The Visual Media Conference which ran from September 21st to September 23rd was a hybrid programme of virtual and live-streamed events, highlighting the key challenges facing print, sign, and wide-format companies.

This is the 8th year the conference has run, attracting companies from all over the world thanks to its digital platform. The event brought together representatives from the likes of the UK, the USA, and Saudi Arabia.

While live events and meetings are now starting to emerge once more, this hybrid event demonstrates the reach and collaborations companies in the industry can obtain, aspects the CDI aims to encourage.

Thanks to the conference sponsorships, and partnership between BOSS and the BPIF, the conference was available at no cost to attendees.

Many of the sessions at the three day conference focused on new ways companies can work digitally and use innovative technology such as VR and XR (virtual reality and extended reality) to mimic in-person events.

XPLOR, a research branch of Backstage academy, talked about its first research and innovation centre for entertainment technology and production, citing an ideal opportunity for advertisers and sign-makers to collaborate with event and experience makers.

The sessions also included talks from innovators in sustainability such as Nestlé, as well as retailers like ASDA, who discussed the company’s new approach to sustainable packaging, and store solutions.

Speakers included former BBC journalist, Andrew Hawken, from Mesmerise, a company that specialises in augmented, and virtual reality (AR and VR), in addition to presenters like Mathew Faulkner from Canon Europe.

Faulkner presented research on the transitions between print and digital, citing statistics into digital fatigue, and the problems brands are facing in 2021 and beyond.

Chief executive officer at BPIF, Charles Jarrold says: “The Visual Media Conference has always been about the intersection where creativity, technology and print meet. Creativity is stimulated at these boundaries, where disciplines intersect, where there’s creative tension.

“Solving challenges, particularly around the area of this year’s conference focus on environment and sustainability requires imagination, creativity, entrepreneurialism, and a will to take action.”

The video sessions can be found online at the VMC website and CDI YouTube channel, as well as details about the conference speakers.

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