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Conference review: Innotown ’10
It’s been just over a week since I returned from Alesund, Norway after attending Innotown – innovation conference and I’m already counting the sleeps to next year’s event.
The good:
- the choice of speakers
- the signal-to-noise ratio
- No. Fucking. Laptops
- the execution in general
- the location (Alesund)
- the price*
The bad:
- it’s in a land far, far away
*At just over R1,000.00 to get in, I actually think it’s too cheap, I’d strongly suggest that the organisers increase the price to around R5,000.00
The location:
I listed above the fact that Alesund is, for South Africans anyway, quite a distance to travel. Having said that, I wouldn’t change the venue for all the tea in China. The approach into Alesund’s airport is probably the most beautiful I have ever experienced and it’s all up-hill from there. The town, just a 40-min flight from Oslo, is perfect for this kinda conference. Large enough to have what you need, but small enough to feel like you’re not just another delegate in another big conference (it reminds me of my experience at Pop!Tech in Camden, ME).
The registration:
The conference kicked off after lunch, this is pretty smart as it gives travelers a day to get their bearings. Registration was lightning fast considering the 400 delegates, personally I think this is because no one tried to get too smart with technology, just pick up your name badge and welcome pack and you’re good to go. Hey, if it ain’t broke…
We had mixed feelings about the welcome pack. I guess when you attend conferences a lot you get kinda used to getting lots of goodies on arrival; everything from books, to t-shirts, to laptop bags. At Innotown you get a name badge, a pen bearing a sponsor’s logo, and a program notebook. When you consider that you’re paying just R1k to get in it makes sense, but perceptions are everything. This is part of the reason I’d advise charging more to attend – it would make it possible to spoil delegates a little. Also, having people carry round an Innotown branded laptop bag for a year can’t hurt either.
The name badge was a lil bit of genius, what was the major innovation here? They printed your details on both sides. So smart, so low-tech, and so handy all at once. You see it and ask yourself why you haven’t been doing this for years. The conference program notebook was pretty much the best I’ve ever received. Basically it’s all you need to carry around with you, it has the agenda, speaker bios, and plenty space to add notes. If I was asked to knit-pick I’d add the following:
- a business card sleeve on the back page, I had this at Creativity World Forum and it was great.
- I’d try get the note pages next to the speaker bios as it’s nicer to take notes there (I did anyway, but the glossy pages meant a lot of smudging).
- a wee bit more tourist info.
The speakers:
There were just 8 speakers throughout the two (half) days, this meant that the signal-to-noise ratio was damn near perfect. It’s clear that the organisers spent a whole lot of time hand-picking them. I can honestly say that I was captivated from start to finish. I don’t want to single any one out as they are all brilliant, just check ‘em out here. Oh, one special mention to Tom Carpenter, the mc – love that guy (and now I know what Santa does in the off-season).
One thing to note here is that we were given nearly an hour with each speaker. TED has almost forced people into thinking that shorter is better, but you know, sometimes I want to read the abstract, and other times I want the whole damn book. If you have a good speaker, delivering great content, duration is the last thing you’re worried about.
Wi-Fi:
There was none. Well actually there was, but I couldn’t get on it. That suits me down to the ground. I’m all for banning laptop/glowy screen things from conferences altogether, or at the very least send them to Siberia (the back few rows – this is what good gigs like TED and Pop!Tech do). Why? Because it forces you to listen and make notes the old school way, that’s why you travelled so far to get there in the first place. Remember we cannot multi-task, if you’re tweeting you aint listening. Sure people will be sad that they don’t get to tweet in real time, but so what, it’s not breaking news. I’ve come to realise that opinions are generally best served cold, with a touch of thought and context. Fuck the backchannel!
The entertainment:
There were two wee musical segments both of which were great. It would perhaps have been nice to have one more just to open up day two.
The evenings:
Well actually, the evening, as there was just one. The dinner took place in an old fishing museum with tables set up Hogwarts grand hall style, this made for good conversation and interaction. Sam and I were thinking that given the agenda, the conference probably could have been squeezed into one day, however this alone made the extra day worthwhile (let alone the cognitive overload).
Conclusion:
Innotown is the Goldilocks of conferences i.e. They got everything “just right”. I can say with all certainty that it will be an annual event for me. My dream for next year would be to get a group of Saffers together to road trip it (after the event Sam and I rented a car and drove back to Oslo, you will struggle to find a more beautiful country).
If you’re keen to attend drop a comment below or hit me up a mail and I’ll let you know when I start planning.
In closing I’d like to leave you with a few of my fav quotes from the gig:
“It’s through diversity that innovation takes place” – Lynda Gratton
“A mind expanded to fit a new idea never returns to its original shape” – Oliver Wendell Holmes via Chris Bangle
“Giving is good business” Blake Mycoskie (check out TOMS shoes for context)
“We need to get really good at managing a portfolio of strategies!” – Rohit Talwar (one is no longer enough)
“You have to be 100% behind someone before you can stab them in the back” – Roger Flynn 
“The more books you read, the more stupid you get” – Jung Chan (what Chinese kids were ‘taught’)
“Hope alone is a terrible strategy” – Chris Martenson
“The average age of the Apollo engineers was mid-twenties” – Peter Diamandis
June 22, 2010 at 6:05 pm | 12 comments
“A mind expanded to fit a new idea never returns to its original shape” – Oliver Wendell Holmes via Chris Bangle
Love that!
I’m definitely keen for next year. Although I promise you that I won’t carry around a branded laptop case after the event. I’ve got about four of those beneath a layer of dust that I’ve sworn never to lift;)
Sounds like it was a goodie. If you are offering to keep people in the loop for the next trip, I’d like to be added.
Thanks for writing it all up. Was a lekka read.
Hi Rich, I’ll be part of the SAFFA delegation next year, but will of course be coming from Espana. Please count me in!
Think you did a great job of summarising the conference. Let me know what you have in mind for next year. I would be keen!
Awesome, will let you all know
Tish, would be rad to catch up.
Shot Rich. Great summary, of what sounds like a great event. And if push comes to shove, I’ll start or end it next year with a week of photographic orgy! Alesund looks *that* good!
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