Mobile Photography Masterclass at #SMWNYC: Using PicsArt To Create and Share Beautiful Imagery

Explore the creative power that lives inside your mobile device. Using PicsArt, a photo editing app and global social network for 65 million creatives, you’ll learn in this interactive, hands-on masterclass how to easily create complex-looking edits (double exposure, drawing on photos, cloning) in a matter of minutes.

You’ll turn your personal pics into works of art or even create images that you can use in your job. This session, “Mobile Photography Masterclass: Using PicsArt To Create & Share Beautiful Imagery” will “WOW” you with easy interactive tutorials and a peek into the future of collaborative art with PicsArt’s #FreeToEdit images.

Carter Gibson (Senior Community Manager, PicsArt) will lead the session on Thursday the 25th at 2:00pm at the SVA Theatre, and if you want to get a head start with PicsArt, you can learn more about the app and join their global creative community by clicking here!

Also, if you want to hear from the Chief Business Development Officer of PicsArt, Wilson Kriegel, you can attend the session he’s speaking on titled, “Creativity Is More Than A Filter Away: How Mobile Tools Are Fueling A New Kind Of Artistic Expression” on Friday the 26th at 10:00am at the SVA Theatre.

Collaboration, Humanity, & Design: All Coming Together At SMW NYC With MKG

We recently shared a glimpse at what Campus will look like. We know you’ll love the thought that was put into all the small details. From ensuring you can take a call at anytime during the week at Campus to trying to bring a collaborative, human feel to it all, our team worked with MKG to develop something unique.

Design is one of those things that when done right, you might never notice it. But poor design can ruin your entire experience. That’s where our partner’s MKG come in. So, we asked them to share a bit more about their vision.

  1. How does MKG approach partnerships and events?
    MKG’s approach on all events is to be creative, strategic, collaborative, and human. We also want to make it fun, different, and engaging for everyone who touches the project, from partner to consumer.

    Another part of producing an event like Social Media Week is integration, taking ideas from all partners and streamlining them into a concept that expresses everything we are all trying to communicate through experience, design, production, and of course, digital and social. Being able to bring our expertise to this event and fusing it together with a vision we share with Crowdcentric’s of bringing together technology and humanity, all under the umbrella of the ‘Future of Now’, makes this the perfect partnership for MKG.

  2. Why design matters in events?
    MKG’s philosophy is there is never a time when design doesn’t matter! Design is a powerful way to create that impactful first impression and also an integral part of making events immersive and inspiring. It’s important to think about your audience as events are experienced in a very human way, so we create spaces that allows human connection to happen without restriction. Design is how we can silently craft the experience we’d like attendees to have, while simultaneously communicating fun, intelligence and creativity.

    As is the way we approach most things, we believe design is about style and substance. People always say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but the reality is that the way a space is designed is going to be the first thing attendees notice – it’s the way we gain their attention and draw them into the space, and then educate and engage them.

  3. What is the design structure and vision for SMW NYC’s new Campus?
    The design structure for SMW’s NYC Campus is about function and personality. Each design element is intended to highlight the idea that this conference is not your average, suit-and-tie conference; this one is on the pulse with humanity. It’s modern; it’s cheeky; and it knows that no one want to re-live the hotel ballroom conference experience.

    The aesthetic theme is based in raw materials with pops of color to send a visual message of a laid back vibe with a fun personality.

    We wanted the space to represent this year’s theme of always being connected. Spatially, we created an open layout that promotes conversation and human connections, while functionally providing a seamless flow of activity.

    We also wanted this to be a completely immersive experience. One playful way we brought this to the physical space was by deconstructing the SMW NYC branding and then reconstructing those elements 3-dimensionally throughout the space with furniture and scenic pieces all inspired by the logo and branding.

    With so many amazing brand partners and sponsors under one roof, we wanted to make sure that everyone was able to bring their unique personality to their footprint, while also avoiding the messy cluttered look so often found at trade shows or conferences. We came up with a cohesive design plan that allowed us to work with each brand to customize certain elements of their space while remaining part of the overall SMWNYC identity.

With this design approach, you’ll understand why we can’t wait to unveil Campus to you this week! Get a glimpse here, then if you haven’t already, grab your pass. See you soon!

3 Reasons Design Will Shape the Future

Design begins with a problem, a pain, or an inconvenience. This makes designers problem solvers at their core. They are directly involved with the way material is represented visually as well as with the interfaces that connect us to our devices. Design is a critical part of shaping the future and here’s why:

  1. Our World is Increasingly Visual
    In our always on, always connected world, people are stopping less to read large chunks of information. We want information that we can digest on the go- like lists or infographics. As the demand for visual information increases, designers will play a larger role to organize that information in ways that make sense and are aesthetically pleasing. Join JWT as they dive deeper into this shift in their seminar Reading Is No Longer Fundamental: The Shift to Visual Vocabulary.
  2. Good Design Makes Technology More Human
    We have all interacted with a piece of technology (e.g. every VCR ever made) that makes us feel unintelligent because it seems impossible to figure out. Designers are simplifying devices and making so that they can enhance our lives instead of detracting from them. To learn more ways that designers are shaping the future and making technology more human, check out this seminar, hosted by The New Museum, Why The Future of Innovation Belongs To Artists & Designers.
  3. Design-Thinking Unlocks Creativity
    According to Tim Brown, president and CEO of IDEO defines design-thinking as “a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.” Sign us up! Design-thinking is part of how businesses are reshaping their processes and creating new and better technologies. Experience it for yourself at Design Thinking LIVE, hosted by City and Country.

Whether you are a designer or not, there is something for you at SMW NYC, February 17-21! Check out our schedule for events on other topics like health and wellness, entrepreneurship and marketing. Register now and we’ll see you soon!

 Featured image courtesy SocialisBetter

Make Good Shit Happen at SMW NYC

In just six weeks, Social Media Week will kick off and we’re excited to share some of what’s happening.

Building Essential Products, with betaworks' CEO John Borthwick
To many of us, our work is our life. But what if we did it slightly differently this year? betaworks’ John Borthwick joins us at SMW NYC to talk about new approaches to product creation and the process, like how to allow ideas that might have once fell to the cutting room floor get picked up, tested and put into beta.

Why The Future of Innovation Belongs To Artists & Designers, with The New Museum
This year, many of us are being challenged to live more presently and actively. That’s where The New Museum can help. The collaboration between artists, designers, and technologists is increasing to help devise tools that are more human, social, and creative. The New Museum will explore these new partnerships and showcase how it’s making a more cohesive life experience for us all.

Making Good Shit Happen, with Nancy Lublin, CEO of DoSomething
Then, let’s use our power to create change. Join DoSomething’s Nancy Lublin as shares how she and a bunch of old people are getting youth actively involved by turning the standard activism model on its head, using creative marketing and collaborations.

Join betaworks, The New Museum, and DoSomething, along with hundreds of other amazing speakers and partners, February 18-21, and help us explore the future of our always on, always connected world.

And as a bonus, we’re extending our 20% Early Bird Discount until January 15th, giving you more time and more savings!

Get your pass to see the action and our discount here now.

Thursday: Newly Added & Open Events

Day 2 is almost over, but that doesn’t mean SMW NYC is close to ending. With so many events, you could have missed some great ones. We also added a few new ones. So, to highlight open and newly added events, we recommend you checking these out:

New at our Global HQ

9:30: Master Class: Build Insanely Effective Landing Pages With Old School Secrets
4:30: Social Collaboration: Nokia Lumia 820 Design Challenge: The winner is…
5:00: Performance: Max ZT, Hammer Dulcimer


At our Content Hubs & Across the City

9:30 at JWT: FORTUNE Interview w/ Bonin Bough, Followed by panel: The Secret Sauce of Native Advertising? Authenticity
9:30 at 92Y: Half The Sky Movement: Using Transmedia to Inspire Real Impact
9:30 at Hearst: The Shift from Presentation to Participation, A Discussion With HuffPost Live’s President Roy Sekoff
12 at 92Y: Healthy Living: How Behavior and Patients Can Fix Healthcare, with Jay Parkinson, Greatist, StartupHealth.
12 at JWT: Technology, Advertising & Startup Council (TASC)
2:30 at 92Y: Cowbird and the Storytelling Life: A Visual Story Workshop
2:30 at Bloomberg: Purpose: Driving the New Economy
6 at JWT: Deep Focus Presents: An Evening of Disruption
6 at 92Y: Connections: How the Internet of Things is Transforming Our Social World
8 at JWT: Controller Rocks the Stage: A Night of Music at JWT
7 at Projective Space: “The Magical Sharing Experiment”: Launch of yerdle in NYC presented by Let’s Collaborate!

Don’t wait any longer- we’re running out of time! Register now, and join us tomorrow!