Alan Hughes
Founder, Chief Creative Officer, NEXT/NOW
Alan Hughes is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of NEXT/NOW™, a Chicago-based
digital experiential agency known for its cutting-edge innovation over the past 12 years. Before
launching NEXT/NOW™, Alan built a decades-long career leading creative development for
top-tier clients.
His notable work includes designing the software architecture and interactive elements of the
Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, creating experiential films for the world’s largest video
screen at The Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, and collaborating with LG on interactive
video installations in Times Square. He has also developed large-scale trade show touchscreen
content, pre-visualized content for American Eagle Outfitters’ interactive building in Times
Square, and designed in-store augmented reality kiosks for brands like Target and Axe.
Alan specializes in next-generation interactive installations, multi-touch surfaces, gesture-based
interfaces, real-time video integration, iDevices, and video projection mapping.
12:00 - 12:20 PM
Thursday April 10
SmartTalk! Session - Human-Centric Design in the Age of AI – Finding the Balance
As Artificial Intelligence transforms the retail industry, its potential to enhance customer experiences is still being explored. How can brands integrate AI-driven experiences while preserving the emotional and human aspects that make spaces meaningful? This session will explore how digital innovation, interactive experiences, and human-centric design can work together to create immersive, intuitive and emotionally resonant environments. (SmartTalk! Station #2)
Takeaways:
- Discover how AI can enhance human-centric design rather than replace it
- Learn the importance of keeping digital experiences emotionally engaging and brand authentic
- Understand how AI can be a force multiplier for creative teams