Onwards to Austin - Isobar at SXSW

We’re headed to Austin, and not just for BBQ…though they’ll be plenty of that too.

SXSW is quickly approaching and we’re getting excited for all the conference has to offer this year.  Here’s a sneak peak of what the team at Isobar is most looking forward to heading into one of the biggest innovation festivals of the year.

Rohan Lightfoot, Coke Global Client Partner 

"As a SXSW newbie I’m somewhat intimidated by the sheer scale and diversity in the schedule, although I guess that’s a huge part of what makes it SXSW.  Where else would it be possible to see Ray Kurzweil, the CIA, FBI, Bob Odenkirk and Sammy Hagar all within the same event?  There’s a whole bunch of governmental content in the schedule and I’m particularly interested to hear how (and whether) governmental organisations are using technology to improve the everyday lives of their citizens."

Tim Dunn, Director of Strategy

"SXSW has in the past often been characterised as a bunch of Millennial agency types running around Austin chasing the latest ‘shiny new thing’. However, last year I felt a change in the air. There was no ‘breakout app’, no awesome VR thing to become the must-see experience, and no huge tech revolution making huge promises. Instead there was a more urgent undercurrent about how new technology might be used to address the serious issues that we face, which, with recent events in mind, are likely to become more serious than ever."

"With this in mind, I am looking forward to SXSW this year addressing issues such as workforce automation, digital activism, and the future of media when social networks help blur the line between opinion and fact so effectively. So I’ll be lining up to see Vint Serf, Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist; CNN’s Van Jones; and Will Roper, who heads the Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office. And, of course, there’s John Cena there too…"

Brian Gield, Associate Creative Director 

"At CES 2017, many emerging technologies were ready for their close-up. As a copywriter, I’m very interested in learning how to use these innovations to craft a story well told. So I look forward to the SXSW panels that discuss how to apply storytelling to these new technologies, how to produce engaging, cinematic VR narratives, meaningful AR experiences, data-driven, shareable stories and so on."

Elizabeth Alcott, Account Director 

"Of course I am excited to see Julia Louis-Dreyfus speak, and to learn about the latest in VR. But what I’m really excited about is the possibilities for SXSW – the random connection, the spark of an idea, the “what if” moment. We often begin new engagements with the question “what if…” and that’s exactly how I plan to approach my time at SXSW this year. Not with the goal of finding an answer, but of discovering the start of a question. To locate the spark of an idea in the intersection of technology, creative, and business. Who will I meet there?  What connections will be made and what new ideas will be discovered?  That is what I am most excited about."

Kevin Kempis, Associate Creative Director

"As the digital arena becomes more physical (thanks to the likes of IOT, wearables, and AR/VR), and smarter (cognitive language systems, and Big Data) the way we perceive narratives moves into unknown territory. Effectively changing the way we tell stories, consume information, and engage with brands as a whole. Experiential Storytelling & AI will be at the centre of this and what I’ll be concentrating on most during the festival."

Key Sessions:

• This Is Your Brain On Story: Neuroscience+The Moth

• Beacons and the Smart Cities of Tomorrow

• Ethically-Aligned Design: Setting Standards for AI

Tami Miller, Digital Project Manager 

"SXSW prides itself in being a collaborative and diverse meeting of the minds. Diversity of thought is a key component to workplace success, regardless of the field you are in. Your brand, your company and your everyday life is that much more interesting, well-rounded and respected when you glean insights from those outside your immediate circle. At SXSW you are stretched to connect intellectually and personally to people who may have a different viewing lens which will challenge you to increase your own creative thought process. "

Sessions of interest:

• Michigan Modern: Design That Shaped America. I cannot wait to dive into Michigan’s design legacy and understand how this helped to shape the world of digital marketing I am a part of today. 

• Design Sprits for Social Good. How can I change my current processes in order to make my projects as effective and timely as possible?  

• How Machine Learning Impacts Application Design. Are chatbots all the rage? Will Artificial Intelligence dictate the way companies look to develop and expand their digital capabilities and offerings?

Of course we all know SXSW is jam packed with an overwhelming amount of good content, so more than anything, we’re all excited to see where the trip takes us and what the unforgettable moments of the 2017 event will be.