Advertising in the Spotlight in London at FOCUS 2024

As conversations around the future of advertising continue to ramp up, FOCUS 2024 is keeping its finger on the pulse. Across Tech and Innovation, Craft and Creativity, and Business and leadership, the advertising space is set to be explored from all angles across the two-day event. From 10-11th December at the Business Design Centre in Islington, come and hear from some of the most poignant voices in the industry, and get ahead of what to know in advertising.  

Technology is a driving force behind some of the most significant creative endeavours of the past year. From VFX to VR the possibilities are endless. Take a look behind Wonka with the Framestore visual effects department as they show that The Beginning is Not the End with their narrative driven process from pitch to final product.   

Technological innovations such as AI and the complexities of the algorithm are a constant within conversations around the creative industries, and with Entertainment 2030: The Convergence of Art, Algorithm, and Audience closer than you think, understanding the relationship between human creativity and these technological developments is crucial. Learn how you can be Unleashing a New Kind of Storytelling (with AI) to future proof your career hand in hand with this new technology, stay in the loop of What’s Next, and do it all with the Cost of Fuel Free Production in mind.  

With viewers consuming content on every platform, marketers are having to navigate their way through the masses and learn How to Break through to Audiences in an oversaturated landscape. Find out What Film and Content Creators Can Teach Eachother and explore the new crossover format opportunities as social media stars such as Mr Beast and the Sidemen take the jump to traditional TV.  

For the newer trends in Reimagining Television, get ahead of the innovations driving the future of the screen with Gaggl co-founder Adam Harris, professor of creative industries and head of inclusive futures at Royal Holloway Angela Chan and Wonderhood Studios David Abraham. As mediums converge, so do the skills; the time for Skills in Motion: Building a Multi-Industry Career is now. 

In this new landscape, knowledge is power, but so is the sharing of it. CEO of Pearl & Dean Kathryn Jacob OBE leads The Sue Hayes Lecture on How Creativity Drives Success whilst writer and director Isolde Penwarden along with Claire Prince explore How to Get Commissions in Branded Entertainment for the newcomers breaking into long from content with a competitive edge in their back pocket.  

The future of the industry transcends far beyond the technology, and FOCUS hones in on the human power behind it all, hearing from the Women Shaping the Industry as they dissect their own experiences and explore what it means to manage versus lead, in association with The Advertising Producers Association. The emPOWER Breakfast founder Athene Parker takes it beyond the workday and explores how to lead your life towards self-care and proper work/life balance. Speaking with The Magic Sauce Course global marketing director and founder James Hayhurst, Menopause Mandate and Dark Horses CEO and director Melissa Robertson and Song Studios EMEA executive leadership and UK Country lead Leila Bartlam explore how to keep your personal life in check without succumbing to the professional. 

Register here now for your complimentary delegate pass to FOCUS 2024 held at the Business Design Centre, Islington from 10-11th December.