Zeitgeist Design & Production, the creator of UX-IRL: User eXperiences In Real Life, is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2025. Over the past decade and a half, the company has evolved into a world leader in themed entertainment design and production, remaining independent, with its founders personally involved in every aspect of every project.
Since 2010, Zeitgeist has conceived and master planned over a dozen theme parks around the globe, along with countless dark rides, thrill rides, walk-through attractions, multimedia attractions, Halloween mazes, museums, resorts, family entertainment centres, events, cruise ship experiences, and much more.
Emphasising its namesake ability to “tap into the zeitgeist,” the company’s concepts and designs honour contemporary trends and fashions with the intention of “going viral.” They leverage cutting-edge technologies to create magic, all while remaining rooted in timeless theatricality, storytelling, and the capacity to evoke genuine emotions.
A passion for storytelling
From first grade onward, founder Ryan Harmon has been crafting stories and songs, designing experiences, and guiding teams through the production process from concept to opening day.
Initially, it was a group of childhood friends on his neighbourhood cul-de-sac that held live performances in each other’s garages; he created a mail-order book club of his handwritten stories and sketches that he sold to his grandparents; he wrote and directed theatrical productions in his high school drama class; and he built a multi-attraction arcade in his bedroom for his two younger brothers.
Decades later, Harmon leads a talented team of experiential designers, master planners, illustrators, writers, architects, technical directors, estimators, and other skilled professionals dedicated to his steadfast commitment to turning human aspirations, intellectual properties, historical and cultural stories, and unique characters into tailored UX-IRL – User eXperiences In Real Life.
See also: Emotion is key: Zeitgeist Design & Production on successful experiences
An expert team
Zeitgeist’s clientele includes prominent developers such as Chimelong Group, Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, Miral, MNC Group, Herschend Family Entertainment, Hersheypark, United Parks/SeaWorld, SEVEN/Qiddiya, Evergrande, and Caruso Affiliated.
The company collaborates with numerous IP holders, including the BBC and Titanic, global brands like Warner Bros., celebrities like M. Night Shyamalan and Dr Phil, and many “rich people with a dream”.
Between 2018 and 2024, Zeitgeist acted as the sole design team for China’s Chimelong Group, collaborating closely with TEA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Su Zhigang to plan new parks and areas.
The team enhanced Chimelong’s Safari Park, Paradise Park, Ocean Kingdom, Forest Park, and the Chimelong Spaceship with engaging, story-driven attractions while also developing new experiences for Chimelong hotels as well as for an undeveloped hilltop overlooking the gambling hub of Macau.
Harmon’s Disney roots have attracted many former Imagineers to the Zeitgeist team. Disney icon Joe Lanzisero partnered with Harmon in 2018 and has been the EVP of art direction since.
Other significant contributors include ex-Imagineers Tom Morris, Chris Runco, and Terry Palmer, along with former TEA president Roberta Perry and ex-Rockette Beckie Kiefer, Zeitgeist’s studio director for over a decade. Former Imagineers Richard Vaughn, Laine Dunham-White, Ben Tripp, Liz Richards, Valerie Johnson-Redrow, Gordon Hoopes, and Steve Tatham have also been involved in Zeitgeist projects.
The Spirit of Time
Harmon, Lanzisero, and Kiefer are producers and on-air personalities of The Spirit of the Time Zoomcast. This live monthly online show invites industry leaders to explore key career moments, unravelling what makes a guest experience timely yet timeless.
Since its launch in 2022, the Zoomcast has been viewed by tens of thousands globally. It has showcased renowned time travellers such as Tony Baxter, Joe Rohde, Bob Ward, Ali Rubenstein, Rick Rothschild, Bob Rogers, Phil Hettema, Eddie Sotto, Jack Rouse, Craig Hanna, and Craig Russell, along with 35 other fascinating personalities who share their insights and stories from their experiences.
The Zeitgeist team is gearing up for the next 15 years of collaboration with innovative clients worldwide. Recently, it master-planned and designed a theme park and water park resort in Paraguay, developed engaging experiences for the first US zoo to be built in the last 25 years, created a multi-level immersive area on one of the world’s largest cruise ships, and crafted new interactive environments for a well-known Hollywood studio tour.
An exciting time
“It’s a very exciting time to be in the experiential entertainment industry,” says Harmon. “Every developer, every studio, every brand, and even celebrities are anxious to establish their own location-based product. Technology now allows us to do things we couldn’t have even imagined when we started the company.
“I’m so thankful to all of our clients over the past 15 years, and to all of the friends and colleagues who have helped Zeitgeist achieve its reputation for originality, excellence, and the highest of ethics.”
“Working with Zeitgeist for the past six years has been an amazing experience,” adds Lanzisero. “Ryan has been successful throughout his career – and especially over the past 15 years — because he’s an amazing writer, producer, and creative director; he’s honest; he wears many hats; and he knows so many incredibly talented people that he can cast the perfect team in an efficient and cost-effective way. It’s been a blast so far!”
“Ryan has taught me so much over the past dozen years,” says Kiefer. “I’ve stepped off the proverbial stage and enjoyed the ability to get involved in world-class projects from the blank sheet of paper to witnessing guests enjoying what we designed and produced.
“I feel like we’re in the business of making happiness and manufacturing memories. I don’t think anyone can possibly do it any better than Zeitgeist does.”
Harmon adds: “This is my 37th year of doing what I was born to do. The only difference between what I do now and what I did as a kid is that now I have real budgets to play with and millions of guests vs. a dozen or two.
“Oh, and my mom no longer calls me home for dinner when the sun goes down. I like to work late.”
