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Everyone Deserves to Love Where they Live

Episode 16

Building Magnetic Spaces Through Place Whispering

In this episode of Smith Lane, we sit down with Stephanie Darden Bennett, President and Chief Creative Officer of Prismatic.


Stephanie describes Prismatic’s mission as "place whispering"— a unique approach to uncovering the hidden potential of spaces. Her team helps developers and owners craft strategic branding, marketing, and user experience concepts to transform ordinary land into places with magnetic appeal.

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Show Summary

In this episode of Smith Lane, we sit down with Stephanie Darden Bennett, President and Chief Creative Officer of Prismatic.


Stephanie describes Prismatic’s mission as "place whispering"— a unique approach to uncovering the hidden potential of spaces. Her team helps developers and owners craft strategic branding, marketing, and user experience concepts to transform ordinary land into places with magnetic appeal.


Stephanie shares highlights from her career, including landing Bank of America as an early client and how her motto, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone,” has driven her success. We also discuss one of her proudest projects, Columbia Parc in New Orleans. Tasked with transforming a post-Katrina neighborhood with a rough reputation into a thriving, mixed-income community, Stephanie and her team redefined its identity. They created an impactful space that still has a waitlist today.


Stephanie also delves into the untapped potential of dormant land. She discusses how leveraging temporary uses — like pop-ups and experiential marketing — can foster community long before a space is fully developed.


This episode explores creative vision, resilience, and the art of transforming spaces into places that matter.


About Stephanie:


Stephanie is a place whisperer. For more than 22 years, she has worked with clients and collaborative teams across the nation to forge compelling place brand and user experience strategies for destinations spanning cities, districts, master planned communities, mixed-use developments, multifamily communities, and more.


Stephanie founded Prismatic in 2002, and since its inception, has cultivated a national reputation for award-winning work and referral-generating results. Led by the belief that creativity absent strategy is malpractice, her rare blend of strategy and creativity has propelled Prismatic’s success and growth into a second office in New Orleans and national clients spanning 36 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.


Stephanie has received numerous awards and tributes for her ability to unite her career in creative arts with solid business acumen. She has been recognized four times by the Orlando Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” honoree and three times as a “Women Who Mean Business” honoree in addition to numerous industry awards.


While her business accomplishments are impressive, it is her imprint on the community that sets her apart. Stephanie created the Greater Good Initiative (>GOOD) in 2008, whereby a portion of all profit at Prismatic is donated to domestic non-profits through in-kind creative services. From mid-2008 to the end of 2023, Prismatic has donated more than $1.6 million in in-kind creative services.


Stephanie is a proud UCF Knight, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from the University of Central Florida and graduating summa cum laude.


Outside of Prismatic, you’ll find Stephanie traveling and enjoying life to its fullest with her husband Vincent, and their kids: Jaxon (20), Tyson (18), and Lulu (14).


Connect with Stephanie:

LinkedIn

Prismatic

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Launching Spring '24

A podcast about community, presented by OnPlace

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