lessons from sxswi 2011

1. Example with a full-bleed image
SXSWi
March 11-15 2011
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2. SXSWi
5 days of non-stop talks, panels, meet
ups, booths, shows and parties among
designers, developers, artists, educators, journalists, f
ilm makers, musicians, strategists, business and
social entrepreneurs in Austin, TX.
Best part for me was the energy and stimulation;
getting to learn about other areas, thinking laterally
and seeing what I can apply.
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3. Five take-aways

4. 1
The Game Layer will be built in the next decade like the Social
Layer was built in the last.
The social layer framework is Facebook. It owns the digital representation of
social connections for 500 million people and has an open graph protocol so
when you want to build on the social layer you build with Facebook. The
game layer traffics in influence of individual motivation vs. social
connections. It has the potential to be 10x more influential on our lives.
Impacting our daily routines, what we buy and where we go.
See: Seth Priebatsch
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5. 2
The gap between the physical and the virtual world is closing.
The virtual world will become more life-like. The physical world will become
more virtual-like. The computer in your pocket will act as a bridge or
translator between these worlds until there is a more seamless interface. For
example, digital contact lenses are currently being developed at MIT.
See: #ARSXSW
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6. 3
A higher order purpose is critical.
You have to be about something people can get behind. This came up in the
context of a User Experience talk but was echoed elsewhere too. Why an
organization does what they do; the change they are trying to manifest in the
world is crucial to articulate and propagate. The clearer the purpose, the
clearer the product. The more focused your people will be. The more satisfied
your customers will be. And the better your UX will be.
See: #rhjr_ux5
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7. 4
Brands have to rethink marketing.
From how to do it, to what it even is. Everything is marketing. Brands must
be willing to experiment, start smaller and be more nimble. The era of year
long marketing plans are over. Brands must be able to react faster. Social
should be an overlay to everything brands do, not another channel. This
requires a human voice that’s in the moment.
See: #brandjo, #realtime, #dinnerparty, #funnyontwitter
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8. 5
Fuck your hats.
Everyone in a start-up plays multiple roles. Everyone should feel responsible
for the product. Creation makes you vulnerable and requires empathy with
your audience. Have faith in yourself. There is no “right” way. Work harder.
Launch and learn. Be kind to one another. Business is about relationships.
See: #startup, Jason Cohen
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9. What to search on Twitter
#ARSXSW (augmented reality)
#realtime (real time marketing)
#sxsw (SX general)
#sxswi (SX interactive)
#sxsw_edu (technology’s impact/role in ed)
#dinnerparty (social media mannerisms)
#critthink (critical thinking)
#rhjr_ux5 (User Experience)
#funnyontwitter (social media tone/voice)
#brandeddoc (branded documentaries)
#startup (lean start up)
#brandjo (JWT Brand Journalism)
#talkingcure (Clay Shirky)
#betterdesign (Designers and developers)
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10. Additional Resources
SXSW Reviews
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/15/sxsw-2011-internet-online?cat=technology&type=article
http://j.mp/gXoG5A (Edward Boches, ECD at Mullen)
More on Games
Seth Priebatsch: Gamification& Location Stuff (LBS) at SXSW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZvcUgi8Hso
Jesse Schell – game aficionado
http://fora.tv/2010/07/27/Jesse_Schell_Visions_of_the_Gamepocalypse
Helpful blog on games
http://www.gamesbrief.com/2011/03/the-ten-rules-of-gamification/
Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world
http://on.ted.com/90fm
Marissa Mayer - Location, location, location! (And Google)
http://www.youtube.com/sxsw#p/a/C3A543A21EEB969B/1/TIwzbZq5uyY
Clay Shirky on the SXSW Keynote Stage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLsnEbY62nk&feature=related
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