UPDATE: Check out the full schedule and stay up to date here.
It is time to start planning your 2008 conference schedule. Last year, I pulled together a list as 2007 brought us many new conference opportunities. To make it easier to plot out your conference roadmap this year I have once again compiled a list of some of the best web 2.0, technology, design, marketing and innovation conferences and events scheduled in 2008. This list does not contain all the TECH cocktail events I will be hosting as they will be announced soon.
If you are a conference organizer interested in having Somewhat Frank as media sponsor covering your event or if I have left an event off the list please contact me as this is meant to be a living blog post.
2008 is going to be busier then ever - happy conferencing!
UPDATED: I have pulled together a shared Google Calendar of all the events in this list.
JANUARY 2008
Consumer Electronics Show
January 7-10 ~ Las Vegas, NV
With four decades of history, the International CES reaches across
global markets, connects the industry and enables consumer electronic innovations to
grow and thrive. This show is filled with innovations in technology, gadgets and lots of big TV's! This may be the last time CES is in Vegas for awhile as they may be moving it to Chicago.
MacWorld Conference & Expo
January 14-18 ~ San Francisco, CA
Immerse
yourself in five revitalizing day’s worth of the largest gathering of
Mac industry experts, pundits, and enthusiasts. Cultivate fresh skills,
nurture new acquaintances, and harvest indispensable tools in which to
further feed your imagination and fuel your Mac soul. Watch Steve Jobs' customary keynote address where he usually announces and sometimes unveils new Apple products.
SEED Conference
January 18 ~ Chicago, IL
Jason
Fried, Carlos Segura and Jim Coudal will lead a
presentation and discussion on design, entrepreneurship, and
inspiration. You'll learn about taking control of your own work, seeking out
methods to inspire new ideas, and adopting unconventional ideas about
collaboration and business. The SEED conference will fill your
head with knowledge you can use.
DLD
January 20-22 ~ Munich, Germany
DLD (Digital, Life, Design) is one of Europe's freshest conferences
covering digital innovation, gaming, arts and science, bringing
together thought leaders from Europe, the Middle-East, America and
Asia.
DEMO 08
January 28-30 ~ Palm Desert, CA
The premier launch venue for new products, technologies
and companies. DEMO has established a reputation for identifying and presenting to an elite audience the products
most likely to have a significant impact on the marketplace and market trends in the coming year. Check out some examples of past Demo conference coverage here and here.
WebGuild Web 2.0 Conference & Expo
January 29 ~ San Jose, CA
Not to be confused with the official Web 2.0 Expo by O'Reilly, the WebGuild Silicon Valley has created this conference to help you to learn how you can leverage Web 2.0 technologies to
gain competitive advantages, find customers, and discover new business opportunities.
Social Networking Conference
January 31 - February 1 ~ Miami, FL
The event
will discuss: online community business models, global business
strategies, venture capital, new mobile technologies, marketing of
social networks, online community software, partnerships, legal issues,
background search and payment systems.
FEBRUARY 2008
Greener Gadgets
February 1 ~ New York, NY
Industry leaders,
entrepreneurs, journalists, and designers will gather to discuss the
business case for the greening of the consumer electronics industry. This one day conference featuring key representatives from some of the
largest consumer electronics companies in the world, innovators from
academic thinktanks, members of startups focused on renewable energy,
and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and
business.
O'Reilly Money:Tech Conference
February 6-7 ~ New York, NY
Where Web 2.0 meets Wall Street this conference focuses on the new tools, data and approaches to investing.
O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing
February 11-13 ~ New York, NY
The second annual O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing (TOC)
Conference considers what's at stake for the future of publishing for
people who are passionate about books and book publishing. Most
publishers know that next steps are needed—TOC helps them take the
plunge and connect with the right ideas, tools, and innovators.
Search Engine Strategies UK
February 19-21 ~ London, UK
The industry converges for a week of spirited discussion, high-level
learning and attendees leave with actionable battle plans to go forward
with for their companies.
Future of Web Apps: 2008 Miami
February 28 - March 1 ~ Miami, FL
Carsonified is bringing FOWA to the US for two days of inspiration and insight where speakers will be discussing the future of the web industry, Web 2.0, emerging technologies and standards, and how it will change the way you build applications.
MARCH 2008
O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2008
March 3-6 ~ San Diego, CA
At the 2008 version of ETech, the O'Reilly Emerging Technology
Conference, we'll take a wide-eyed look at the brand new tech that's
tweaking how we are seen as individuals, how we choose to channel and
divert our energy and attention, and what influences our perspective on
the world around us.
O'Reilly Graphing Social Patterns
March 3-4 ~ San Diego, CA
The premier conference for developers and marketers building and
distributing apps for MySpace, Facebook, Google Open Social and other
social networking platforms.
Web 2.0 & Beyond: Applying Social & Collaborative Tools to Business Problems
March 5-6 ~ London, UK
UNICOM’s 4th Social Tools Conference presents new viewpoints and case studies explaining the value, application and (sometimes) the downside of social tools in a business context. It looks beyond the “why” of Enterprise 2.0 to explain the “how”, giving all participants a true learning experience.
MIX08 Conference
March 5-7 ~ Las Vegas, NV
Now in its third year, MIX, a Microsoft hosted event, is an intimate opportunity for cutting-edge technical, creative and business strategists to engage Microsoft in a conversation about the future of the web. Come explore the latest wave of opportunities and help redefine the boundaries between: content and commerce, PC and TV, Windows and the Web.
South By Southwest Interactive
March 7-11 ~ Austin, TX
Attracting digital creatives as well as visionary technology entrepreneurs, the SXSW Interactive Festival enables you to connect, discover and inspire your link to the cutting edge.
Media Summit 2008
March 12-13 ~ New York, NY
The
Premier International Conference on Motion Pictures, Television, Cable
& Satellite, Broadband, Wireless, Publishing, Radio, Magazines,
News & Print Media, Advertising and Marketing.
Search Engine Strategies NY
March 17-20 ~ New York, NY
The industry converges for a week of spirited discussion, high-level
learning and attendees leave with actionable battle plans to go forward
with for their companies.
VON (Voice, Video and Vision)
March 17-20 ~ San Jose, CA
A conference founded by Jeff Pulver, VON has built a community on the evolution and convergence of IP communication technologies. Find out the latest industry news about VoIP, IPTV, Fixed Mobile Convergence, IMS and much more.
AJAXWorld
March 18-20 ~ New York, NY
The most comprehensive meeting on the most significant technology
subjects of recent times: AJAX, Rich Internet Apps & Web 2.0.
CommunityNext LA
March 29 ~ West Hollywood, CA
Community
Next is a conference series that brings people together to
meet each other and learn about hot new things in the tech world. This
particular installment will focus on next generation media and the Web. Check out past CommunityNext coverage.
APRIL 2008
The Next Web Conference
April 3-4 ~ Amsterdam, Netherlands
A must attend for every forward thinking CEO, Internet Entrepreneur,
Strategy Planner, Top Notch Consultant and Venture Capitalist in Europe
and a great networking opportunity. This event has an all-star cast of speakers as well.
CHI 2008 art.science.balance
April 5-10 ~ Florence, Italy
CHI 2008 focuses on the balance between art and science, design and
research, practical motivation and the process that leads the way to
innovative excellence. It is about balance in our rapidly evolving
field, the balance between individuals and groups, collocated and
remote, stationary and mobile, in both our local and global communities.
Information Architecture Summit 2008
April 10-14 ~ Miami, FL
A premier gathering place for information architects and for discussion
about information architecture. Everyone who touches on IA is welcome
to share and learn. Last year's IA Summit attracted over 500 attendees,
including beginners, experienced IAs, and people in a range of related
fields. This year's tagline/theme is "Experiencing Information."
Future of Web Design
April 17-18 ~ London, UK
Hear from the world's leading designers as they take you through the complete design process from how to find inspiration to build, usability and evolving your design.
World Wide Web 2008 Conference
April 21-25 ~ Beijing, China
The World Wide Web Conference is a global event bringing together key
researchers, innovators, decision-makers, technologists, businesses,
and standards bodies working to shape the Web. Since its inception in
1994, the WWW conference has become the annual venue for international
discussions and debate on the future evolution of the Web.
Adaptive Path San Francisco: MX
April 20 - 23 ~ San Francisco, CA
Design has emerged as a strategic force in business. Managers building
the next generation of digital products are confronted with an
increasingly demanding set of challenges. MX San Francisco brings
together thought-leaders in design & business to address these
challenges.
Web 2.0 Expo 2008
April 22-25 ~ San Francisco, CA
A companion event to the Web 2.0 Summit,
Web 2.0 Expo is the first event specifically designed to help teach Web
2.0 techniques and best practices to people in the trenches directly
involved in the design, development, engineering, marketing, and
business of second-generation internet technology. Check out past Web 2.0 Expo coverage.
An Event Apart
April 24-25 ~ New Orleans, LA
Hear from the top people in the field as they discuss best practices in
web design and development. Not only design and coding, but usability,
accessibility, and more.
Gel 2008
April 24-25 ~ New York, NY
Gel ("Good Experience Live") is a conference and community exploring
good experience in all its forms -- in business, art, society,
technology, and life.
MAY 2008
SOBCon 2008
May 2-4 ~ Chicago, IL
SOBCon08 is “Biz School for Blogging.” This year’s event
tracks entrepreneur bloggers and corporate bloggers alike, with an
innovative format and a stellar cast of speaker/instructors.
Digital Hollywood Spring
May 5-8 ~ Hollywood, CA
The Premier Event for Transforming Entertainment, Technology & the
global communications network: TV, cable, telco, mobile, broadband,
consumer electronics, search & email, VoIP, RSS, blogs and web
sites.
Where 2.0
May 12-14 ~ Burlingame, CA
Brings together the people, projects, and issues building the new
technological foundations and creating value in the location industry. A great place to meet the people behind the mash-ups and
platforms, and the folks looking ahead to the future of geospace.
Streaming Media East
May 19-21 ~ New York, NY
Covers both the business of video on the net and the technology of streaming, downloading, IPTV and mobile video delivery. Covering both b2b and b2c business and technology issues in the enterprise, advertising, media and entertainment, broadcast and education markets.
Mesh
TBD ~ Toronto, Ontario - Canada
Hear from thought leaders, connect with peers, and get a better understanding of the impact of new developments online. mesh brings together people who are passionate about the potential of the Web to change how we live, work and play. Meet the next generation of Web ideas, leaders and companies at mesh.
TECH cocktail CONFERENCE
May 29 ~ Chicago, IL
The first annual TECH cocktail CONFERENCE will focus on taking a “no nonsense” approach to
building a business that can flourish by leveraging technology and the
Web. This one day conference offers access to a wonderful cast of experts and will be followed up by the popular TECH cocktail mixer event afterwards. The Chicago tech scene will definitely be a buzz this late day in May.
RailsConf 2008
May 29 - June 1 ~ Portland, OR
The official event for the growing Rails community. If you're
passionate about Rails and what it helps you achieve—or are curious
about how Rails can help you create web applications better and
faster—RailsConf is the place to be.
Future of Online Advertising
TBD, New York, NY
The Web presents a fast and effective advertising medium. Learn from the industry leaders on the emerging trends in online advertising.
Web Content 2008
June 17-18 ~ Chicago, IL
This local conference brings together nationally recognized
technology, content, and marketing authorities involved with creating,
organizing, maintaining, and delivering web content. Presenters will
share best practices, new approaches, lessons learned, and provide
real-world examples. Check out past Web Content coverage.
Supernova 2008
June 16-18 ~ San Francisco, CA
Challenge your insights and predictions
for the connected future with some of the top technology and business influencers,
leading investors, visionary entrepreneurs, and provocative thinkers
debating the major emerging trends in computing, communications, and
media. Supernova 2008 represents a turning point. The “web 2.0” boom has
already lasted longer than its “web 1.0” predecessor. Battles over the
future of the desktop, the data center, the broadband platform, the
media, the social ecosystem, and the planet have been joined in
earnest. This is not the time for small ideas or business as usual. Check out past Supernova coverage here, here and here.
JULY 2008
O'Reilly OSCON 2008
July 21-25, Portland, OR
OSCON is the crossroads of all things open source, bringing together
the best, brightest, and most interesting people to explore what's new,
and to champion the cause of open principles and open source adoption
across the computing industry.
AUGUST 2008
Adaptive Path User Experience Week 2008
August 12-15 ~ San Francisco, CA
UX Week is the premier user experience conference, and in 2008 we
consider what it takes to create great products and services in an
uncertain world. With a mix of inspiring talks from recognized thought
leaders and hands-on workshops delivering takeaway skills, this event
delivers for user experience professionals at all levels -- directors,
managers, and practitioners.
New Media Expo
August 14-16 ~ Las Vegas, NV
Event
that brings together influential audio and video podcasters, digital
media creators, and bloggers to cover the complete range of creation
techniques, business objectives and future trends.
Gnomedex 8.0
TBD ~ Seattle, WA
Hosted by Chris Pirillo this technology conference pulls together the leading bloggers and social media industry leaders.
Attendees from years past have grown accustomed to this experience -
finding it refreshing and genuine. They created a conference that
seemingly broke ALL the rules.
SEPTEMBER 2008
euroGel 2008
TBD ~ Copenhagen, Denmark
euroGel is a European version of Gel ("Good Experience Live") conference and community exploring
good experience in all its forms -- in business, art, society,
technology, and life.
TechCrunch40 Conference 2008
TBD ~ San Francisco, CA
Twenty of the hottest new startups will announce and demo their
products over a two day period. And they don’t pay a cent to do this.
They will be selected to participate based on merit alone. Check out past TechCrunch40 conference coverage.
Streaming Media West
September 23-25 ~ San Jose, CA
Covers both the business of video on the net and the
technology of streaming, downloading, IPTV and mobile video delivery.
Covering both b2b and b2c business and technology issues in the
enterprise, advertising, media and entertainment, broadcast and
education markets.
Digital ID World 2008
September 8-10 ~ Anaheim, CA
A source for the straight talk, hard-won lessons, and practical insight derived from real-world deployments. Our focus is simple: putting enterprise IT professionals onstage to give you their unvarnished views on what it took to achieve success with their identity deployments. Digital ID World is the industry event for learning how to help manage your business with identity.
OCTOBER 2008
GreenXchange Xpo
October 1-3 ~ Los Angeles, CA
The
GreenXchange Xpo will be the multi-sector and cross-disciplinary
exhibition marketplace allowing attendees to discover their complete
portfolio of green solutions and market opportunities under one roof.
The GreenXchange Xpo will encompass the GreenXchange Global Marketplace
Conference and the global exhibition marketplace for policy shapers,
thought leaders and environmental innovators to see first hand all the
latest green technologies and solutions.
Web 2.0 Summit
TBD ~ San Francisco, CA
Focuses on emerging business and technology
developments that utilize the Web as a platform and defines how the Web
will drive business in the future.
Entertainment for All Expo
TBD ~ Los Angeles, CA
Entertainment for All Expo (E for All Expo), launching in 2007, will
be the premiere event for video games and other electronic
entertainment. E for All will bring together all people who are
passionate about video games and everything in electronic
entertainment, including: consumers, publishers, developers, industry
innovators and luminaries, retailers, distributors and media.
Widget Summit
TBD ~ San Francisco, CA
Widget Summit is a two-day conference on widgets and content
syndication. Web pages have gotten smaller, dynamic, and distributed as
components within the desktop, personalized homepage, social network,
blog sidebars, mobile phones, and even dedicated hardware.
NOVEMBER 2008
Future of Mobile
TBD, London, UK
Mobile devices and the mobile Web is still in its infant state and this conference explores the emerging technologies of the mobile space.
Defrag Conference 2008
November 3-4, Denver, CO
The Defrag conference focused solely on the tools and technologies that are leveraging the "social" aspect of software to accelerate the "aha" moment. Defrag is not a version number. Rather it's a gathering place for the growing community of implementers, users, builders and thinkers that are working on the next wave of software innovation.
The New New Internet Conference
TBD ~ Reston, VA
Showcasing 60+ speakers from across the country,
extensive networking and 26+ technology demos offered at the
conference. Here are some details from last years event.
Blog World Expo
TBD ~ Las Vegas, NV
A tradeshow, conference, and media event
dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media.
DECEMBER 2008
Search Engine Strategies Chicag0
December 8-11 ~ Chicago, IL
The industry converges for a week of spirited discussion, high-level
learning and attendees leave with actionable battle plans to go forward
with for their companies.
Be sure to bookmark this page as it will be updated as new events arise. Also please contact me if you are looking for media coverage for your conference on Somewhat Frank.
