SXSW 2021 Recap and Trends

Prioritizing progress was the central thread running through SXSW sessions this year. Purpose and intention define long-term progress, and both have become an integral north star that should influence every corporate outcome, in every industry.

In an age with an onslaught of social issues, corporations hold the power to create the change consumers want to see, and form a better, more equitable world. Mindshare's Invention+ team recap everything we need to know from SXSW, and what the key takeaways for brands are.

The Trends

A Call For Better Capitalism

In the past year, social, climate, and health issues came to a head, causing a corporate reckoning: that in a capitalistic society, corporations can use their power to influence wide-scale social change and impact the world for good.

Tech's Inclusivity Problem

As advanced as technology is, it’s not nearly as inclusive as it could be. We’ve seen too many instances of technology failing at including critical communities either by leaving them out entirely or escalating the biases against them.

Voices of Change

Across mediums, the stories we tell, the voices we uplift and the communities we represent have the power to influence society and drive subsequent action.

The Age of Immersion

In the era of peak separation, the human need to connect with others and continue traditionally in-person experiences has emerged. Immersive experiences are answering that need in an engaging, human-first way.

Sci-Fi Becomes Non-Fi

The future is closer than we think: from revolutionary health tech to transportation to holograms, the products that once seemed improbable have dedicated teams working to make them a reality.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL RECAP, INCLUDING TAKEAWAYS FOR BRANDS

Written by Kate Rominger, Invention+, Mindshare