Rebekah Matheny teaches us how to stop forsaking our senses and create memories that will last a lifetime. Given how ocularcentric our society has become, she fears for the future wondering what will happen if we don't put down our cell phones and take in the world around us. This talk will reconstruct your reality by teaching you how to create sensory memory and see the world through the lens of a designer.

Rebekah L. Matheny has been bridging the design profession and academic environment for 12+ years. She is an assistant professor of interior design at The Ohio State University, where she teaches courses in interior finish materials, lighting design and design studios that integrate retail brand strategy and the storytelling process. Matheny’s research investigates the sensory perception of interior finish materials and their application to create an emotional connection between the person and the place in order to create lasting memories of place. Her research also investigates how materials create an authentic experiential storytelling, particularly for connecting to Millennials and Gen Z. Prior to her appointment at OSU, she practiced in a multidisciplinary retail and brand strategy firm where she collaboratively created retail brand environments for nationally and internationally recognized brands. Matheny holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx