Think, Feel, Do: CatRad’s Secret to Impactful Events

Ever been to an event that felt like it was only made for Instagram?

There were cute backdrops and the cocktails were color-coordinated but after you snapped a few pics, you weren’t really sure what to do. You probably stood around awkwardly, waited a polite 45-minutes, and then dipped out.

That gap between style and substance is all too common in the event space, and Catherine Radachi Chumley, the founder of CatRad Creative, is here to close it.

CatRad Creative builds experiences around impact, not just aesthetics. For every event Catherine and her team bring to life, she applies the “Think, Feel, Do” framework. It sounds simple — and it is — but it’s also a surprisingly powerful tool for creating events that guests deeply resonate with. 

What is "Think, Feel, Do"?

Catherine first bumped into the “Think, Feel, Do” framework when she was an instructional designer at Microsoft. She used it to create trainings that she delivered to hundreds of staff members within the company.

Even after leaving Microsoft, the framework stuck with her. In fact, it was similar to something she’d seen modeled by her mom — the kind of host who knew instinctively that offering a plush guest towel instead of a flimsy napkin could shape someone’s entire experience. She didn’t just add a detail to add a detail — she did it to bring to life the intention of the events she hosted.

The framework asks three questions. At the end of your event…

• Think:
  What do you want your guests to think?
• Feel:
  How do you want them to feel?
• Do:
  What’s the call to action for your guests — what do you want them to do once they leave?

“You’re not hosting an event just for the sake of hosting — there’s always a deeper meaning,” Catherine said. “Whether it’s celebrating a milestone in your life or aiming for a professional goal, your event has a purpose. Once you’ve defined what it is, we can make sure every detail drives your guests in that direction.

It sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly rare to approach events in this way.

“Too many people focus on how an event looks,” Catherine shared. “And of course, I want it to look great too. But in order to make the biggest impact, we need to ask: what’s the purpose and the meaning behind what we’re doing?”

Catherine isn’t just there to execute ideas — she’s there to help you build an experience that goes far beyond aesthetics.

“I’m going to help you think about it differently.”

Think, Feel, Do in action

Once you define the pieces of the framework, every choice Catherine makes as an event planner is grounded in it.

Here’s what the framework looks like in action:

Example 1: A small business pop-up event

Let’s say you run a brick-and-mortar shop, and you’re hosting a store grand opening. Your framework might look something like:

• Think:
  I want my guests to think that our brand is really high-quality.
• Feel:
  I want my guests to feel like they had a great time.
• Do:
  I want my guests to follow our store on Instagram and purchase some of our products.

The CatRad team takes this foundation and turns it into action. If you want your guests to follow you, she’s going to make sure there’s a QR code on every table. She’s also going to make sure samples of your best products are front and center, and that your staff is warm, welcoming, and engaged.

Example 2: A birthday weekend for moms of toddlers

Maybe you’re a mom looking to recharge with your friends for your birthday. Here’s how you might approach the framework:

• Think:
  I want my guests to think it was worth taking time out of their busy schedule to come to my party.
• Feel:
  I want my guests to feel cared for, seen, and pampered.
• Do:
  I want my guests to reminisce about how wonderful this experience was.

CatRad’s hosted an event just like this. She brought in in-house staff to handle wine refills, organized workshops that didn’t require leaving the house, and created intentional moments of rest so the moms could truly kick their feet up and relax.

It’s not about a spa theme or a flowery backdrop. Catherine and her team it’s about the actual experience.

Intentional events that actually resonate

At the end of the day, CatRad’s events work because they’re built on a strong foundation.

Events are full of moving parts, and not everything always goes according to plan — but when every detail is grounded in purpose, the impact remains long after the last guest leaves.

“Let’s not lose sight of the actual reason for the event,” Catherine says. “The goal might be to collect contact info, build loyalty, or simply make your guests feel special. Your event will be beautiful — but it also has to make an impact.”

If you’re over only-for-Instagram events, this is the framework (and the company) you want in your corner. To learn more about how CatRad Creative can reimagine your personal or professional events, schedule a quick phone call with Catherine and her team.