Event Circuit Highlights: Trends and Takeaways

This summer has already seen a jam-packed event calendar, featuring everything from Mad//Fest masterclasses to creative inspiration at D&AD's New Blood Festival.

If you missed any of these events, don't worry. We've gathered some of our team's top takeaways on what sparked their imagination, prompted new ways of thinking, and even provided an overview of our Chief Creative Officer’s recent discussion on detecting BS in AI.

Pay attention to cultural intersections

"I've seen several talks on this theme in this year's events circuit. I recently attended talks from some of the world's biggest brands, including Avon and PepsiCo, at Mad//Fest which I found really insightful. One talk from Eric Melis, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at PepsiCo, broke down how the brand has identified and tapped into cultural intersections that matter to people, underpinned by the brand’s human-centric focus that views the many roles consumers play in life – an individual, a family member, a business person, etc. Other speakers across the day also delved into the impact that human-centric marketing has had on their businesses, be it increasing the quantity and effectiveness of purchase journeys for sellers and shoppers alike or dialling up in the credentials that matter to luxury audiences respectively.

From these discussions, I took away a better understanding of how the nuances and intersections of culture can unlock new opportunities for brands to deliver value to their audience. The bridging of these worlds can allow a variety of perspectives, insights and experiences to be explored when defining where the opportunities are to show up as a brand."

Charlie Parsons, Media Strategist

Creative evolution on the horizon

"My colleague, Amy, and I recently attended the D&AD New Blood Festival (a creative showcase of recent graduates from art universities nationwide) to scout out fresh talent!

There is plenty of creative inspiration on the events circuit this year, particularly in creative showcases from those creatives fresh on the scene. I noticed there was a definite focus on tackling social issues, from climate change to female harassment. Chatting to graduates and students, these areas seemed to spark the most passion and inspiration.

To our lovely surprise, there were graduates keen to jump into departments outside of creative - with Accounts and Strategy portfolios showcased too. It was fab to see the portfolios of these brilliant young creatives and to connect with a whole new generation."

Georgina Devonport, Midweight Copywriter, and Amy McGowan, Midweight Art Director

It's time to dive deeper into AI

Our Chief Creative Officer, Vince McSweeney, was recently one of the key speakers at The Leadership Summit by the CEO briefing room. Addressing visionary leaders, industry pioneers and strategic thinkers, Vince presented a highly entertaining presentation entitled ‘AI without the BS’.

From dispelling AI myths and providing insights into a range of different platforms to demonstrating the breadth and depth of AI, as well as diving into some of the issues to be aware of (and much more!), Vince delved into how marketers can maximise the tool for their business.

If you want to learn more about the themes above, or chat with any of our experts yourself, get in touch here.