ARG Studio - Brand Experience Design

I design spaces where brands become experiences people remember.

I'm Alexia R. Gardner, a Visual Design and Event Operations Manager with over 15 years of experience creating immersive branded environments for entertainment's most iconic franchises.

My approach starts with the story. Before I think about a space, I think about what the audience should feel when they walk into it. From there, I work backward to find the exact elements, materials, textures, and details that bring that story to life in three dimensions.

With an MFA in Production Design for Film and Television and a BA in Theatre Arts, I trained to see every space as a set and every guest as the audience. That background taught me how to be resourceful, how to find the perfect prop, fabricate the right scenic piece, or source an unexpected material that elevates a concept from good to unforgettable.

Finding the right elements to tell the story.

Every project begins with the narrative. What is the brand saying? What should someone feel the moment they step into the space? Once I understand the story, I become a detective, sourcing the set pieces, materials, and details that make the environment feel authentic and transporting.

I'm known for being resourceful. Whether it's tracking down a specific vintage prop, working with fabricators to create custom scenic elements, or repurposing unexpected materials to achieve a look on budget, I find the pieces that make a space feel real rather than staged. It's the difference between a room that looks like a set and one that feels like you've stepped inside the world of the story.

From initial concept through on-site installation, I stay hands-on, making sure every sightline, every texture, and every moment of discovery serves the larger narrative.

01

Story First

Define the narrative, the emotional arc, and the world the audience will enter.

02

Source & Design

Hunt for the right set elements, materials, and details that make the environment feel authentic. Develop concepts and visual direction.

03

Build & Produce

Coordinate fabrication, vendor management, logistics, and timelines to bring the vision to life on schedule and on budget.

04

Install & Execute

Hands-on, on-site leadership through load-in, installation, and live event execution, refining every detail until the space is exactly right.

What I do

Visual Design

Branded environments and spatial storytelling that translate brand identity into three-dimensional experiences. From concept sketches through on-site installation.

Visual Merchandising

Product displays, retail environments, and branded vignettes that showcase products within immersive, story-driven settings. Connecting consumers to brands through intentional presentation and sensory design.

Production Design

Set design, art direction, and scenic fabrication for events, media moments, press junkets, and photo experiences. Every surface, material, and sightline is intentional.

Event Operations

End-to-end production management covering vendor coordination, logistics, budgets, timelines, and on-site execution for 40+ activations annually across the country.

Immersive Experiences

Transforming venues into story-driven worlds that connect audiences to brands through environmental storytelling and memorable moments.

By the numbers

15+
Years Experience
40+
Activations / Year
5
Franchise Brands
200+
Projects Produced
Disney Pixar Marvel Star Wars 20th Century ABC Studios Disney Parks

Education

MFA, Production Design for Film & Television

Specialized in spatial storytelling, set design, and art direction for screen-based media.

BA, Theatre Arts

Foundation in scenic design, stagecraft, and the art of creating environments that support narrative.

Let's create something together.

Available for freelance, consulting, and full-time opportunities.

Get in Touch