Instagram story viewer> @thekatalysts> Posts

Katrina Lat

@thekatalysts

3.3K

followers

3223

following

Experience Design | Live Music | Travel
... and lots of 📸✍️📊 along the way
Toronto Curator @no_proscenium
📍YYZ + beyond | 🇵🇭 🇨🇦

POSTS STORIES REELS

I rebuilt my portfolio website… and hid a game in it! 🧩

If you explore the site, you’ll learn about some of the projects I’ve been working on - experience design, immersive reviews, public speaking, design frameworks - but you may also encounter a playful (and slightly chaotic) feline friend who desperately needs your help.

It’s called “Pawssword Purrtected: A Portfolio Puzzle”, and it’s a short narrative puzzle adventure that takes 10-20 minutes to complete. (And if you appreciated those puns, buckle up, you’re in for a ride)

Bonus: Those who complete the game before March 31st can enter a draw to win gift cards for some of my favourite immersive experiences, including
- @headlock_escape_rooms' Keeper and the Fungus Among Us / Rise of the Fungi(Remote)
- @masqueradenyc (NYC)
- @revoescape (Toronto)
- @candlehousecollective's Lennox Mutual (Remote)

If you play, tell me how it goes!
If you get stuck, shoot me a message, I’m happy to give nudges!
And if you break something… definitely let me know 😅

(I’m not a web designer, so this was very much a learning experience… but I had an absurd amount of fun building it!)

And a great big shoutout to @localkristine for doing illustrations on this project. I can't wait for y'all to meet the character (cat-racter?) we've created.

Some advice to get you started? The trailhead is on the About/Home page. Look out for “secrets and puzzles”.

🔗 Link in bio to play (best experienced on desktop)

#Portfolio #ExperienceDesign #immersive #interactivestorytelling by @thekatalysts

Morcheeba | Iceland Secret Solstice 2019

@morcheebaband was hands down my favourite performance of @secretsolstice.

Beautiful visuals, and beautiful sounds. Skye Edwards is an otherworldly fantastical and fantastically otherworldly frontwoman.

Shot for @liveinlimbo

#morcheeba #skye #skyeedwards #secretsolstice #summersolstice #iceland #reykjavik #musicphotography #concert #concertphotography #musicfestival #livemusicphotography #press #secretsolsticefestival #secretsolstice2019 by @thekatalysts

2025 was a special one.

The experiences featured here include --

Things that made me FEEL:
@themckittrick @itsmedoloris @portofentrychicago
@sleepnomoreseoul @alonggoodbyevr @theatre.conspiracy @expo2025.ukraine @hotelveloria @appleseedavenue @teamlab @harrymilasmagic @anemoia_tokyo

Things that filled me with awe:
@teamlabkyoto @sailormoon_thesuperlive @masqueradenyc @naoshimaisland @tenderclaws @velaslavasay @fe01_official @drea_m_achine @borderliveconcepts @forteiland.pampus @strangebirdimm @sherlocked @darkmatterberlin @gamcheonculturevillage @artclubhtx @theneofuturists

Incredible places to stay:
@templestay @wildheartranch_joshuatree @mifuneyama_rakuen_hotel @mcmenamins_anderson_school

Some escape rooms:
@escaparium @baron.beeckman @darkpark.nl @letriangle_escapegame @real_escape_game_in_japan @pandore_escape

A few bucketlisters:
@itchy_o @labiennale @expo2025japan @apolloamateurnight @efteling @ontroerend_goed @novelty_automation @puydufou @mit.puzzle.club

Some favourites I returned to:
@knottsberryfarm @phantompeakuk @magiccastlehollywood @greatgothamchallenge

A few of my fav things in Toronto:
@sweetactiontheatre @revoescape @concretecabarettoronto @eldritchtheatre @luminatofestival

Friends' work!
@aprilsoetarman @liminalassembly @risapuno @jfiproductions @ikantkoan @asses.masses @goblins_everywhere @cleopatrickband @lockwoodimmersive

Creative projects I got to work on/with:
@goodnightsunriseband @trampolinehall @extraordinary_college

Conferences:
@worldsinplay @pushfestival @narrascope @xpgamesummit @vrtoronto @iaapahq @fitc @immersiveexporg @sxsw @realityescapeconvention

Some live music:
@blackpinkofficial @lawrencetheband @chilly_gonzales @official_god0113 @mychemicalromance @halfaliveco @gurriersband

Classes:
@ukaiprojects @cdnspeedpuzzlers @thirdrailprojectsnyc

Things that got me outside of my comfort zone:
@panik_room @culture_expo @immersive_fort_tokyo @activategames @entered.rlg berghain_panoramabar

And places where I stumbled upon joy:
@witheverland @nbnescaperooms @meowwolfhouston @billybirdhemelrijk @hornimanmuseumgardens

#YearInReview #EndOfYear #2025Recap #Immersive #ExperienceDesign by @thekatalysts

Himmel Unter Berlin // Brocken - Yasuhiro Chida | Oct 2026

"I should have brought my camera with me" I lamented aloud roughly 87x throughout the course of exploring the art-filled wreckage that is @himmelunterberlin.

It's definitely easier to be present without 2kg of camera gear around your neck, but in moments like this I can't help but mourn The Photos That Could Have Been.

Sometimes, the best camera is the one you have on you at the time:📱

Thank you to Maja, @victormilton and @fridayminds for "modeling" in front of my (phone) lens, and an extra special shout-out to @thomaslievestro for bringing us to this magical, magical place.

#himmelunterberlin #immersiveart #berlín by @thekatalysts

Played my first ever LRG ("live reality game") this weekend - The Protagonist Live.

I was "revised" out of the competition at the end of Day 1, but voted winner of the "Innovate" and "Strategy" awards by my fellow competitors thanks to a sneaky (but totally above board - I double checked!) move I pulled during the Day 2 "battle back" round.

For a gal who's never watched an episode of Survivor / Big Brother / The Traitors in her life, I'm pleased as punch. (Now, imagine how much more powerful I'll be once I start "studying" hehehe 🔥)

Big shoutout to my fellow competitors, @josephotoole @iambsquaredb2 @linkin0ne @kaylamcqueen @thegrumster @nelsuhnv @mzack101 @rinobonsignore @radissenr @betterbwright @scooterhorseman + EXTRA big shoutout to @shayna86 and @samframm, the winner and runner-up respectively of The Protagonist Live S1 ✨ It was so lovely playing with you all (and getting stabbed in the back by half of you 😅)

A great big thank you to @ofawcett @acheung0618 @gr8ergoodgames for producing an incredible game. I've had so many people tell me that I'm simultaneously incredibly lucky and incredibly unlucky to have such a stellar and expertly run game be my first because now I'll have such a high bar of comparison!

Aaaaand Shuai / @gr8ergoodgames you're getting an extra shoutout. I'd be completely oblivious to this world if not for you. Thank you for sharing it with me 🥰

It's always such a pleasure exploring new avenues of the immersive world... (and realizing that maybe you're not as terrible at tangram puzzles as you thought! 🤓)

#lrg #immersive #liverealitygame by @thekatalysts

Bringing the world to EEMAGINE 2026. 🌍

EEMAGINE 2026 welcomed an exceptional line up of international voices, bringing fresh perspectives, global expertise and new possibilities to the Indian events and entertainment industry.

From Katrina Lat, Experience Designer, Toronto, whose perspective on use of tech in events; to Hannah Connolley, Owner & CEO, Couture Events Worldwide, bringing her global experience in creating extraordinary celebrations; and Matthew Bennett, Senior Creative Director Immersive Storytelling, London, who explored the power of immersive experiences each speaker added a distinct dimension to the EEMAGINE conversation.

Their ideas crossed borders, challenged conventions and reminded us that the future of experiences is truly global.

Thank you for making EEMAGINE 2026 a meeting point for ideas from around the world. by @thekatalysts

How much technology does a great experience really need?

At EEMAGINE 2026, Katrina Lat, Experience Designer, Toronto, took the audience through Connecting Creativity, exploring the spectrum of High Tech, Medium Tech, Low Tech and No Tech, and how each can play a role in creating meaningful experiences.

The session challenged the idea that technology always has to be at the centre, exploring how creativity, context and human connection can determine when technology adds value and when simplicity can be the more powerful choice.

📍 ITC Grand Chola, Chennai
📅 9 August 2026 by @thekatalysts

Toronto brains. Chennai vibes. One wildly inventive experience designer.

Katrina Lat is landing at EEMAGINE 2026 with ideas that turn events into universes and audiences into superfans.

If your creativity has been feeling “meh”, this is your upgrade.

07 – 09 August 2026
ITC Grand Chola, Chennai

Spots are limited, Register now https://www.eemaindia.com/eemagine

Wild ideas are not. by @thekatalysts

I started a Newsletter! 🙀

In the past, so many friends have asked me whether I had a blog or newsletter documenting my adventures. Usually, I direct folks to my social media channels, but considering how much of my posting ends up becoming slightly verbose "later-gramming", I figured it was time.

Only one intro post up there so far, but there are a few pieces I'm mulling over... and I have some really exciting adventures on my calendar over the next few months. ✨

Expect musings on travel, immersive, culture, business models, experience design, and whatever else happens to pique my interest. Sometimes a little silly, oftentimes a little over-thinky. Like a memoir in real-ish time (depending on how diligent I am with keeping up with things!)

I'd love to have you along the ride 🚂

(Link in Bio!)

📷: teamLab Ruins and Heritage: Rinkan Spa | @enigmida

#immersive #experiencedesign by @thekatalysts

Joji + Nate Sib | Scotiabank Arena | Jun 2026

Oh, hey there photo pit, long time no see 👋🏻

Wild to think that it's been 6 months since I last photographed a show ... And a whole 3 years since I shot at this venue 🤯

Felt really good getting back in there. Happy to report that I wasn't the least bit rusty (though, last night the lights were bright and the pit was spacious, so we had a lot to work with!)

Shot for @aestheticmagazine

#joji #natesib #musicphotography #concertphotos #livemusic by @thekatalysts

✅ 1,000 immersive experiences

This past weekend, I experienced Lost & Found, the wonderful new "open world puzzle adventure" by @secretcityadventures which will officially go on record as my 1,000th immersive experience.

That’s a whole lot of onboarding speeches, pre-show emails, waivers, mysterious envelopes, secret passageways, blacklight reveals, eerie masks, whispered instructions, one-on-ones, jump scares, cursed artifacts, fake cults (mom and dad, I swear I’m not *actually* in one), bruised limbs, and at least one exorcism.

I’ll make another post digging into the data side of things (because 1,000 experiences makes for a pretty great sample size) but for now, I want to revel in the wonder, friendship, and growth I’ve experienced over these 1000 lives.

And because no one gets to 1,000 experiences alone, shoutout to:

• Exit Game in Rotterdam, Netherlands - my very first immersive experience (as of last year, the building is now the site of a poke restaurant... but hey, a lot changes in 12 years!)

• @jlat28 and @heytyleraustin for being my earliest escape room buddies, and continuing to be some of my favourite people to get locked in rooms with today.

• @julien.delphes for telling me I absolutely must go to this niche show called "Sleep No More" while I was in NYC and to @ciindee.lou.who for venturing into the unknown of it all with me.

• @enigmida, @meowy_meowington, @eidolenne, @smadar_sk, @caramandel for exploring so many strange and wonderful worlds with me over the past few years.

• The team at @no_proscenium & @immersiveexporg - @areyouthatguy for taking a chance on a passionate Torontonian, and to @kathrynyu for being my immersive guardian angel.

• @deirdrevlyons and @stephengbutchko for being the very first “industry people” I ever befriended. What a lovely group of humans to have as my introduction to this world.

• @shawn_puck and @jameswallman for giving me platforms to share some of the research I’ve gathered along the way.

And finally, to @tinasantiago and @eelumir - my friends, mentors, fellow Torontonians + Filipinos - it felt deeply special that my 1,000th experience was a piece you created.

Here's to 1,000 more! by @thekatalysts

Last month, I travelled to the UK to speak at @worldxo_org London Experience Week.

(I’ve since been told my talk was one of the best attended and most insightful sessions of the week... other folks’ words, not mine, I swear!!)

I’m doing two online encore presentations tomorrow for the WXO Campfire series:
• Wed May 27 | 09:55 UK / 10:55 EU / 16:55 SHA / 18:55 SYD
• Wed May 27 | 09:55 PT / 12:55 ET / 17:55 UK / 18:55 EU

Which, considering the first session starts at *4AM* Toronto time, leaves me with a very important logistical decision...

Do I:
A) Stay up until 4 a.m., present, then power nap til noon? 😴
B) Sleep early and become an extreme early bird for one morning? 🐦
C) Caffeinate and power through it all? ☕

Either way, I’m very excited to dive back into this topic and continue the conversation with more folks from around the world. Hope to see you there! by @thekatalysts