The Future Of Katapult With Our Co-Founders
As Katapult celebrates 25 years in experience design, co-founders Dawn and Phil are using this milestone to map out what comes next. Having evolved from 1999 club nights to master-planning full-scale resorts, theme parks, and global IP attractions, the agency stands at a pivotal turning point.
The future of Katapult is not about resting on past achievements; it is about leaving an inclusive research legacy, securing the studio’s long-term future for the next generation of creators and reshaping how attraction briefs are written.
#1 Shaping the Industry’s Future Through Research and Leadership
Katapult’s future vision is deeply intertwined with elevating the global attractions sector. A core pillar of this commitment is a landmark PhD study in partnership with the University of Birmingham and Drayton Manor, aimed at setting true neuroinclusive design standards across guest experiences rather than retrofitting surface-level solutions.
Dawn notes that Katapult intends to share this research freely to drive meaningful industry change: "Our goal is to gift that knowledge back to the industry and say, here's the work, here's what we found and people to be able to incorporate that."
Beyond accessibility, the founders are actively shaping tomorrow's leisure landscape through international board leadership, including Phil's work on long-term industry forecasting. Phil sits on the IAAPA 2035 Strategic Vision Task Force, aiming to identify what the industry looks like 10 years in the future.
#2 Securing Long-Term Legacy: Employee Ownership and Beyond
To ensure Katapult thrives in the long-term for decades to come, the founders are looking well beyond their own tenure. Rather than aiming for a traditional corporate exit, Dawn and Phil are actively exploring models like Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT) to protect the agency's culture and empower their team.
Dawn highlights this forward-thinking approach to leadership: "This is where we've started thinking around the legacy around the team... how does this Katapult live beyond us?"
Phil emphasises that the brand's identity extends far beyond its original founders and that they both want to see Katapult continue "to be a happy, amazing place that produces great work, attracts great talent and builds on relationships to find new opportunities.
#3 Writing Our Own Briefs: Proactive Experience Creation
Rather than waiting passively for client briefs to arrive in the studio, Katapult’s future business model relies on proactive concept generation.
By analysing consumer trends, market data, and guest behaviour, the team acts as a central conduit connecting IP holders, investors, and operators to launch entirely new concepts from scratch.
Dawn explains this strategic shift: "Where there is a need for certain things in the world which haven't been developed... we're asking how can we be a real central conduit to making those opportunities happen?"
Follow Our Journey
A final note from the Co-Founders on this interview is an appreciation for every single person who has been part of our 25 year history to date. To every team member, client and partner - thank you.
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