In this episode of Sensorship, I sit down with Pigalle Tavakkoli, founder of the School of Experience Design and author of The Experience Design Building Blocks, to explore a question many of us eventually face:

What if the success you’re chasing isn’t actually the one you want?

Pigalle shares her deeply personal journey, from dreaming of becoming an actress, to building a successful fashion label, to walking away from it at its peak after realizing that external recognition, visibility, and financial success didn’t bring the fulfillment she expected.

We dive into:

• burnout and the reality behind “making it”
• how identity can become tied to work — and how to break that link
• what it means to redefine success on your own terms
• the power of non-linear career paths
• how experience design creates meaning, emotion, and lasting impact

Pigalle also shares the turning point that led her to reinvent herself as an experience designer, bridging art, science, and storytelling, and how years of intuitive practice evolved into a structured methodology now captured in her book.

This conversation goes beyond career advice. It’s about purpose, alignment, and designing a life that feels right, instead of one that just looks successful from the outside.

If you’ve ever questioned your path, felt the pressure of traditional definitions of success, or are searching for more meaningful work, this episode is for you.

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