By Jesse Orona
This year’s South by South West conference will include two past panelists speaking on two engaging panels. Mr. Paul Boag, Creative Director of Headscape Web Design, will be speaking at the Pain Free Design panel and Ms. Clare Reddington, Director of iShed and the Pervasive Media Studio, will be speaking at the Pervasive Games and Playful Experiences: Rendering the Real World panel. Below is the interview I had the privilege of having with the two Brits about the upcoming conference.
Jesse: First off, what is it about the SXSW that caused you to accept another invitation? What made you come back for more?
Paul Boag: The honest answer is that I would be going to SXSW even if I wasn’t speaking. If I speak I don’t have the added cost of the ticket. The thing about SXSW is that it is where all those the web community gather. It’s a brilliant opportunity to learn new stuff but more importantly to spend time chatting with some of the best minds in the field. The hot weather is a bonus too when you come from the UK!
Clare Reddington: I have attended SXSW for the last two years, organizing funded delegations (that are funded by public money) of artists and digital media companies to give them an opportunity to research new business opportunities, view work and spot emerging digital trends. This year I decided to pitch a panel idea as a way to get added profile within the Festival.
Jesse: Some in my class, including myself, will be attending the conference and creating a site around our experiences there. Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be discussing?
Boag: A lot of what I will be talking about comes from this presentation.
Reddington: Working for Watershed, a leading arts and media centre in the UK, over the last five years I have collaborated with many of the UK’s leading producers of pervasive games, located performance and interactive narrative. Last year I led the delegation of UK creatives who brought The Hat Game to SXSWi.
Whilst pervasive gaming has featured in previous SXSW programs, we believe it is time for a more textured discussion around the social, cultural and economic possibilities of this incredibly exciting new form.
Jesse: Ms. Reddington, why do you think there aren’t more women in the gaming industry?
Reddington: Am afraid I am not really qualified to speak on this, but I guess its currently a self fulfilling prophecy, women don’t see themselves represented at the highest levels of the gaming industry so are not inspired to make a career in it. See http://www.skillset.org/skillset/press/releases/article_6286_1.asp.
Jesse: Mr. Boag, how do you feel about net neutrality?
Boag: Like anybody who works regularly with the Web I believe passionately that it should be accessible to all and should not be limited or censored in anyway. That said, many of the most successful companies on the web (Youtube, Facebook, Google) contribute little to the upkeep of the network. Over the long term this issue will need addressing.
Jesse: Thank you both for your time and I look forward to seeing your panels this spring.