Fixing Conferences
I just a read a great article from Fast Company — Fixing Conferences: Six Lessons From the Designers Accord Summit by Valerie Casey. I love how the article starts:
I’ve realized that I can’t stand conferences. To me, conferences are akin to watching television without Tivo, or going to AAA to get a triptik instead of mapping a journey on Google. Conferences are an old workhorse model–a mix of passive consumption and fluorescent lighting–that is at odds with the seeds of inspiration they are supposed to inspire.
I often feel this way at events.
The observations that Valerie makes brought up all kinds of ideas for me and I think can be applied to many gathering settings. Some quick thoughts:
- The deep need for face to face connections – perhaps absent of technology so we can be more engaged and present?
- they structured their event around the contribution of each person – the “content” was brainstorm sessions, not presentations by experts on a stage
- people want to give their time to solve problems together through dialogue.
- loved this: “Perhaps relegating partners and sponsors to exhibition spaces and NASCAR-like thank you slides might not be the best use of their brainpower and reach.” I think we often underestimate and underutilize how creative and powerful people are that attend our events. What would it look like if planned like we believed in their creative potential?
I love it when I read something that resonates with me and pushes me to dream of new ideas. At the center of what we are passionate about at IMAGO is creating innovative events—not just for innovation’s sake, but to create deeper connections between people and ideas. Events that do inspire.
