Nelly Ben Hayoun is a French designer, artist and filmmaker. Born in Valence, Drôme, France, Ben Hayoun now resides in London, United Kingdom. An award-winning director and designer of experiences, she works with scientists and engineers to devise events and experiences. She serves on the Advisory Council of METI and she is the designer of experiences at the SETI Institute. Ben Hayoun is also an exhibitor and keynote speaker who has worked with museums and design centres across the world.
Ben Hayoun collaborated with Kid Cudi, The Avalanches, Sigur Rós, Savages, The Prodigy, Beck, Bobby Womack, Damon Albarn, Maywa Denki, Bruce Sterling and Penguin Café in a musical collaboration that took music into space. Launched from a Japanese launch pad in August 2013, she assembled the International Space Orchestra – the world first orchestra of space scientists from NASA Ames Research Center, Singularity University, International Space University and the SETI Institute.
In 2013, Icon Magazine nominated Ben Hayoun as one of the 50 international designers “shaping the future”.