In this episode of Masters of Storytelling, host Maya Geis interviews Joe Rohde, a former Disney Imagineer and experienced architect, about his creative process and approach to narrative placemaking. Rohde details his systematic method for developing themed experiences, emphasizing the importance of starting with a prompt, working in small teams, and testing ideas. He highlights the value of deep, immersive field research to overcome the limitations of two-dimensional information and enable nonlinear insights. Rohde also discusses the significance of teamwork, preferring collaborators who are verbal, curious, and capable of providing unique solutions. He stresses the need to build stories from a primal level, accessible to everyone, rather than relying on fan enthusiasm or existing narratives, and shares his current work with Virgin Galactic, focusing on the transformative potential of space travel.
