Lift Presentations @ Living Room

Lift @ home

This event is part of Lift at home, a program where you can run your own Lift event at your place!
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Took place on Saturday, 17. October 2009 - 12:00 - 16:00

Punchy, diverse, interesting

Lift @ Living Room is an informal gathering of London-based Lifters and friends who come together for a couple of hours to listen to short, punchy talks delivered by people who are passionate about their topic.

Speakers

James Buchanan, Director of Insight and Innovation at Iris
"Art and science and research" (10 minutes, english)

Saul Parker, Anthropologist at http://www.flamingo-international.com
"Is digital time elastic?" (10 minutes, english)

Paul (more info), DJ and Cycling Instructor
"Cycle culture and tribalism in London" (10 minutes, english)

Sebastian Kemmler, Strategic Planner at The Red Brick Road
"Third Person Effect: Why Adverts Convince Everyone But Consumers" (10 minutes, english)

Teija Eilola-Buchanan , Fashion Designer
"Making a seamless garment - looking at fashion design through mi" (10 minutes, english)

Charlie Gower (more info), Service Design Lead at Fjord
"Mash up of folk art, patinas, muscle memory and screens" (10 minutes, english)

Stephen Molloy, Architect at http://www.graftlab.com/
"Craftsmanship and Exponential Redemption" (10 minutes, english)

Ali Kaviani, Astronomer and Choreograph
"On generic cooking" (10 minutes, english)

Recap of the event

The conceptual idea behind the lift@living room in London was to go analog: no laptops, powerpoint and digi-cams but overhead projector, acetats and polaroids. Apart from that, all speakers were welcome to chose their topic freely, passion for it provided.

Given our status as the 'hinge generation' - having been raised in mass-mediated societies while having adopted everything digital later in life - it felt oddly familiar/homely to work with and experience these old techniques again.

Interestingly, most of the talks did mirror a similar sentiment and feeling. The common thread of the conversations of the day:
- go and make digital less sterile, more charming and warm - give it a personality, make it age and crumble
- show wear and tear of interfaces, add a quirk here and there, add a stubborn character
- cherish the one-off, the unique, the perfected craft, start young!
- be social, cycle, scratch-cook, up-skill your analog, the everyday

Tea, coffee, sausages and the bonfire helped facilitate a lot of these concepts right there in the living room and garden. Thanks to all who came and made it happen!

Felix Koch