Sensory & Design You Can Feel - Without Overstimulation or Spec Overload.

I obviously have to start this article by saying it’s meant to be about an experience. I will talk about the ASUS Zenbook event I attended — but what would my writing be without the usual chaos and sidetracks that make me, well, me?

I don’t really enjoy attending brand events. I think I have too much PASD (Post-Agency Stress Disorder) to genuinely enjoy the things I used to stress over. And honestly, I don’t leave my bubble — because when you need a passport to get to the corner of Winnie Mandela Drive and Peter Place, it’s too far. Unless I’m turning right into Takealot, anything beyond that never-working robot isn’t happening.

That said, I do appreciate these events — especially as someone who used to be on the other side. I know the stress and planning that goes into crafting a few hours of entertainment for people pretending to be fabulous to their 40k followers. It’s hard work, and I respect the detail and dedication.

The last time I doubted something, it showed me flames and humbled me real quick. So when ASUS invited me to their Zenbook event — yes, the same laptop that had me rethinking who I am and what I do — I didn’t even try to find an excuse. I RSVP’d yes. My Longchamp (the one that holds my life together) and I took a trip to the beautiful Nirox Sculpture Park, giving me plenty of time on Beyers Naudé to overthink, spiral, and mentally prepare for a room full of people who probably speak fluent tech jargon.

The event, Design You Can Feel, was something I couldn’t — and wouldn’t — miss. When I wrote about the experience of using a non-Mac laptop and genuinely wished they’d let me keep it, I realised I’d happily say yes to anything this brand invited me to. The rest? Far too corporate for me. ASUS fits my style — aesthetic and experience over RAM, always. I was ready for another long talk about battery life (that won’t last), AI integration (that overwhelms me), and all the reasons I should care but usually don’t.

But ASUS is different. That laptop still makes me rethink what a Windows experience could be. And honestly, their marketing team? Probably the kindest and most thoughtful I’ve encountered lately. (And I’ve seen things in this industry — which is probably why I now prefer panic-buying bagels and spilling coffee on customers.)

Nirox is beautiful. Every time I arrive, I feel this strange sense of peace. It’s modern. It’s wholesome. It’s very… me. And in true Max fashion, I entered awkwardly, trying not to overstimulate myself into an anxiety attack in the bathroom. I kept to myself, overthinking how to take content that makes me look cool — something I gave up on a long time ago.

Low-key, I was still expecting a boring presentation. But ASUS gave me a day built on the things I love. And no — they’re still not paying me to talk about them. I don’t ever want them to. I genuinely think they’re special, and they’re doing something I really admire — which isn’t easy.

We started at the smell station — a sensory experience that took me back to everything from my childhood to the home I’m still trying to convince my parents to let me move back into. (They haven’t said yes. Yet.) I’m all about scent. I dream of the day I have a house that smells like peace and happiness. I walk into my parents’ house and have to take a moment to just breathe it in. That smell — calm, warm, safe — resets me. (They’re also my best friends, so maybe it’s that.) But I felt something similar that day. That grounding moment. That small joy. And yes, I now have a list of diffusers I need to sneak past my husband.

The event was small, calm, and — let’s be honest — beige. (Not basic beige. Boujee beige. There’s a difference.) Which is my aesthetic. You could put trash in a beige bin and I’d fall in love. I still wasn’t sure when the “tech talk” would begin, but it never really did. Instead, ASUS gave us a calm, intentional day. A story about their brand. A few moments with their laptops. And a chance to just… experience and feel.

And I was impressed. From their two-screen powerhouse (very cool, but not for me — I like things simple) to their sleek Zenbook, the range was elegant, thoughtful, and quietly brilliant. That Zenbook still makes me smile. It’s the kind of product that doesn’t scream for attention, but lives beautifully in your world.

I love a brand that doesn’t try to be everything, but focuses on being something. Something real. ASUS nails that. There was no hard sell about RAM or storage. No lecture on battery life or apps I’ll never download. Just a moment of pure, quiet appreciation — the same feeling I had the first time I touched the Zenbook pouch. ASUS gives us more of what we want, and less of the noise we can find on YouTube.

As I drove off (on my way to CrossFit, of course), I didn’t feel drained. I didn’t moan about wasting my day. I didn’t race home to catch up on emails. I just… felt calm. Real. Connected. I had more to say about that one event than I’ve ever had to say about a two-hour product presentation.

ASUS, you just get it.

You’re the kind of brand people either know, or don’t. And the ones who know? They get it too. You’re redefining how brands connect. No pretence. No fluff. No arrogance. Just calm, clever, quietly brilliant experiences. And somehow, I got to experience my first ASUS moment all over again. I hope I never lose that feeling — because you do it right.