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Loic Bizel

Founder & CEO, Lebiz Consulting Tokyo
Loic Bizel is a Tokyo-based expert on Japanese fashion, lifestyle, and luxury retail with nearly three decades of experience tracking consumer trends and behaviors. He began his career as Export Manager for French shoe brands Paraboot, Palladium, and Elizabeth Stuart, where he drove business growth across Asia and established Japan as Paraboot’s top export market. His work included partnerships with leading select shops, department stores, designer collaborations, and strategic PR marketing. In 2001, Loic founded Lebiz Consulting, offering tailored services such as market studies, distributor research, brand strategy, trend forecasting, and retail benchmarking. He is widely recognized for his seasonal fashion trend reports and annual new retail concepts reports, as well as for pioneering innovative ways to connect global brands with the Japanese market.
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Wednesday October 22

Workshop #1 - The Thread That Connects Us (Narragansett Ballroom)

In a world overwhelmed by loneliness, disconnection, deep fakes and radical manipulation, one truth endures – humans need humans to feel human. What is the thread we, as creators of experience, can offer to restore that connection? In this powerful fireside conversation, global leaders Bevan Bloemendaal (BB Creative Consultancy), Loic Bizel (Lebiz Consulting Tokyo) and Mike Roberts (Keane) explore how design is weaving together the physical and emotional, the local and the global, the personal and the communal – proving that the most meaningful spaces aren’t just built; they’re felt. Through a gallery of real-world examples from across the globe spanning retail, hospitality and cultural experience – this session reveals the trends and touchpoints that are shaping emotionally intelligent design. Because the spaces we create aren’t just where people go – they’re where people connect.

Takeaways:
  • Explore how future of design will connect people physically and emotionally
  • Discover how global leaders are designing new experiences in both retail and hospitality 
  • Learn how human connection can be deepened by the built environment