Design shapes how we see the world, but what about how we feel it?
Join Wilson Brown and Lilly Pontius-Goldblatt of Antfood, one of the world’s most celebrated music and sound design studios, for a wide-ranging conversation on the untapped power of audio in design and brand. From the earliest instruments humans ever made to the generative tools reshaping creativity today, this talk traces the surprisingly visual, deeply emotional language of sound and what it means for the work we make.
Through real partnerships with brands like Instacart, Jack Daniel’s, CBS, and David Blaine, Wilson and Lilly will unpack how intentional audio elevates visual and motion work, creates brand cohesion, and forges genuine emotional connection with audiences. Most brands still aren’t thinking about sound as part of their identity, this is your invitation to change that.
Whether you work in branding, motion, experiential, or strategy, you’ll walk away with a new lens on the creative process and a few provocations worth carrying into your next project.
About the designers
Wilson Brown is an artist and a creative entrepreneur. He founded and helmed Antfood, one of the most lauded and innovative music and sound design studios on the planet, for over 15 years. His work has been honored at Cannes, Sundance, Annecy, TriBeCa, the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, AICP (& Post), ADC, One Show, D&AD, LIA, AMP, and beyond. Wilson received a B.A in Music Composition and Theory and an M.A. in Experimental Multimedia from Brown University and completed the NYC Mayor’s Office and NYU Stern School of Business’ “Streetwise MBA” program for creative entrepreneurs. In 2011, Wilson received the Art Directors Club’s “Young Guns 9” recognizing the vanguard of creative professionals under 30. He was honored with Boards’ Composer of the Year, and serves on boards and juries in the audio, advertising and design communities, notably serving as the youngest president of the East Coast board of the Association of Music Producers.
Lilly Pontius-Goldblatt is the Head of Strategy at Antfood. A collaborative, interdisciplinary leader with expertise across brand, product, and creative strategy, she brings strengths in creative partnership, research, executive engagement, and business strategy integration. She has worked with brands like Audible, Venmo, Walmart, Google, Lexus, and Yamaha, helping shape brand direction and creative outcomes for high-impact initiatives.
