Last week, a few of our folks returned from SXSW Interactive, physically exhausted and mentally vitalized, bringing back with them enough knowledge and buzzwords to make anyone’s head explode.

It was a week of panels, parties, and serendipitous encounters — all worth the mile-long lines and schitz weather. We’ve collected their key takeaways, so you can keep your savings in tact to attend with us next year.

Erin Butler – Brand & Content Strategist

Favorite Speaker: Gary Vaynerchuk. He spat so much wisdom in digestible responses to audience questions, it’d be impossible not to get inspired. From undermining MBAs to firing the right people and leaving a legacy, this man had a grounded opinion on everything in the business, and zero reservations in expressing them.

Best Quote: “The first trillionaire in the world is going to be the person who first mines the asteroid belt.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson. If that doesn’t make you feel small and stupid, nothing will.

Food Reco: Moonshine, for sure. (Molasses & Chile Cured Pork Chop with Bourbon Apple Sauce, baked macaroni, and veggies. Yep.) Not sure what the taco fuss is all about.

Most annoying buzzword: “Disruption.” Quit slapping on this blanket term for any technical innovation or act of cultural defiance. We should be expected as a species to evolve.

Things learned:

That I need to take a dummy course on bitcoin.
We’re in an era of designing for purpose (as opposed to time, place, or person). The foreground has gotten spread too thin. (Reorienting UX for the Internet of Things presentation)
Avoid conjugating verbs in subject lines.
37 tips to write and speak better (shorthand notes)
Julian Assange looks much less creep with a beard.

George – Creative

Favorite Speaker: Neil deGrasse Tyson, of course. “One reason we should go space: You know the dinosaurs would have gone there if they could have. Dinosaurs didn’t have opposable thumbs or a space program, though.”

Food Reco: Iron Cactus was extra legit (table-side guac FTW).

Best Party: Close tie between the Dropbox Bash at The Container Bar or the Dribbble Meetup at the ABGB

Something learned: One of my favorite talks besides NDT was “The Future of Making” by the Tim Brown, the CEO of IDEO, and Joi Ito, the director of the MIT Media labs. Basically the future is going to be awesome. As technology makes its transition from something rare to something common (think electricity) the opportunities for how it can integrate and permeate through our lives is ridiculously exciting. Check this out for more: http://madeinthefuture.co/

Kristina Doyle – Director of Marketing

Favorite Speaker: “Be Awesome Without Their Permission” by Alexis Ohanian – He’s a great speaker and really inspiring. I appreciate how he goes into all his successes as well as failures – including lessons learned in all areas.

Food Reco: Moonshine Restaurant Patio Bar and Grill. Highly recommend JALAPEÑO HANGER STEAK with Jalapeño Scallion Butter and everything else.

Most Annoying Buzzword: “Activation”

Best New Discovery: Lonestar Beer #rustcohle

Things Learned: During “Super Fandom in the Digital Age,” Ze Frank (BuzzFeed’s EVP of Video) discussed “share statements” that categorizes why people share content:

Identity

“This expresses my identity better than I can.”
“This explains part of your identity that I don’t really understand.”

Emotional Gift

“This made me feel X; I’d like you to feel X.”
“I heard you’re feeling Y; I’d like you to feel X.”

Information

“Here is something that supports a view I already have.”
“I would like you to know that this information is important to me.”

Overall, it was a week for the books, and what we learned was just a drop in the bucket. Gifn even joined us for a few Facebook parties, and we were fortunate enough to meet up with old friends and colleagues. Looking forward to next year! Until then, we’ll be scouring Airbnb.

SXSWi 2014 Takeaways

Weekly Digital Roundup (3.17.14)