Blog
03.20
The SXSW Interactive User Experience (IRL)
Earlier this week, this guy, this guy, and myself wrapped up our time at SXSW Interactive alongside a few thousand other geeks, where unlimited free booze mixes with crippling social awkwardness to irritate throngs of otherwise complacent hippies under a terrifyingly bat-filled Austin sky. It was fantastic.
After letting it sink in a day or two, what the conference illuminated more than ever about the Web industry is its continuously evolving collaborative nature. The best minds in this business are there as open books, offering their experiences and advice to other Web professionals not just from an unreachable panel dais, but across the table over intimate lunches and, often, over too many drinks.
Imagine if, say, the healthcare technology industry was just as open-source, with companies collaborating for the good of healthcare rather than competing for business. For that matter, imagine if the advertising industry was open-source, with the leading minds from the “top 5” amiably mingling and sharing methodology with junior designers. Imagine enjoying a taco with Stan Richards. Really, try.
We at HCK2 Interactive are good, but we are not giant names in Web (yet). Despite that, we were able to interact on the same level with the very people who are responsible for shaping today’s Web landscape, and it was all in the name of industry goodwill. Say what we will about the angst of developing for Internet Explorer—and we do—but you have to admire Chris Wilson for showing up as the conference’s perennial whipping boy. Hell, that’s more than you can even say for Apple these days.
The Web has not yet succumbed to the elitism that has tarnished print design or advertising. Are there arrogant people in Web? Oh, absolutely. Do they run the joint? No. And we will do everything we can to ensure it stays that way.
If we had to improve anything about SXSW Interactive, it would be the real-life user experience.
Of course, pedestrian traffic was a challenge. We can hardly do anything about the Scooby-Doo hall of doorways that is the Austin Convention Center layout. But we would appreciate some improvements on the calendar by its organizers. Perhaps we have high expectations, but a 50% success rate on choosing a helpful panel is just not kosher. Part of it is, granted, preparation and presenter—for every inspired panelist like Leah Buley and Jared Spool, we had just as many on the opposite end of the spectrum. I’m a lady, so I won’t name names. Even beyond presenter issues, though, were misleading event titles and descriptions: what we thought would be advanced-level information was often simply a 101. A suggestion, SXSW—perhaps a system to note basic/intermediate/advanced on the calendar of events? Or, failing that, just a big frowny face next to the ones you know we won’t like.
And finally, a positive lesson learned. Well, two, actually. First, before making a long drive, always make sure your radiator is not cracked open like a gorge. Second, just because you THINK a town is completely populated by crazy people doesn’t mean it is. To the Jerry Stevens Firestone Service Center: you’ve forever changed the way I think about Waco. Thank you (I think).
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