DK’s Director of User Experience, Cristin Siegel, has an article in Target Marketing Magazine this week sharing her expertise on website design concept testing. “Concept testing – which is different from usability testing,” she explains, “puts two different website design treatments in front of representative users to see if one concept is perceive to be more usable or engaging than the other. Once a design is chosen and client-approved, the build phase can begin.” Dive into the rest of her thoughts here.

Cameron Friedlander, VP, Creative Technology, and Chris Stewart, Associate Creative Director will judge this year's Seattle and Cleveland ADDY awards, respectively. Occuring in the communities worldwide, the competition - one of the largest in the advertising world - explores creative excellence at all levels. Click here to learn more.

Come see Designkitchen’s VP and head of Creative Technology, Cameron Friedlander, as he joins the prominent ranks of South by Southwest Conference speakers. Cameron will present on the following topic: “A Tale of Loyalty: Virtual Brand Currency Wars”.  Next year’s SXSW is March 8-18, 2012 in Austin, TX. Visit the website for more details.

Designkitchen’s very own Executive Creative Director, Scott Yanzy, will be judging Promo Magazine’s 2011 Interactive Marketing Awards. The contest aims to recognize the best in this year’s digital initiatives, especially those using interactive channels in direct-response campaigns. To learn more about the IMA Awards, check out the website here. 

October 17-20, Digital Hollywood will take over Marina del Rey, California to talk about how technology is changing, enhancing and shaping entertainment.

Speakers from across technical divides, like Matt Shaw, Mobile Strategist for Google and Ted Hong, CMO of Fandango will talk about next generation mobile devices and their effect on the entertainment industry. While our very own Cameron Friedlander, VP/Director of Creative Technology will discuss how consumer demand is driving the need for the perfect device.

Even Jon Favreau will take the stage to engage, debate and define the latest technological developments in entertainment, encouraging companies and individuals alike to capitalize on innovation.

A co-production of Variety and Digital Hollywood, The Variety Entertainment and Technology Summit is at the intersection of content, technology and entertainment and we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.  

http://digitalhollywood.com/varietysummit/

SXSW is when the world comes to Austin to celebrate Interactive, Film and Music.

Hosting a slew of the most creative minds from across the globe, SXSW is reaching out to all corners of the Earth to ask qualified individuals to strut their stuff on stage and share their thoughts on prevalent creative and technological issues that influence the industry today.

A community-driven event, it’s important that the speakers chosen for the people are chosen by the people. And knowing what kinds of topics the people want to hear is, by nature, important. That’s why SXSW is throwing the SXSW PanelPicker call for entry. Allowing the community to have a significant voice in programming Interactive, Film, and Music conference activities for SXSWeek 2012 (March 9-18), the SXSW PanelPicker saves 30% of the decision-making process for public votes.

A few Designkitchen industry professionals have chosen to lend their creative expertise to SXSW, to reach out on a large scale, to invigorate the audience with their ideas, and to learn a great deal from their experiences as well. Check out their proposals and give them a vote to help send them to speak on the SXSW Interactive Panel!

Cameron Friedlander
A Tale of Loyalty: Virtual Brand Currency Wars     

Shawn Fenton  
Have LOLz Made Us Funnier?

Martin Davis
Bubble Planning Ecosystems Like an Architect

Todd Larsen
Real-Time: A Catalyst For Innovation

Jon Stookey
School Sucked. Contra Still Rules.

Voting ends Friday September 2, 2011. So, click the link and vote for who you think has the best panel topic. Winners will be announced around December 19th, 2011.

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/index/10/company:Designkitchen#idea_11626

Designkitchen’s Director of User Experience has been invited to the fifth annual WPP Stream conference in Greece this September. Dubbed an “unconference,” Stream reunites hundreds of the brightest and most innovative minds in the creative, media and technology industries. Attendees debate and develop ideas related to culture and the internet. DK is proud to send Cristin to contribute to the most cutting-edge thinking about the future of technology!  

Cristin Siegel, Designkitchen’s Director of User Experience and Research, offered her expert opinion in an article recently published on the Direct Marketing News web site. Comparing the online marketing strategies of 24 Hour Fitness and Town Sports, two nationwide fitness franchises, Cristin clarified some of the reasons behind 24 Hour Fitness’ growing popularity among its current and potential members.

You can read the article here: http://bitly.com/eoHnrv

Cameron Friedlander, VP, Director of Creative Technology, will speak on Thursday, March 10th at the 8th Annual Bloomberg Media Summit in New York City.

Joined by some of the most influential players in the tech world, Cameron will take part in discussing media and brand ubiquity, and the content and commerce equation.

The Bloomberg Media Summit, produced by Bloomberg and Digital Hollywood, serves to create a round-table environment that invites attendees and speakers alike to engage, debate and define the latest technological developments in the entertainment industry.

  http://digitalhollywood.com/11MediaSummit/Sum11-Thurs3.html
 

We hear great things will be happening at SXSW in Austin, Texas this week, so naturally, we’re sending a few DKers to get in on the action. And hopefully bring back some swag (fingers crossed).

The five-day interactive showcase will feature some of the best and brightest minds in digital and emerging technologies and promises to be the most energetic, inspiring and creative event of the year.

Send us a message on Twitter @designkitchen if you want to meet up in Austin!