What are experiences?

We live experiences all the time — in a conversation, on a trip, while using a product, or when visiting a place. But what exactly is an experience?

Experiences are moments that move us, make us feel, and stay in our memory. They are instances where something happens — an exchange, a contact, a sensation — and we are no longer the same afterward.

Every experience begins with an interaction. It can happen with a person, a product, a space, a brand, or even an idea. What makes it special is not just what happens, but how it happens and what it awakens in those who live it. A good experience is never neutral: it provokes emotion, curiosity, pleasure, inspiration, or reflection.

More than isolated actions, experiences are made up of a sequence of moments. What comes before creates expectation; what happens generates engagement; and what remains afterward turns into memory. This journey — from anticipation to remembrance — is what transforms simple interactions into meaningful experiences.

Experiences vary in intensity, duration, and depth. Some are brief and subtle; others, intense and transformative. But all of them shape how we perceive the world and connect with it.

In design, thinking about experiences means focusing on people before products. Every experience is unique because every person is unique. The same product, service, or environment can evoke different sensations depending on who lives it, the moment, the mood, and even the memories involved. Designing experiences, therefore, is also designing perceptions — caring for the details that turn the ordinary into something memorable.

Understanding experiences means understanding emotions, behaviors, and contexts to create real connections. Every detail communicates something: a color, a sound, a gesture, a word. Everything influences how someone perceives and feels.

To experience is to be present. It’s when something takes us out of autopilot and makes us notice the now — and it’s in that moment that the experiences we remember for a long time are born.

In a world saturated with stimuli, the value of experience lies in authenticity. It’s not enough to impress — it’s necessary to create identification, comfort, and belonging. Designing experiences is about building bridges between feeling and understanding.

In the end, experiences are the most human form of communication. They are what make us remember, choose, and return. They are the connection between people, ideas, and emotions — the place where design finds its meaning.