The world’s largest straw sculpture. A 12-foot-tall refugee puppet. Fallopian tubes over the Supreme Court. These advocates for change are turning traditional activism on its head, infusing ingenuity into their mission to capture our attention — so we can’t look away.

For these visionaries, thinking big is an understatement — whether they are conjuring up spectacles for the world’s biggest stars (who go by names like Taylor, Beyoncé and Harry) or capturing the zeitgeist with their epic larger-than-life productions.

Who did Warner Bros. call when they wanted to build a fantastical, interactive Harry Potter traveling show? How about when HBO, Adidas or Coca-Cola want to extend and amplify their world-class IP? None other than these trailblazers who live at the intersection of storytelling and brand. Many companies can build a stage. Few can build a story.

With impeccable taste and a finger on the pulse of where the culture is moving, these discerning cool hunters have the rare ability to tell a larger narrative through their choices of experiences, artists, personalities, and more.

The insatiable appetite of fans is no match for these experiential alchemists. Bringing to life fan favorites including Stranger Things, Star Wars, Super Mario and more is – literally – their superpower. 

Meet the outside-the-box connectors. The people bringing us together in fresh and unexpected ways. And in the process, giving the word community a much-needed upgrade.

If the old world of art was more “look but don’t touch,” the new world being shaped by these artists is “immersion through any means necessary” — from the edgiest tech to awe-inspiring installations and everything in between.

Building an experience in a fixed location, whether it’s a retail destination or a modern-day Chuck E. Cheese, requires creative confidence and the ability to surprise and delight again and again … and again. Qualities that these world-builders have in spades. 

“All the world’s a stage” says Shakespeare and this eclectic selection of modern-day raconteurs. From immersive theater and live journalism to magical set design and circus acrobatics, these 21st-century storytellers are converting narratives into captivating — and even participatory — experiences.

On its own, a communal meal can foster a sense of kinship. But it takes a culinary maestro to transform a meal into an ethereal experience — altering our senses, activating our memories, and deepening our connections with each other. Meet the Tastemakers.