Nelly Ben Hayoun

Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun is a designer of extreme experiences that aims to bring the sublime to life. Dubbed the “Willy Wonka of Design,” Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun is an award-winning French designer and filmmaker who creates multi-dimensional experiential projects at the intersection of science, theatre, politics and Design.

Wired awarded her their inaugural Innovation Fellowship in 2014, and Icon magazine recognized Dr. Ben Hayoun as one of the top 50 designers 'shaping the future' for her pioneering “total bombardment” design philosophy.  She’s also been listed on the Top 50 of the Best Speakers List by The Drum in 2018 and one of the Creative Leaders 50 in 2017 by Creative Review, along with Design Week awarding her in 2023 with their Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

Her design work has been exhibited at the National Museum of China, MOMA, V&A and The MET.

Her laboratory, NBH Studios, is on a mission to bring chaos to the world; she is the founder and director of the International Space Orchestra the world’s first orchestra of NASA space scientists and astronauts; and most recently she founded the University of the Underground, a subversive tuition-free educative and cultural programme that is on course to create disorder in academia.

Her award-winning projects include an immersive installation that imagines the experience of a sonic boom, a reclining chair simulating the 3 stages of a rocket launch, and two feature-length documentaries; the International Space Orchestra (IFFR 2013) and Disaster Playground (SXSW 2015). In 2018, Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun has completed her 3rddocumentary film, I am (not) a Monster.

Her various roles include Chief of Experiences at WeTransfer, Designer of Experiences at the SETI (search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute, Member of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Permanent Committee The International Academy of Astronautics(IAA), advisor to the United Nations Virtual Reality Labs, Research Director at Brooklyn based design Institute A/D/O, advisory board member at AIGA (American Institute for Graphic Arts), associate fellow at Hannah Arendt Centre, Bard College for Politics and Humanities.

Known for her dynamic, authentic and super creative talks, Dr Nelly has been sharing her practises for the past 15 years in some of the world’s largest venues. Whether she’s hosting a panel or conducting a keynote, she integrates audience participation.