Why you should come to the Creative Digifest

First published by Lorraine Warren on her blog

There are over 100 bookings so far but we’ve still got a few places left for the Creative Digifest on 11th October. Some people have been asking what it’s all about, so here goes….

WHAT IS IT?

An event that brings together university staff, students, business people, inventors and entrepreneurs with an interest in the digital world and its impact on our lives – to inspire research, teaching and learning collaborations. There will be regular follow up meetings, with the next one to be held in London.

The context is creative industries and digital media, which are very much seen as engines for economic growth – but this only occurs if new business models and new markets are built from all the cool new digital stuff that’s out there.

Digifest is in the tradition of self organising  informal events, variously referred to as “barcamps” or “unconferences” that bring together creative and digital folk in an inclusive, open, non hierarchical, IP sensitive manner, to demo new stuff, talk, network — in effect ‘creative sandpits’ , a crucible for new products, services, business models, start-ups. Here’s some Q&A about one run by the BBC at Media City, which got rave reviews and over 200 people.

This is part of a global movement – see also TED and SXSW

WHY COME?

As well as a number of interesting talks :

*   see new stuff being demo’d by students, staff and entrepreneurial businesses

*   meet colleagues from FBL, ECS, humanities, arts – interdisciplinary collaborations

*   spot potential ideas for new products, services

*   research into new organisational forms and processes  (the creativity that takes place in these events is amazing)

*   connect with people in industry who are pushing the boundaries