September 18th (09.00 : 17.30)
Purcell room, southbank centre 

Part of the London Design Festival (www.londondesignfestival.com). This one day event will explore the effects of the internet, convergence and mobile developments on peoples lives. It is an opportunity for digital industry experts and innovators to candidly discuss the benefits they bring to society, their ambitions and aspirations.

This dynamo London (http://www.dynamolondon.org) produced event will bring together some of the foremost thinkers and experts to discuss and debate the real impact of digital technology, services and content in an exciting interactive event. Attending the event will be digital industry experts, innovators, marketers, technologists and producers with representatives from a broad range of society for a day of challenging opinions and discussion… Digital is fast becoming a part of, even central to everyone’s social experiences experience. The event will provide an opportunity for anyone and everyone to engage with cutting edge digital interactive technology, services and content, and to engage directly with the pioneers at the forefront of the revolution.

Now is the time for UK’s various media industries to discuss how interactive media works for them, how it is influencing their industry and shaping the future for their craft, and to hear how they feel about the work they do, and the impact it has on their lives. The event will provide a unique educational experience, and a rare opportunity for the pioneers to reach beyond the some what incestuous industry, and sing loud and proud about what they do.

Some of the issues being discussed:

• Are the creative industries fully aware of the way technology is influencing the very culture of media consumption? Are they actually talking to one another in meaningful ways, or are they simply seeing digital media as an extension of existing practice?

• The film, advertising, games, events, music, publishing, broadcast and telecoms industries (all strong in the UK and celebrated worldwide) have much to learn both from the widening opportunities of cross-media integration and from one another’s immediate digital concerns. A fundamental lack of comprehension of what interactive will mean to society hinders any ability to embrace evolution and change in the creative industries.

• Technology is not a panacea, but using an interactive mind-set for solving business and social problems will encourage innovation, boost productivity and result in increased competitive advantage.

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

Following a brief introduction from Design Council chief executive David Kester, the opening keynote will set the agenda for the day. Divided into four main sessions the conference will cover themes that encompass the broad range of disciplines and concerns for digital and interactive media.

The aim is to bring together practitioners, thinkers, business leaders, audiences, gamers and consumers of media and design across many fields, all of whom are concerned both with digital-evolution and with the implications of convergence.

Following the keynote, the first panel session will examine the social impact of interactive media, and consider the changes already taking place within society, and how a new generation is coping with them. Having contextualised the environment in which we find ourselves, the second session considers some of the technologies that have brought about changes, and looks to an exciting future.

Each of these sessions will combine short informative presentations followed by a lively chaired panel discussion, providing plenty of opportunity for audience participation.

The afternoon kicks off with, arguably the main event of the day, and takes the form of a series of interlinking mini sessions. By inviting practitioners in a variety of fields to share their views and experiences, we aim to show how designers are responding to the challenges we face in a number of fields from home environment, information dissemination, public spaces and virtual worlds, and gain some insight into how design can act as a mediating influence across evolving disciplines.

The final session of the day is an opportunity for undiscovered talent and soon to be launched projects to get some audience feedback. The Innovation showcase, hosted by Lynda Relph Knight, editor of deign week, will be a glimpse at some of the soon to be released exciting innovations that are hoping to set the world on fire.

Tickets go on sale on august 01st. to pre register please contact zoe.black@nmk.co.uk