South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) is a massive festival, bringing together the brighest minds in digital media, technology, journalism, health, film, space, business, gaming and more. With hundreds of sessions, parties and meetups spread across dozens of venues around Austin, it can be difficult to navigate.
We've combed through the lineup for the 28th annual conference, and selected speakers, screenings, workshops and panel sessions that we think are most worth your time and effort.
See also: SXSW 2013 by the Numbers
Check out our picks below, which include short synopses, key logistical details and the reasons why we think you should attend.
It’s Not Rocket Science: UX for Niche Communities
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Dave Knox, Heidi Browning, John Ellis, Scott Lange
Where: Wanderlust
Why: You’ve heard of the Internet of Things, but what about the Internet of Cars? This session will be packed, so get there early. You can also register for Priority Seating.
The Next Steve Jobs May Be From Africa
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Claude Migisha Kalisa, Fred Mweetwa, Gertjan van Stam, Jessica Colaco
Where: ACC 9ABC
Why: It isn’t often that we get to learn about and see tech innovations in Africa — and yet some of the very best mobile payment systems are already in use there. During this session, we hope to learn some new perspectives on mobile banking, e-commerce, mobile education and more.
Taking the Collaborative Economy to Space
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Alex Hall, Anousheh Ansari, Bob Richards, Ruben Nunez
Where: Omni Downtown Lonestar
Why: There’s a space race on, and a handful of companies are working collaboratively to create a new economy. As we start to work seriously on colonizing space, what are lessons learned for entrepreneurs and academics alike?
What Social Media Analytics Can’t Tell You
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Alexandra Samuel, Beth Kanter, Colby Flint, Jeremiah Owyang
Where: Sheraton Austin Capitol EFGH
Why: "Take it with a grain of salt" is a phrase often heard with social media analytics, and this session tackles those grains head on. These speakers will ask and discuss a key question: What can you glean from people who aren’t your in social media audience and the things they aren’t posting?
Your Founder Is Your Product Manager
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Alicia Dixon, Jason Shah, Paul Young, Teresa Torres
Where: Hilton Garden Inn Red River
Why: This is a terrific group of people who will share their views on startup evolution and how to transition the product management role from the founder to the first product manager.
How Twitter Humorists Landed Sweet Real World Gigs
When: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who: Jenny Johnson, Josh Hara, Matt Silverman and Megan Amram
Where: ACC 12AB
Why: Learn how funny people leveraged social media in order to land their dream jobs and high praise from Rolling Stone, TIME and the Wall Street Journal. They’ll give you inside tips and ideas for how to use digital media to build a personal brand — while undoubtedly cracking you up in the process. All the speakers are terrific, making for a great end-of-day panel.
A Fearless Approach to Social Change
When: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who: Jean Case, Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
Where: Hilton Salon H
Why: Case is a dynamic speaker, and she’ll talk about her experience leading social change. It’s also a good opportunity to learn about unlikely partnerships and creative collaborations.
Being Social with Grandma: Social Media for 50+
When: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Who: Aldea Douglas, Andres Castillo
Where: Sheraton Austin Capitol ABCD
Why: If there’s a brand that’s getting social media right, it’s AARP — and it just so happens its target audience is the 50+ population. It has created community online with its members, and successfully engages across a variety of topics and events.
Type Tasting Global Lettering Workshop
When: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Who: Sarah Hyndman
Where: AT&T Conference Center Classroom #103
Why: This should be a fun, experiential workshop that will allow you to get your hands dirty with typography. Use templates, customize letters and learn about emerging trends in typography.
Breaking the Mold: How to Thrive When Allies Turn
When: 9:30 a.m - 10:30 a.m.
Who: Jehmu Greene, Joanne Bamberger and Sally Kohn
Where: ACC 10AB
Why: All three of the women on this panel have faced a tremendous amount of social backlash for challenging viewpoints contrary to their own. Listen to their stories about how to be an agent of change while even allies are turning against you, and especially as that plays out in digital media. All three are great speakers.
Live From Space! Talk With Astronauts in Orbit
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: John Yembrick
Where: Omni Downtown Capital Ballroom
Why: How many chances are you really going to get to web chat with astronauts in space? NASA has done some very cool things to change the way it gets its message out, and should have some smart takeaways. Plus, Yembrick is a terrific speaker.
43 Tongues: Emerging Market Apps for iOS & Android
When: 11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Who: Will Sullivan
Where: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom E
Why: Expect this to be a short but smart look at designing for and targeting the “other 5 billion” web users living in areas without freedom of press or the Internet. Sullivan is brilliant and is an expert in mobile. You won’t be disappointed.
The Quantified Artist: Biometric Augmented Reality
When: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Who: Robert Tuttle
Where: Hyatt Regency Austin Texas Ballroom 1-4
Why: This session will showcase an array of multimedia capture devices, new music productions tools and innovative ways of using biometric sensors as instruments. It’s a different way of thinking about our own personal data, and should help you think more creatively about sensors.
Media and the Personal Brand
When: 12:30 p. m - 1:30 p.m.
Who: Bill Simmons, Nate Silver
Where: ACC Ballroom D
Why: Simmons and Silver will talk about how independent voices are shaping our digital media landscape. They’re both brilliant — come with questions.
The Original Gangsters of Crowdfunding
When: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Who: Katherine Woo, Katie Bisbee, Kevin Conroy, Paull Young
Where: Austin Convention Center 9ABC
Why: This session will bring you back to the roots of crowdfunding with the folks who have been doing it the longest. Learn why they were successful then and how they’ve stayed in the game as crowdfunding went mainstream.
Always Be Testing: Detecting Novelty in A/B Tests
When: 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who: Amelia Showalter
Where: AT&T Conference Center Classroom 102
Why: The former director of digital analytics from President Obama’s re-election campaign is going to show how her team tested email, web and ad campaigns, and how they used those lessons to learn and adapt quickly. The workshop is a smart choice for anyone involved with digital content, audience engagement or email newsletters. Showalter is a spectacular speaker and a wonderful mentor.
Fearlessly Funny: The Women Changing Digital Humor
When: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who: Issa Rae, Jane Pratt, Kristina Wong, Mandy Stadtmiller
Where: Austin Convention Center, Room 18ABC
Why: This panel, convened by xoJane.com’s editor-in-chief, promises to be sassy, funny and honest. Bring smart questions to the Q&A and expect to spend some time laughing.
#TheSXSWRules - Making SXSW Work For You
When: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who: Cathryn Posey, Sophia Wong
Where: Courtyard Marriott Brazos
Why: This is a good session for folks new to SXSW (though we think it should have been on the Friday schedule). Posey and Wong are wonderful guides.
A Cloud of One’s Own
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: Dave Sanford, Jeff Kramer
Where: Sheraton Austin Capitol View North
Why: You’ve undoubtedly heard a lot about the cloud, but this session promises to delve into the special needs and opportunities presented by emerging personal clouds. This should be an active discussion session rather than a traditional PowerPoint presentation, which means it’s a fantastic opportunity to get expert answers to all your questions.
Running the Show: TV’s New Queen of Comedy
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: Adam Pally, Anne Fulenwider, Ike Bairnholtz and Mindy Kaling
Where: ACC Ballroom D
Why: The Mindy Project castmates will talk about how the show has evolved and about the emerging new crop of female showrunners. It’s a big room, but this is a combined Interactive and Film session and it’s sure to be packed. Get there early and plan to wait in line.
Everyone’s a Curator — Do Museums Still Matter?
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: Jennifer Yin, Kathryn Jaller, Sarah Bailey Hogarty, Willa Koerner
Where: Omni Downtown Longhorn
Why: These days, everyone’s a curator. Learn about how technology can be leveraged to curate, and what the future holds for museums. If you see the parallels between online storytelling and art curation, this should be fascinating. This is a fantastic opportunity to ask Koerner about how the SFMOMA has continued to attract an audience and cultivate its community while it’s shut down for renovations. There are lessons here for anyone hoping to build a relationship with their audiences.
Building the Bridge to Equality with Allies
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: Adria Richards, Hudson Taylor
Where: Austin Convention Center Room 5ABC
Why: Adria Richards turned heads, ignited the web and even received death threats last year after she named and shamed attendees who made her feel uncomfortable at a tech event. Now she’s changing the conversation, offering to give folks tools to be come a better ally in their community, school or workplace.
One Does Not Simply Walk into Mordor
When: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Who: Nilofer Merchant, Rachel Sklar
Where: Sheraton Austin Capitol ABCD
Why: The "who you know" game is rigged — and these speakers know it. This session is a smart choice for anyone who is trying to get a foot in the door, but has stopped in the past because they felt like they didn’t go to the right school or know the secret handshake. Merchant and Sklar are dynamic, insightful speakers and mentors.
Injecting Computation Everywhere
When: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Who: Stephen Wolfram
Where: ACC Exhibit Hall 5
Why: We always find Wolfram’s talks to be insightful, funny and inspiring. He’ll no doubt talk about Wolfram Alpha, but he’ll most likely also show how computational search and data can be used in lots of new ways. Get there early, as his session is usually standing room only and a line forms outside well before the session starts.
Hacking Princess Culture: Girls, Games, & Science
When: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Who: Jennifer Oxley, Lindsey Shepard, Sara DeWitt
Where: Long Center Dell Hall
Why: With so much focus on how professional women can lean in and crack the glass ceiling, this session looks at changing the future for women by starting with girls. If you saw GoldieBlox’s Super Bowl commercial and got excited, this is a good pick for you.
Accurate, Fair & Safe
When: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Who: Eric Carvin, Jennifer Preston
Where: Austin Convention Center Room 18ABCD
Why: Both Carvin and Preston have stellar reputations and have spoken extensively on social media reporting. Now they’re pairing up to examine the role of citizen journalists and the responsibilities newsrooms have to these sources.
Glassholes: The Cultural Dissonance of Technology
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Elise Hu, Patrick Miller, Perry Fair, Timothy Jordan
Where: Sheraton Austin Capitol EFGH
Why: From the first time you saw a guy talking to himself with a Bluetooth earpiece and thought, “Who does this guy think he is?” to the last time you saw someone wandering around wearing Google Glass, you’ve definitely had the feeling this panel wants to examine: Wearable and ever-present tech might turn us all into narcissistic voyeurs. Also, Hu is brilliant — even if she’s telling you that you might become a “glasshole.”
Mission 31 — How Exploration Enhances Advocacy
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Fabien Cousteau
Where: ACC 9ABC
Why: You may recognize his last name — Cousteau hails from a long line of ocean explorers, having grown up on the decks of his famous grandfather’s ships. He'll soon head deep into the ocean to live there for 31 days in order to conduct science experiments around climate change. He’s a really great speaker.
I Measure Every Single Thing My Kid Does
When: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Who: Amy Webb (Webbmedia Group and Spark Camp)
Where: ACC Ballroom F
Why: Last year, Webb explained how she used data and analytics to hack online dating and meet her husband. This year, she’s back to explain her data-driven approach to parenting. Even if you’re not a parent yourself, you’ll learn how to apply the techniques of Big Data to everyday life, your startups and more.
Printing Chocolate — Food on Demand
When: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who: Daniel Heron, Levi Lalla
Where: Omni Downtown Capital Ballroom
Why: We always recommend trying to take in a few panels that are well outside your usual professional focus, to help you gain perspective and see fresh ideas. Whether or not you’re a foodie, this session will help you think about 3D printing in new and unexpected ways. When was the last time you watched someone print food?
If Content Is King, Who Is Sheriff?
When: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Who: Gail Marie, Kristina Eastham, Mike Schmidth, Robert Hernandez
Where: Austin Convention Center, Room 12AB
Why: More content doesn’t always mean better, especially online. Who is the gatekeeper for digital content, who helps readers decide what to trust and who sets the ethical standards? Hernandez is a great speaker with a deep background in journalism.
Multiplatform Strategies for Making Good Happen
When: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Who: Caitlin Burns, Lina Srivastava, Liz Nord and Morra Aarons-Mele
Where: Driskill Hotel Ballroom
Why: This panel has a wealth of experience in political organizing, documentary filmmaking, education and storytelling. You’ll learn how to use technology for social good.
It’s Not Rocket Science: UX for Niche Communities
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: Joseph Medwid, Kevin McMillin
Where: Four Seasons Ballroom
Why: We’re always excited to hear from NASA, but this session in particular will talk about the particular needs of user experience design for very specific purposes. What if your system is only for five users? What if you don’t really need to scale your experience? There should be many lessons learned that you can apply across industries.
How Elizabeth Warren Built Her Grassroots Army
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: Amanda Coulombe, Lauren Miller, Mike Firestone, Mindy Myers (Elizabeth Warren’s digital team)
Where: ACC Room 10AB
Why: In 2012, Elizabeth Warren’s team launched and ran one of the most successful digital campaigns in Senate history. Her team will discuss what they did, what they learned and what all of that means for the 2014 political season. This will be a great session — especially if you’re not involved in politics.
A Conversation With Glenn Greenwald
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Glenn Greenwald, Micah Sifry
Where: ACC Exhibit Hall 5
Why: This should be a dynamic conversation between Greenwald, who’s changing the way we think about privacy and journalism, and Sifry, who has long been at the forefront of democracy and technology. They’re both terrific speakers — bring lots of questions. It’ll probably be very crowded, so get there early.
Platforms vs. Publishers: A Big New Theory
When: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Who: Zach Seward
Where: Driskill Hotel Maximilian
Why: Zach Seward posits that a big decision for media brands is where they choose to settle on a spectrum between publisher and platform. It might feel a little meta, but should be a good discussion for anyone who wants people to read, share and pay for their content. Zach is brilliant and generous — even if this topic itself isn’t of interest, go to hear Zach’s perspective, which will undoubtedly broaden yours.
Do Algorithms Dream of Viral Content?
When: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who: David Carr, Eli Pariser
Where: Austin Convention Center Ballroom D
Why: Where Old Media meets New: a New York Times media reporter/columnist and the CEO of Upworthy talk viral content and the role of algorithms. This should be a great discussion.
Future Foods — New Cuisine for a New Age
When: 11 a.m. - Noon
Who: Glenn Zorpette, Pablos Holman
Where: Radisson Town Lake
Why: The future of food is upon us, whether we’re printing it, growing it in a lab or processing it in unexpected ways. What are these new technologies? How will they work — and how will they impact society?
Photos by Live Box Photography. http://liveboxphoto.com/ © 2013 Live Box Photography
Photos by Live Box Photography. http://liveboxphoto.com/ © 2013 Live Box Photography
Photo by Mashable
Photo by Mashable
Photos by Live Box Photography. http://liveboxphoto.com/ © 2013 Live Box Photography
Photo by Mashable
Photo by Mashable
Photos by Live Box Photography. http://liveboxphoto.com/ © 2013 Live Box Photography
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