I am sure there are recaps popping up all over the web about SXSW Interactive 2008, especially since many people were so inspired that they drafted theirs on the plane. I chose to voraciously read Kitchen Confidential instead... one might say I needed a brain break.
Returning to regular life was tough after being surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the business for a week straight. The full spectrum was represented: young and enthusiastic startup entrepreneurs, community leaders, respected bloggers, internet icons, and regular geeks like me. We watched from afar, drank alongside each other, shared conversations and generally had a super time.
Some highlights from my experience:
* Spending lots and lots of quality time with my friends from P'unk Avenue. It might seem odd to focus on time spent with people I get to see all the time in Philly, but we got into so many great conversations about community and authenticity while sitting in the beautiful and bustling courtyard of the Hotel San Jose. I dig that.
* Representing coworking big time. Coworking groups from all over the continent came out to SXSW this year. Philly's own Alex Hillman led the Coworking and the Evolution of the Independent Worker Core Conversation. All kinds of coworkers were represented from Tara Hunt of Citizen Space to Jelly NYC to Station C to Conjunctured and many others. The connection of these communities will only lead to great opportunities, great web apps, and great collaboration.
* Talking business with Hyphenated People. Unfortunately our flight from Philly to Austin was delayed by bad weather in Dallas (lots of snow in Dallas!), so we were not able to make it to their Dabble Dabble, Toil and Kick Ass Core Conversation, but Friday night I got to get down to brass tacks with them at the Coworking Meetup. Amy Hoy and John Athayde are totally inspirational people in that they have so many different kinds of skills (programmer-designer-photographer-etc), and believe in being... hyphenated.
* Gary Vaynerchuk is a mad merrymaker. Gary V of Wine Library TV knows how to bring the party. In fact, it follows him wherever he goes. From parties he plans to the ones he just dreams up at a moment's notice. He's the most enthusiastic, friendly, generous internet celebrity I've ever met. Gary V brings happiness and joy to the entire universe. Watch Kathy Sierra tell you why.
* Jason Fried of 37Signals. I've been a huge fan of the work of 37Signals for the last few years. I have gotten two places of employment to start using their wildly successful project management application Basecamp. I have always appreciated their take on interaction design involving simplicity and less is more. Jason talked about the ways in which his team collaborates, their process of openness and productivity, and the need to make tiny decisions. He also gave us a nice little list of words to avoid in one's process: need, can't, easy, only, fast. Lots of meaning to derive from that list, don't you think?
* Kathy Sierra. Honestly? Kathy Sierra blew my freakin' mind! I left her keynote thinking in so many new and different ways. I've long been a fan of user experience design and consider myself an advocate for the user. This was the first time I even contemplated the idea of making a user feel like THEY kick ass. Yes, I want them to be able to accomplish their goals, but really... if they can feel so totally joyful about their experience, that's nothing but good for business. I'm also still pondering the question she instructed us to ask the person sitting next to us: What did you always want to be really good at? That's a very big question to ask, and I think it has a purpose... it gets you excited again. I liken it to a little childlike enthusiasm, and when can you ever have too much of that?
* Frank Warren of Postsecret. Just about 2 years ago, I found myself face to face with Frank Warren's first archive of postcards from the Postsecret project: PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives. I became an instant fan and have continued to read Sunday Secrets every week since then. Having the opportunity to see someone whose vision I respect so highly was a complete honor. Frank's kind, gentle and open demeanor transformed a room full of geeks into humans with a shared experience. So many of my friends were moved by the keynote in large ways and it guided several conversations for the next few days. I purchased Frank's latest book, A Lifetime of Secrets and had the opportunity to speak to him in person and have it signed. It's a moment I won't soon forget.
* and oh so many other moments... Geekslovebowling: an entire bowling alley got rick-rolled. The Independents Hall party at Mooseknuckle. Dinner at Polvo's. The list goes on...
We had a great time. We shared and absorbed. We're all inspired. We're all counting down to next year.
Hell yeah.
This event is sponsored in part by 
