Journal

Cardiff Screen Festival - Focus on Interactive zzzz

  • Posted on: November 15, 2004
  • In: Design, News
  • Comments closed

Having just attended the morning sessions at this annual event (my first time btw) I just had to get something down here before I forget.

The thing about these kind of events is that most people want to get at least something out of it, personally as well as professionally. You might want to find out, as a designer, what is happening in Wales at the moment in terms of New Media. You might, as a client, want to see what the possibilities are for your product or service. Invariably events like this fail to deliver on these simple wants and needs.

I went to SXSW in Austin, TX in March of this year and was expecting the same old boring excuses to plug a book, a service, a product of some kind. but I was pleased to see that it only happened a couple of times. SXSW speakers (generally) were superb, eloquent, passionate professionals who inspired the audience.

Now, surely i’m not expecting Cardiff Screen Festival to be the same? Well, why the hell not? Why do all these events in this country, Wales especially, degrade into political rants about public service organisations or just simply bore the audience to tears with manicured, predictable presentations delivered as if you’re presenting to your grandmother? (you get the impression I wasn’t too impressed?)

Now, there were some interesting points that were made, some interesting products (although don’t get me started on the usability of a pda as a broadband wireless exhibition/location guide - that really is stretching the technology model.) but the emphasis was on products or services being sold in the guise of a ‘case study’. There was no honest debate, up to point when I left. There was no discussion on ROI, no discussion on market, in fact no discussion. It was all one way.

It was very difficult to sit through. Let’s hope they get it better next year.

Comments

’Why do all these events in this country, Wales especially, degrade into political rants about public service organisations or just simply bore the audience to tears with manicured, predictable presentations delivered as if you’re presenting to your grandmother?’

Tut, tut, tut. You can’t label a whole country by what happens in one town and at one event. Also I think you will find that Wales or Cardiff as I think you meant isn’t the only culprit for this countries such as England and towns such as London are equally as guilty :)

The whole problem with these events is that they are funded by government organisations and corporate businesses and thus they feel obliged to wrap the events in guff and unwarranted awards. Another example is the mockery of technological innovation in Wales which is the annual event, Technology Wales. pay enough and you’ll win an award each year and more than likely you’ll even be a judge in the category your company is nominated in.

If only for goverment funded events which are run by my peers instead of government relations and corporate big wigs.

Death to jobs for the boys I say!!!

Graham Sanders's Gravatar

Graham Sanders
Tue 16th Nov 2004
at 2:04 pm

This is just my experience of going to these things for quite some years now across the country (UK). This was honestly one of the worse.

I wasn’t picking on Cardiff, or Wales (an Englishman, pick fault with the Welsh, in Wales? Never.) What I was trying to get across is that these events tend to feel so small, not only in numbers, but in content. Think small and insignificant and you will be small and insignificant.

I take your point about funding though, and yes I know it’s similar at other events in other towns across the country. I guess that’s what surprised me about SXSW. It wasn’t like that at all. I was hoping BD4D was going to be more inspiring and not wrapped up in corporate guff. Alas, I’ll have to wait until next time round, if there is a next time.

Mark's Gravatar

Mark
Wed 17th Nov 2004
at 12:48 am

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A picture of Mark BoultonI'm a graphic designer from near Cardiff in the UK. I've been a designer for over ten years now and primarily work on the web. I'm still partial to a bit of print every now and then though. I used to work for Agency.com in London as an Art Director before working as a Senior Designer for the BBC in sunny Cardiff. This was all before I took leave of my senses and formed my own design consultancy, Mark Boulton Design Ltd.

I've got a thing about grids and typography and occasionally ramble on about them to anyone who will listen.

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