The Global Alchemy

As we close out 2025, here’s one idea that kept showing up in our work across cities and events.

The Kuleshov effect.

It’s a film concept: show the same neutral face, then change the shot beside it, and the audience feels a completely different emotion. The face does not change. Context does.

That is how people experience cities and live events.

A precinct is not judged by one “big moment”. It is judged by the sequence: the walk from transport, lighting and wayfinding, the first 90 seconds, the threshold into the venue, the human interaction when someone needs help.

And the same is true for events.

A brilliant show after a chaotic entry lands differently. A simple food offer after a beautifully paced arrival suddenly feels premium. Even safety messaging can feel supportive or harsh depending on what people experienced in the moments before it.

Innovation is not always new tech or bigger content. Often it is better editing.

Curate the order of moments. Shape perception. Build trust. Create memory.

We have turned this into a short carousel. Have a look and tell us: what was your biggest city or event takeaway from 2025?

Wishing you, your teams, and your communities a safe, restorative and hopeful New Year, whatever you celebrate and however you mark the moment.

Today we joined the NEON Global Forum, an inspiring gathering of creative thinkers, policy makers and industry leaders shaping the future of our night-time economy.

Together with Katrina de Jersey, we connected with Janene Wardrop, Wai Yin, and Victoria Johnson, and caught up with teams from Inner West Council, Liverpool Council, the City of Canterbury Bankstown and Lakemba Nights, plus our friends at AV1, all leading the charge in community activation and placemaking across Greater Sydney.

The Data After Dark session was a standout, exploring how collaboration and shared data between government and industry can transform insight into genuine community and economic impact. We also loved hearing global perspectives from Yoshihito Kamada, Dr Alessio Kolioulis, and Dr Andreina Seijas on building vibrant, inclusive and safe cities after dark.

Huge credit to the NSW Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner for bringing together such a forward-thinking forum. It’s proof that the night-time economy isn’t just about what happens after hours — it’s about connection, creativity and collective impact.