TCA, Czarnowski, and now 11 Zebras, where he helps brands unlock new market opportunities through disruptive strategies and data-driven insights. Chris has delivered hundreds of millions in revenue by launching profitable disciplines, creating large-scale international programs, and leading transformative initiatives for clients across industries. His work includes developing omnichannel strategies and experiential marketing engagements for brands such as USPS, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Harley-Davidson.