As SXSWi first-timers, Jeff Fogliano and I weren’t entirely sure what to expect from the annual digerati confab, but given all news and reviews from previous attendees, our expectation was that we were in for something big.
From New York Times executive editor, Jill Abramson, speaking about the digital future of the publication to Ben Silbermann, co-founder and CEO of Pinterest, charming a packed room with the story of how he was inspired by his childhood bug collection to create the the design and user experience of the latest social sharing darling, everything we saw and every conversation we were part of acted a powerful reminder of how quickly technology is changing us and our expectations for what is normal.
There was tremendous buzz and more than a little media attention at “South By,” but the best reviews I’ve seen are those that succinctly summarize the essence of a speaker’s message. And, my favorite, so far, is a mash up of tweets and images from the week in Austin created by David Crandall below.
So much to absorb and learn! Next year, we’re bringing the entire team.