Been a while,

On Thursday 14th May, I had the pleasure of going to not one, not two, but three meet-up events in London – MPTS (Formerly the Media, Production and Technology Show), The Museum and Heritage Show and Frame:Work London. After a couple days worth of rest, It’s time to talk about my day.

Here are my well rested thoughts,

You really have to give yourself sufficient time.

This was my first business-related convention in quite a while. I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to go until that Monday – which lead to me scrambling to make new business cards and preparing travel. Unlike going to something like NEC Craft Fair – You can’t turn up to something like this at 1pm on the second day. Well, you can, but you’re severely limiting your time to schmooze.

More importantly than finding “the right person to schmooze with”, you have to warm up and know what you’re going to say. Which brings me to my second point:

You also have to prepare more than one pitch.

For the kind of work I want to do more of – Interactive work using Notch and media servers, you can’t just have one elevator pitch.

At MPTS, many of the people I spoke to were aware of media servers, but not aware of what Notch was – which I found interesting – but needed to pivot my pitch. Instead of focusing on the tool, I focused on the outcome. This made things easier when I went to The Museum and Heritage show around the corner – which seemed more receptive to the idea of fixed install interactivity.

Frame:Work was different, too – Everyone in there knew what Notch was – (It helps that half of my old team were there!) – It was full of established people in the industry. This was an opportunity to listen in on industry experience and finally put faces to previous support tickets.

Now for the evening,

Frame:Work was an exceptional evening event hosted at Pixel Artworks, Farringdon, which I was lucky enough to attend.

There were two presentations from the community – we began with a very interesting project from Pixel Artworks themselves, presented by Haaziq Farook, the talk was entitled “Keep The Wheel Spinning” – the technical challenges behind a one-night real-time live event on the London Eye – getting 16 runners on treadmills to compete, complete with lights and sound.

I love coming to talks like this – Learning more about the hurdles (pardon the pun!) the groups collectively overcome is enthralling. I’ve had my fair share of projects like this which I’ve been able to help out with in Notch Support – but none with constraints this tight. I believe Haaziq stated that the project required no technicians in the pods as it span – and if there were issues, they couldn’t be directly fixed until their pod reached the ground again!

Shortly after this, there was a great panel entitled The Immersive Illusion: Intent, Impact and Who’s Actually in the Room.

I recognised a few speakers from previous events – and while I wish I had more time to talk to everyone directly (a problem at every event, of course!) It was interesting to hear completely different perspectives within a creative capacity.

Too often, for me, I focus on the visual aspect of the creative process – as a designer, it’s what I’ve trained myself to do – This panel compromised of producers, researchers and curators around the immersive space – and felt like a conversation between experienced colleagues, ironically from the title name – I felt privileged to be in the room as it happened.

I often wonder where I’d be if I wasn’t making – and it was encouraging and reassuring to find such a wide variety of voices and career choices that still encompass creative work.

Near the end, Sarah Cox, panel host, asked the room if they felt more “creative” or “technical”, which I was surprised was a 50/50 split. I think when you work in creative software – This line is blurred. Often do you need to know the why behind a specific design, alongside the how.

While it’s been cut short (I got made redundant in March this year), I’m grateful for my years of Notch Product Support – Allowing me to transfer from a traditional Graphic Design/Motion Design career into these immersive spaces, talks, and conversations.

A shot of a packed room at Pixel Artworks, watching the talk given by Haaziq Farook.

Final Thoughts,

I’m very grateful to my ex-colleague and friend Antony Bailey who suggested I tag along – You can’t go to trade shows alone!

I’m going to plan going to future events well in advance, now – which sounds obvious now I’ve said it!

If you’ve read this far and you’d like to see me at any trade shows, events, conferences, etc – Please let me know! I’m new on the scene and eager to meet people.