About the puzzles
This whole thing started in 2020—for some reason, I had a lot of extra time that year! I used some of it to figure out exactly how to build and host a street art-themed puzzle event. I called it Philly Street Art Hunt, and I thought it would just be a one-time activation. I simply wanted to give fellow street art lovers a safe, fun way to gather outdoors while supporting local artists.
But several things happened. First, I had a ton of fun designing some absolutely wild puzzles. Second, tickets sold out in one week. And third, the trusting fans who attended that first event had a great time.
So I decided to create another one—in a different neighborhood, with different puzzles and prizes made by different street artists. That one sold out too. And so did the next one.
By 2022, when Philadelphia International Airport came calling about commissioning an art-themed puzzle experience for travelers, I had realized that my aspirations had grown beyond Philly Street Art Hunt. So I became Eric The Puzzler.
Now, I design experiences of all kinds! In addition to crafting my own public events and bookable experiences, I also work with individuals and brands on commissioned and sponsored puzzle projects.
I’ve always got something new cooking. Stick around and feel free to reach out!
Press
Escape Room Dinner Party review by Philly Mag
Profile on Bold Journey
Philly Spycraft Mission in Philadelphia Review
Profile on CBS Philadelphia’s The Heartbeat
Interview on Figure It Out podcast
Keys To Philly and The Philly Treasure Hunt on 6abc Action News
Keys To Philly and The Philly Treasure Hunt in The Philadelphia Inquirer
Pockets Of Light on WHYY
Pockets Of Light on Green Philly
South Philly Mural Escape in South Philly Review
PHL HeART Scavenger Hunt Challenge on 6abc Action News
I submitted a puzzle game to the podcast Hey Riddle Riddle and they made an entire episode out of it! Listen to it here or listen to the “Eric The Puzzler cut” below.
About the man behind the puzzles
When he’s not making you reconsider what a puzzle even is, mild-mannered Eric Dale is self-employed as a one-man creative agency. From graphic design and photography to writing and branding, Eric’s work helps local and national organizations elevate their communications. He’s also lead contributor at Streets Dept, where he’s interviewed more than 30 Philadelphia street artists.
Eric’s hobbies include piano, ceramics, Magic: The Gathering, coin collecting, and talking about that one time he volunteered on a remote atoll for four months.
Passionate about puzzles?
Here are some things you can do to help me grow as Eric The Puzzler:
Tell a friend about my unique, real-world puzzle experiences.
Join my email list, The Puzzle Well, to circumvent the social media algorithms.
Commission a custom experience for someone special.
Just send me a good old-fashioned tip, plain and simple!
Some definitions
It can be difficult to explain what I create—our culture lacks widespread, commonly understood terminology for puzzle-based experience design. So here are some terms that I use and what I mean when I use them.
puzzle: a broad term comprising any number of mechanical, visual, logical, textual, auditory, numeric, or other challenges meant to be solved in order to reveal concealed information.
riddle: a type of puzzle consisting of a statement, question, or phrase, often rhyming, that obscures its true meaning through metaphor, allegory, wordplay, or other obfuscation.
lateral thinking puzzle: a puzzle that requires an indirect or creative approach to solve, often via mental leap.
cipher: a type of puzzle that can be solved algorithmically (i.e. by repeatedly following a series of steps).
code: a system for substituting one set of words or symbols for another set of words or symbols.
cryptex: a hollow, cylindrical compartment that unlocks when the rings around its outside are properly aligned, usually to spell out a password that has been discovered.
adventure: a general term for an exciting activity that takes you somewhere or invites you to accomplish something out of the ordinary.
activation: a temporarily available experience that is incorporated into an existing event or space for the purpose of entertaining, delighting, and engaging visitors or attendees.
scavenger hunt: a list of items to be found or tasks to be completed within a given area and/or timeframe, usually in competition with other participants.
puzzle hunt: a set of related puzzles whose solutions lead to a rewarding conclusion, sometimes by revealing or completing a final metapuzzle.
treasure hunt: a linear sequence of puzzles, challenges, or clues that leads to a hidden reward.
escape game: a cooperative team experience, often with immersive elements, in which players discover clues and solve puzzles to reach a physical or narrative endpoint.
immersive experience: an event or activity that integrates the actions of participants into the fictional environment in which it takes place, usually by bending their perceptions of what is real and what is part of the experience.
alternate reality game: an immersive experience with few physical or temporal boundaries that integrates itself into the real lives of its participants, who often further the narrative by collaborating online.