The Digital Lab will focus on digital approaches to branding and marketing - with Studio 4332's personalisation products providing practical evidence of the ways in which creativity can be put to work for businesses. The products include personalised stickers people can use to create their own tan-toos, a t-shirt that updates itself with your tweets, and social tribe keyrings
From social dynamics and politics to technology and lifestyle, an array of top thought leaders will offer insights on topics. Speakers include City Press editor Ferial Haffajee; Nando's marketing manager Sylvester Chauke; “the green bishop”, Bishop Geoff Davies; head of Vitality Wellness at Discovery, Dr Craig Nossel; media consultant Randall Abrahams; and technology expert/editor Toby Shapshak.
The conference will track the ripple effect of the global economic meltdown, the consumer revolution that has been sparked off as a result, the technology that has provided the tools for change, as well as the massive shift of social and business dynamics that are altering the journey ahead.
“As a result of the 21st Century information overload, we have less time to absorb, less time to reflect and as a result, less time to make measured or informed decisions. As a matter of survival, not choice, we edit the information flung at us, and discard the information that is not immediately within our immediate area of interest,” explains Flux managing director Dion Chang.
“The only problem is that the information we edit out (and don't believe is relevant), is becoming increasingly interconnected, so we inadvertently block or divert our information channels. As a result, our perspective is skewed, our social interaction is affected, the generation gap becomes widener and we start to miss out on crucial business opportunities. Too much information is becoming counter-productive.”
The conference is literally an opportunity to hit the “pause” button. It aims to provide you with a snapshot of “the state we're in” across a number of industries that have a direct influence on our daily lives, the way we interact with each other and ultimately, the way we do business with each other.
The annual review is now in its third year - the conference was preceded by the book of the same name (published by Pan Macmillan). It has a growing following and is used as an essential business and reference tool, is used by a cross section of industries, from marketing departments and corporate executives, to journalists and students. Its holistic approach provides insights into global trends, but also offers a South African perspective to those trends.
| Time | Topic | Speaker | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 | Registration | ||
| 09:00 - 09:45 | State of Our Nation | Ferial Haffajee | Editor in Chief City Press |
| 09:45 - 10:30 | State of Our Planet | Bishop Geoff Davies (the green bishop) | SAB, environmentalist of the year |
| 10:30 - 11:15 | Consumer Trends Post Recession Economies | Dion Chang | Flux Trends |
| TEA BREAK | |||
| 11:30 - 12:15 | Marketing & Advertising | Sylvester Chauke | Marketing Manager, Nandos SA |
| 12:15 - 13:00 | Technology/Connectivity | Toby Shapshak | Editor of Stuff magazine |
| LUNCH | |||
| 13:30 - 14:15 | Popular Culture | Randall Abrahams | Media consultant and TV personality |
| 14:15 - 15:00 | Wellness: coping with life in the 21st Century | Dr Craig Nossel | Head of Vitality Wellness at Discovery |
| TEA BREAK | |||
| 15:15 - 16:00 | Urban Spaces for modern tribes | Mokena Makeka | Creative director and MD of Makeka Designs |
| 16:00 - 16:45 | Ideas that make the world work better | 3 x 10 minute slots for people with great ideas | |
| 16:45 - 17:00 | Poetic Conclusion | Lebo Mashile | Poet and author |
| DRINKS/NETWORKING SESSION |
The price of R2280 (inclusive of VAT) includes finger lunch, tea break refreshments, goodie bag plus free entry to Digital Lab - book online at www.fluxtrends.co.za.
Bizcommunity.com is a media partner.
Updated Monday, 8 February 2010
