{"id":4268832,"date":"2023-08-09T15:55:34","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T13:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deptagency.com\/insight\/vote-now-to-help-dept-take-the-stage-at-sxsw-2024\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T13:37:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T11:37:15","slug":"vote-now-to-help-dept-take-the-stage-at-sxsw-2024","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.deptagency.com\/en-au\/insight\/vote-now-to-help-dept-take-the-stage-at-sxsw-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Vote now to help DEPT\u00ae take the stage at SXSW 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBack to all articles\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n<\/button>\n\t\tVote now to help DEPT\u00ae take the stage at SXSW 2024\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\n\t<\/div>
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\n\t\tMarjan Straathof\t\t
\n\t\tGlobal SVP of Marketing\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tDate\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t9 August 2023\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\n\t\tSXSW 2024 is coming, and you have a voice in the conference programming. Industry leaders will gather from March 8-16 in Austin, TX to ignite discussions on the future of tech, music, film and culture.\u00a0

Experts from DEPT\u00ae, DOGSTUDIO\/DEPT\u00ae, and BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae are in the running to deliver epic talks across a variety of pioneering topics and your vote can help get them on the iconic stages. Cast a vote for your favorites between August 8 and 20 with the SXSW PanelPicker\u00ae.\u00a0
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\n\t\t\n\t\tWe hope you\u2019ll consider voting for these submissions from our crew:\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\tUnfair Advantage: Building Brand Through CX\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>
Ryan Parkhurst, Vice President, Strategy BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae

In this panel session, we\u2019ll uncover how creativity and friction can create new value in customer experience and digital commerce and explore which rules of CX can be broken.


Red Pill or Blue Pill: What is the Future of Creativity<\/strong><\/a>
Jeff Bowerman, Executive Creative Director DEPT\u00ae

All the craft and technology in the world can\u2019t save a bad idea. But it can make it. In this session, Jeff shares why embracing innovation will always be the future of creativity.


This Could\u2019ve Been an Email<\/strong><\/a>
Simon D\u2019haenens, Design Lead DOGSTUDIO\/DEPT\u00ae

Embrace uniqueness and novel perspectives in a world of noise, distractions and short attention spans. This session will offer designers insights on pushing boundaries, focusing on mindfulness and intentionality and adopting AI and Web3 technologies to create valuable experiences.


Dumb Ways to Die in Product Development<\/strong><\/a>
Jake Rainis, Software Architect and Team Lead DEPT\u00ae

We take a look at how we brought a video arcade game for project managers to market in 20 days. This session explores how to push the boundaries of content creation with off-the-wall ideas and how to turn a game into a marketing win.


Everyone is Missing the Point about AI<\/strong><\/a>
Bob Briski, CTO DEPT\u00ae\/AI

The Conceptual Web is revolutionizing the way we explore and engage with the web. In this session, we examine why this new AI-powered digital architecture enables fluid navigation, revealing hidden connections in complex concepts and how to leverage it.


Augmenting Culture, from Day 1<\/strong><\/a>
Alexander Dao, Global Director, Business Expansion & Sales Partnerships Snap and Isabel Perry, VP of Emerging Tech DEPT\u00ae

We have discussion about the role that AR plays when brands want to create strong immersive experiences catered to different ages and demographics. This fireside chat will explore how AR can influence customer acquisition and retention, and what it will take to get it on every media plan and default brand activation.\u00a0


Immersive Tech: A Path to a Diverse and Connected Future<\/strong><\/a>
Isabel Perry, VP of Emerging Technology DEPT\u00ae
Oliver Lange, Head of H&Mbeyond, H&M
Chad Calcagno, VP, Brand Production, Yuga Labs

This panel will focus on how brands can develop and implement truly inclusive, accessible and empowering immersive technologies. A look at how VR, AR and MR can be harnessed to create a more inclusive and interconnected society.


Building a Culture of Sound<\/strong><\/a>
JP Burcks, Design Lead @ BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae
Mia Patrevito, Design Lead, BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae

What started as a single shared playlist during the pandemic became a digital jukebox for the world to explore. This session explores how JAMS, a weekly-ish playlist curated by our employees has shaped our culture and inspired our work.


How GenZ is Shaping Culture and Commerce<\/strong><\/a>
Zahara Chaudhry, Senior Strategist BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae
JP Burcks, Design Lead @ BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae

Marketers are quickly learning that authentic and curated spaces are the key to acquiring loyal Gen Z customers. In this session, we will explore how culture has shaped Gen Z, and how Gen Z, in turn, is shaping culture and commerce.\u00a0


Designers, We Need to Step Up Our Accessibility Game<\/strong><\/a>
Ken Trush, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Daniel’s Music Foundation\u00a0
Carla Sullivan, Marketing and Disability Awareness Director
Steve Denekas, CCO BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae
Ariel Irby, Design Lead BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae

We team up with Daniel\u2019s Music Foundation, a non-profit leading the charge to make accessibility more than just a checkbox, to uncover why accessibility is a creative opportunity, not limitation. In this panel, we discuss how design and creativity are key to building a truly inclusive future.\u00a0


Just Call Me By My Name<\/strong><\/a>
Ken Trush, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Daniel’s Music Foundation\u00a0
Steve Denekas, CCO BASIC\/DEPT\u00ae

Art has the power to change people\u2019s perspectives for good and break down the barriers that separate us. Ken Trush, co-founder of \u201cJust Call Me By My Name,\u201d a music label dedicated to building a more equitable future for musicians with disabilities, discusses how creativity can challenge society to think differently about disability.


How Can I Tell if My Idea is Worth Doing?<\/strong><\/a>
Dave Merwin, Executive Sponsor & Product Strategist, DEPT\u00ae

This session explores the build-measure-learn cycle to help participants learn swift idea validation. We will dive into various tools to arm innovators with the practical skills for quickly and efficiently determining if an idea, product or feature is actually addressing the problems users are having.


What Coding Can Teach Us About Convenience<\/strong><\/a>
Bertrand Thomachot, Senior Engineering Manager, Two Bulls\/DEPT\u00ae

Teaching programming using a low-level language applies beyond just coding. In this session, we look at how this approach can encourage individuals to make more informed choices regarding convenience and resource usage and to seek more sustainable solutions.


Cast your vote between August 8 and 20 to see these talks come to life.\u00a0
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