Co-Creating the Future of Experiences – Insights from the Experience Economy Co-Creation Workshop

Miika Lipiäinen, Professor of Practice in the Experience Economy, giving a speach.

Experience Economy program at Tampere University brought together business leaders and researchers to discuss the future of experiences at the Experience Economy Co-Creation Workshop. The day's themes focused on the significance of experiences in a changing world – and, most importantly, how companies can create them together with others. The event offered an in-depth yet practical look at experiences through presentations and discussions.

The event featured greetings from Marko Seppänen, Dean of Tampere University, and Anna-Kaisa Heinämäki, Competitiveness Director of the City of Tampere, as well as three interesting keynote presentations. Miika Lipiäinen, Professor of Practice in the Experience Economy, emphasized that not all experiences need to be grand spectacles. He suggested mid-range experiences – everyday moments that offer genuine significance without overconsumption or constant digitalization. These mid-range experiences also hold business potential.

Professor Eero Vaara giving a keynote speech.

Professor Henri Pirkkalainen highlighted the challenge of "fast consumption" of experiences. When experiences are sought quickly and easily, their significance may become shallow – for example, stimuli received through a smartphone often do not provide true experiential value, as genuine presence and significance are lacking. Professor Eero Vaara from Oxford Saïd Business School introduced Open strategy as a concept for co creation and co innovation. Companies that operate according to the principles of open strategy can involve customers, employees, and other stakeholders more closely in the design and co-creation of experiences.

The Experience Economy Co Creation Workshop was also attended by students.

Overall, the day was a wonderful result of collaboration, carried out as a broad-based cooperation involving companies, researchers, and students in the field of experience economy. The event demonstrated how important it is that experiences should not be designed behind closed doors – the best ideas are born through collaboration. One participant beautifully summarized the core idea of the event in their comment at the end of the discussion:

"We can each create experiences on our own, but together we can achieve much more than anyone alone."

The event was organised in Nokia Arena, Paidia Venue and supported by Business Finland. 

Blog by

Anna Rotko

Master’s student

Tampere University

Images

Saara Tuominen