Nothing is more inspiring than the idea that anything is possible. This open-endedness is what makes the Future beautiful; its inherent uncertainty mixed with perfection - a screen on which to project our dreams. Often these dreams get dashed on the rocks of reality; but not always. The hope that someday, maybe, these wishes will come true, is universal. This post will look at the ways online environments are affecting how we construct our identities and tell stories.
Almost 1 year ago, I joined IPG to build an Emerging Media Lab in New York City. IPG Mediabrands' challenge was that with the evolution brought by digital media, planning had become more and more complex. Visualizing solutions was a necessity - it was the best way to show how we orchestrate thousands of touchpoints that can often feel intangible. We focused our energy on creating an experience that could show clients what was possible; to paint a picture of the strategic potential of using the most cutting edge media technologies. We were driven by the belief that by pairing consumer insight with imagination, software and data, could drive bottom-line results. Tonight, it's with total pride that we launch the result of that labor.
Since March, the Mediabrands website has been running a countdown clock, As we pop the corks, I thought I'd post some before and after photos. More importantly, I want to humbly thank everyone involved.
I've puzzled today over various ways to begin this journey and chosen to use the metaphor of the stage. Let me explain with a story.
In late 2002 I moved from New York to California and proposed to my wife-to-be. After we got married, I spent a year flying back and forth to Las Vegas where I consulted to Casino baron Steve Wynn (more on this later). My son was born and we decided to stay in San Francisco. Hilary went back to work and I took care of Theo. I needed to get a job but wasn't sure what would be interesting and exciting. Then I heard about a tiny company who had made a virtual world where the users could create whatever they wished. It had an economy, land barons and politics. I remember walking Theo in his stroller past the offices and thinking, "I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to be part of this". I managed to get an interview with their CEO; we hit it off and he gave me a job. The CEO's name was Philip Rosedale and the company was Second Life.
I gave a talk with this title on Saturday. My old friend Kurt Kratchman had invited me down to Savannah to the International Digital Media and Arts Association's annual conference. IDMAA's members are amazing; they teach digital media at universities around the world and they're really the folks in the trenches training the next generation of creators. I had done it back in 2008 and what I loved was that it was such a real environment -the absolute opposite of the Techcrunch / Google Zeitgeist circuit. These people are Teachers.
And a funny thing happened. I've always wondered how I ended up doing what I do - I basically grew up as the kid of two profs (my dad is a computer scientist and mom an archaeologist). Lot's of past, present and future. But the amazing thing was that speaking to teachers cut made me realize that while I might think a lot about the future, our teachers and students are the ones who will really make it happen.
So here's what I'm going to do. On November 11th, the IPG Media Lab launches. I've spent the past year working to create a picture of what the Future of Media will look like. So, between now and 11/11/11 I'll be posting 1 piece a day. 23 pieces total.
Each will explore 1 slide from the presentation I gave IDMAA. I have no idea where it will go but I've been thinking so much about the Past, Present and Future and can't wait to explore.
The November issue of Media Magazine hit newsstands yesterday. Edited by my colleague Brian Monahan, it's called the "Future of Media" and is really quite something. I'm proud to have a piece in it, called "The Future of Money", which I've included below. Feedback warmly welcomed.
