How a Little Something French” Turned Into a Royal Experience: My Epic Adventure at the World Experience Summit 2025

Chapter 1: It all started with… a fuzzy idea and a French accent
James Wallman casually said to me:
— “Hey Frances, maybe you could do a little something French at the summit this year?”
Naturally, I said yes.
In my head, I was already showing up with an immersive extravaganza straight out of France, carried by the fabulous JeDI community. But, as is often the case, dreams and budgets don’t always match — and this time, the Eurostar felt more like an ocean. The JeDI delegation couldn’t be funded. Bummer? Not exactly.
That’s when my partner-in-creative-crime Elena and I pitched a performance inspired by Marie-Antoinette. A cheeky and elegant wink — very us.
Then James came back with another suggestion:
— “Would you two want to create the entry experience for the summit?”
And again, I said yes. (I often say yes before I know how I’m going to pull it off.)

Chapter 2: The Royal French Welcome — Or how to turn a garden into Versailles
The event took place April 29–May 1, 2025, in one of London’s most immersive and curious venues: Phantom Peak.
Soon after our pitch, we found out we weren’t just doing any entrance — we were in charge of one of the two main ones: the garden entrance. The other was in the magical hands of IF Magic, while George Berlin transformed his side with artistic projections.
And me? I realized that a Queen without a court is just a lady in a wig.
So I called on my French immersive industry comrades — friends, talents, future WXO members. And miracle of miracles: they said yes.
Together, we orchestrated The Royal French Welcome:
👑 A multi-sensory, joyfully theatrical immersive experience inspired by the opulence of Versailles — with a splash of modern humor.
Here’s how it went down:
Two performers from distant lands opened the scene with captivating acts, including a hypnotic glass bubble dance.
Then guests would arrive to me — one of the Queen’s fabulous friends — and I’d shower them with lavender petals in a fragrant royal blessing.
Crossing into Phantom Peak, they were greeted by a noblewoman who misted them with rose water — a royal spritz.
A graceful duchess offered violet candies and taught the fine art of curtsying.
Our herald, ever watchful, would inquire where each guest hailed from, then announce them to the Queen in grand style.
At last, they’d meet Her Majesty and her favorite — the ever-so-fabulous Duchess de Polignac.
Once deemed worthy by the court, guests received a “Favored by the Queen” sticker — a badge of honor proudly worn all summit long.
The goal?
To make each guest feel expected, seen, and celebrated — like true VIPs at court. And believe me, between the giggles, awkward curtsies, and royal selfies… we succeeded.

Chapter 3: The So French Lounge — Sass, sugar, and a splash of swearing
But wait! There’s more.
To double the French flair, I created The So French Lounge — a pop-up zone for stylish, joyful pauses à la française.
What was in the lounge?
✨ Shoulder-shimmying French music
🍾 Champagne (obviously)
🥐 Buttery croissants
🍬 Nostalgic French candies
👒 Berets and stick-on beauty spots (“mouches”) to match your vibe of the day — “coquette,” “galant,” “passioné.e”
💬 And our crown jewel activity: “Learn to swear like a French person”.
Elegant little cards showcased carefully curated (and hilarious) French curse words. We witnessed people from 10 different nationalities proudly exclaiming:
“Oh là là, quelle merde !” (and a few others as well!)

Chapter 4: NoLo Budget, Big Ideas — When imagination takes the throne
Beyond playing Queen, I also co-led a workshop with the brilliant Sandesh Somani:
“NoLo Budget Design: Build Brilliant on Low Budget”
Our mission? To prove that memorable experiences aren’t about money — they’re about boldness.
After a wild improv game involving random objects, we shared our top tricks for crafting magic on a dime:
🧠 Challenge functional fixedness: it’s not just a box, it’s an emotion machine.
🎭 Embed everything into the story: constraints become narrative gold.
🤸 Flex those adaptability muscles: pivot without losing the magic.

Chapter 5: What I’m taking with me
Yes, we wore wigs, threw glitter, and taught people how to curse with flair.
But above all, this summit was about community.
The one you choose. The one you build.
We danced. We cried. We questioned. We shared. We made meaning — together.
I reconnected with old friends, met future collaborators, got inspired, challenged, nourished.
And here’s what stuck with me most:
1️⃣ Your vibe really does attract your tribe. Be real. Be brilliant. Be a little weird.
2️⃣ Budgets don’t block creativity. They sharpen it.
3️⃣ Connection is the true currency of unforgettable experiences. Tech evolves. Trends fade. But the human heart? Timeless.