Hospitality Experience Designer & Creative Director

What I Do

Immersive Experience Design

Craft multi-sensory environments for events, exhibitions, hospitality, and public spaces that inspire deep connection and engagement.

Process: Discovery | Concept Design | Installation | Execution

Brand Identity & Marketing Strategy

Develop brand worlds that blend design, storytelling, and strategy. From visual identity to marketing plans, we help clients translate their vision into experiences that resonate.

Process: Brand Strategy | Visual Identity | Marketing Roadmap | Content Direction

AI-Enhanced Storytelling & Visualization

Use AI to design cinematic mood films, concept renders, and interactive prototypes that bring ideas to life before they exist.

Process: AI Concept Films | Spatial Renders | Visual Storytelling | Prototyping

Hospitality & Travel Experience Design

Integrates brand storytelling with architecture, interior design, and sensory systems to create emotionally intentional spaces and guest journeys.

Process: Guest Journey Mapping | Hotel & Resort Design | Wellness & Cultural Programs | Staff Training

Art Residencies & Workshops

Design and facilitate programs that foster artistic collaboration, innovation, and cultural engagement across disciplines.

Process: Program Design | Workshop Facilitation | Artist Engagement | Execution

Wellness & Cultural Program Design

Curate retreats and cultural activations that integrate local traditions, wellness practices, and immersive storytelling for a holistic guest experience.

Process: Program Development | Cultural Integration | Wellness Experiences | Guest Personalization

Projects

Every environment is a conversation between space and psyche. I design for the felt experience—the subtle cues that calm the nervous system, the light that lifts the spirit, the materials that ground us in place.

My work is guided by four principles:

  • Ontological Design

    Spaces shape behavior; behavior shapes culture. Every design choice influences how guests feel and who they become in that space.

  • Biomimicry & Nature's Intelligence

    The natural world is humanity's first teacher. I integrate ecological patterns, flows, and materials to create environments that feel instinctively harmonious.

  • Behavioral & Sensory Science

    Emotional impact happens at the sensory level. Through strategic use of light, scent, texture, acoustics, and spatial rhythm, I craft experiences that resonate without words.

  • Longevity, Wellbeing & Sustainable Futures

    Design choices extend beyond aesthetics — they shape long-term wellbeing. Sustainable materials, slow design principles, and life-enhancing rituals create spaces that support regeneration rather than depletion.

I create spaces that invite connection and evoke wonder. 

With over a decade at the intersection of art, architecture, and behavioural science, I design multi-sensory environments for boutique hotels, wellness resorts, and cultural destinations—where every detail is crafted to evoke wonder, foster connection, and build lasting brand affinity.

My work bridges vision and viability. I collaborate with developers, architects, and operations teams to deliver a complete 360° approach: from concept and brand strategy to spatial design, sensory systems, rituals, staff immersion, and post-opening refinement. The entire guest journey becomes a unified emotional narrative.

This multidisciplinary foundation—grounded in strategic storytelling from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and shaped by experience in film, fine art, interior design, and experiential marketing—allows me to view hospitality through the lens of narrative architecture, where every spatial choice communicates identity and influences behaviour.

Rooted in nature’s intelligence and human psychology, my work draws from biomimicry, ontological design, and multisensory science. I don’t just design spaces—I shape environments that shift perception, deepen presence, and stay with guests long after departure.

My portfolio spans boutique hotels and wellness resorts across Mexico, Morocco, Indonesia, and the Middle East, alongside immersive experiences for festivals, cultural institutions, and transformational travel brands.

Clients come to me when they want more than design—they want a destination that becomes part of their guests’ story.

For your ears

Alongside my work in immersive design, I maintain a fine art practice focused on emotion, ecology, and material storytelling — visit guneleva.art →

Every project is unique, but my process ensures nothing is left to chance. I work alongside your team from day one, integrating brand strategy, spatial design, programming, and operational excellence into a cohesive guest experience.

PROCESS

  • Before any design begins, I immerse myself in your project—understanding not just what you want to build, but why it matters and who it serves.

    What Happens:

    • Stakeholder interviews —

    • Site visits & context analysis

    • Competitive landscape research

    • Guest persona development

    • Project scope definition

  • Translating vision into strategic design direction. With deep understanding established, I develop the brand narrative and conceptual framework that will guide all design decisions.

    What Happens:

    • Brand archaeology

      • Narrative framework development

      • Market positioning strategy

      • Visual identity direction

      • Spatial concept development

      • Guest journey mapping

  • This is where strategy becomes tangible—translating brand narrative into spatial design, sensory systems, programming, and operational details.

  • Ensuring the vision translates seamlessly into reality

    Beautiful concepts mean nothing without flawless execution. I stay actively involved through construction and pre-opening to maintain design integrity.

  • Ensuring long-term success through observation and refinement

    The work doesn't end at opening. I support your team through the critical first months, observing how guests interact with the space and refining details for optimal impact.

Let's Create Something Extraordinary

If you're developing a hotel or resort that aims to be more than just a place to stay—a space that transforms, inspires, and becomes part of your guests' personal narrative—I'd love to explore how we can collaborate.

I also work with cultural institutions, event organizers, and visionary brands seeking immersive experiences that create lasting emotional impact.