twopointouch

Lovely day out last Thursday with Robert Loch’s ‘internet people’ group. I have no idea how I came to be invited. Normally, my lot is a bit more ‘meeja’, but it was great to get out to meet some entrepreneurs actually ‘doing the do’.

The day started at the Boat, Coq D’argent, the East Rooms on Tabernacle St., where it was great to catch up with reprobates like my old friend Simon Prockter, Robert Loch and new media dilletante Paul Carr, who, it seems, has a new book coming out about the Web 2.0 start-up scene in London over the past couple of years. (review soon). Also great to catch up with the people from Crimson, past and present.

Photo credit: Mulquem. More here.

And then off to the Moo Party down at Brick Lane.

And did I learn anything? Mainly, not to mix beer and wine and indiscriminate cocktails (again) but also that there are a host of UK startups on the horizon, which I can’t tell you about. That the London dotcom entrepreneur crew are indefatigable in their desire to create something worthwhile and wonderful, and will not stop until they’ve done it.

And most interestingly, the ones that have done it already are among the hungriest to do it again.

I’m delighted to announce idesign 08, what we modestly like to call ‘the UK’s leading conference for interactive design.’ The conference will take place at the South Bank Centre, London on September 17 as part of the London Design Festival.

I’d be even more delighted if you were to: (a) book for the event; and (b) help us get the word out.

On getting the word out - grab this badge, stick it on your site and link to www.idesign-london.com - there is a pint in it for you*. I can do you a white version or different sizes if you like. Or - look - here’s the PSD File to *cough* mash-up your own!

The following might be loosely interpreted as marketing talk. You are free to go straight down to the blue button.

Early Bird Rates: Admission to the conference, the exhibition and portfolio clinic is currently available for just £60 (£50 for concessions). This price will rise in August, so don’t delay, book today. drinkapintamilkaday.

idesign 08 will showcase the best and most innovative work in the field and feature keynote speakers at the top of the profession. The programme is designed to be inspirational, informative and challenging. You will be a better interactive designer by the end of the day - or better able to understand the designers who work with you! You’ll also know about new opportunities and your pathway through this new digital world.

This conference is for you if:

• you want to be inspired with new ideas about web, 3D, interactive and mobile.
• you are a design professional who needs to keep abreast of the latest thinking and see best practice.
• you’re passionate about the future of the digital world.
• you want to share ideas and opportunities with like-minded creatives.

Speakers (more to come!):

· Brendan Dawes, Creative Director - MagneticNorth

· Ann Longley, Digital Strategy Director - Media Edge: CIA

· Adrian Shaughnessy, Consultant Creative Director - This is Real Art

· Colin Jenkinson, Design Director - Cogapp

· Ximo Peris, Creative Director - Smoothe

· Simon Waterfall, Creative Director of Poke and president of D&AD - Poke

· Michael Nutley, Editor-in-Chief, NMA - http://www.nma.co.uk

· More information about the speakers and the programme at http://www.idesign-london.com

The event will also host portfolio clinics from London’s top 10 digital agencies, and the digital design day exhibition and seminars.

Booking site:

Notes:

If you wish to make a group booking (five people or more) or believe you might be eligible for a press pass, email michelle.hardiman@nmk.co.uk for more information. Or just leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you.

Concessions are available for students, unemployed, freelancers, not-for-profit companies and charities. And other riff-raff, I expect.

*or simply great karma, for non-pint-drinkers.

Our website is down this morning. This happens from time to time, but not normally because the building it’s in has been burned down:

From the BBC:

A fire took hold at a university campus in north-west London for the second time in 48 hours.

About 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire at the University of Westminster, in Harrow on Sunday night.

The brigade said there were no reports of casualties but 30% of a three-floor classroom block was damaged.

I’m told that it’s unlikely that our servers were part of that 30% but that “the floor might be a bit wet“.