Jo Abbot
RDI, Director, Design Leader, NELSON Worldwide
Jowita Abbott is a Design Director at Nelson Worldwide, where she brings a forward-thinking
approach to retail environments across luxury, department stores, tech, and corporate finance.
Recognized by VMSD’s Designer Dozen, she has led projects for brands such
as Bloomingdale’s, Levi’s, Meta, and Verizon, redefining how spaces connect with people.
Jowita specializes in human-centric design, driven by empathy and innovation. She explores the
intersection of spatial experience and digital integration, pushing the boundaries of immersive
retail design. By seamlessly blending storytelling, technology, and strategic design, she crafts
environments that are intuitive, engaging, and deeply connected to human behavior.
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