About
Uncommon Places Design is the experience design practice founded and led by Ida Benedetto. We craft experiences with and for groups facing pivotal moments and complex challenges. Our methodology draws upon principles of game design to promote agency and ingenuity, adventure design to facilitate experiential learning and growth, and organizational psychology to integrate smartly into the realities of teams and work. We combine these disciplines to support human enrichment and potential, which enables people to stretch beyond their perceived limits and discover new possibilities.
We collaborate with leaders, change-makers, and individuals whose focus on outcomes and impact makes embracing novel approaches deeply appealing. We get into the trenches with you to ensure the moment meets or surpasses your needs and aspirations. Our curiosity and enthusiasm for experimentation inspire a commitment to original research and thought leadership that drives the field forward.
What to Expect
By working with us, you can expect:
- Unique experiences fit for your specific objectives and context
- A collaborative process that skillfully leverages your expertise and insights
- Innovative approaches that go beyond assumptions and norms to better pursue valuable results
- Meaningful impact on your team or community's alignment, resilience, and capacity for growth
- Thought partnership that enhances your ability to navigate complexity with clarity and confidence
- Expert savvy when it comes to event production and execution
Core Values
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Trust in Emergence
The most potent aspects of experiences arise when we create space for the unexpected. We enable outcomes that surpass expectations by designing for emergence and trusting in participants' collective wisdom and skills.
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Responsive Collaboration
We recognize that navigating complex situations requires a responsive and engaged approach to collaboration. We work closely with our clients, attuning to their needs and the practical constraints of their environments to co-create experiences that are tailored, integrated, and impactful.
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Vulnerability through Integrity
Growth and connection require vulnerability. Through extensive experience in diverse circumstances, we’ve found that humble integrity is one of the most reliable ways to encourage vulnerability. By fostering environments of trust and respect, we allow participants to step outside their comfort zones to engage in productive challenges that lead to novel results.
Ida Benedetto, Founder
Linkedin | ida@uncommonplaces.com
Ida Benedetto is an experience director and strategist who designs high-stakes gatherings and adventures that drive insight, innovation, and change. With a background spanning game design, experiential learning, and organizational psychology, Ida creates transformative experiences for clients ranging from Fortune 500 executives to cultural luminaries.
Ida's work has been featured in multiple New York Times bestsellers and media outlets such as Businessweek, NPR, and The New Yorker. Her research on designing transformative social experiences has been widely cited and incorporated into coursework at institutions like Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, and NYU.
Before creating Uncommon Places Design, Ida co-foundesd two design practices focused on game design and adventure design, pioneering creative methodologies centered on the participant experience. She has worked for high-profile clients at SYPartners and NOBL Collective. She holds an MA in Design Research from the School of Visual Arts, a BFA in Design and Technology from Parsons, and a BA in History from the New School, where she won awards for humanitarianims and outstanding research. She is a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts’ Interaction Design program, teachings game design and thesis research.
Ida frequently speaks and leads workshops on leveraging the power of play, adventure, and design to tackle complex challenges and advance human potential. With her multidisciplinary approach and commitment to pushing boundaries, Ida brings a rare depth of expertise to crafting experiences that participants cherish for decades.