The Electrolux Innovision Award

I'm extremely proud to announce that I picked up a rather cool item of (virtual) silverware earlier this week - the "Electrolux Innovision Award", in a special event intended to "recognize and celebrate the most creative and exciting inventors in Second Life". You can read more about the shindig over on the Millions of Us blog, here.

I was really pleased to be invited to the event - aside from getting to carry home some phat l3wt, it was nice to mingle with a few people whose work I've always admired from afar ... and perhaps somewhat affirming (and pleasantly surprising!) to discover that so many them knew who I was too, and what I'd invented. I guess when you work as an independent developer, it's easy to fall into a little bubble, where you don't really have the best idea of how your work is perceived outside your immediate circle of friends/customers, by the world at large... so ... yeah... I was really hyped up and happy by the time I left :)

Not a bad little event either... really nicely-designed venue ... the "innovision" build resembles a huge light-bulb, floating out of a giant electrolux cardboard box. I find these abstract, in-your-face-metaphor builds are sometimes a bit hit-and-miss, but this one was perfect; really nice work, and *just* the right size too. I think my only criticism is the inclusion of (possibly) the most frustrating physical elevator I've ever encountered in Second Life... it took me a good 4 or 5 attempts to get up to the presentation area inside the light bulb (I don't think it jived particularly well with prim shoes!), and it claimed several other victims over the course of the event...  

The event kicked off with a short presentation from Deva Bade (aka Carola Lundell of Electrolux), about their presence in Second Life. They seem to be taking an interesting approach. No doubt warned away from the (obvious) folly of trying to sell prim fridges and prim vacuum cleaners to SL residents, they instead seem to be trying to promote themselves as some kind of facilitator for SL's inventor/gadgeteering community, and pushing for some kind of brand association with virtual world innovation. Or -- maybe in simpler terms -- trying to be the "inventor geek" equivalent of Pontiac's Motorati ;) (my words, not theirs). It's an interesting approach to take - but from the materials they put out, they do appear to be playing a long game. It'll be very interesting to see how their presence pans out.

The presentation was followed by a short "panel discussion" about a few topics of general interest to SL inventors. The electrolux blog describes this as a "fast and furious chat conversation about how to provide customer service of new innovations and how to integrate web sites and email into Second Life" ... but to be honest, it was probably the weakest part of the event - didn't really have enough formal structure to be considered a proper "panel" imho, ... and the discussion got a bit random at times. Nevertheless, the hostess - Daphne Molinari, did a pretty good job of keeping things moving ... and for that matter, the hosting throughout the event was pretty slick and impressive. Top marks on that front :)

So, onto the awards - you can read who got what, and the introductions were given to each award over on the MoU blog, so I won't waste space repeating that here, other than to say I was really happy with my introductory blurb; somebody had obviously done their homework :)  ...worryingly, Daphne crashed out just as I was walking up to receive my award - but she got back in-world pretty fast, and I guess SL wouldn't be SL without at least one good crash per event ;)

Then we all went downstairs - (or *tried* to go downstairs - the demon elevator _really_ wanted everybody to stay upstairs, and took some considerable fighting to convince otherwise) ... for the unveiling of a new contest being run by electrolux. They want people to invent a new word, bringing to mind innovation in SL - you can read all about it at the electrolux "innovision hub" in-world. The prize is L$100,000 ... to be awarded in a fortnight's time.... gotta be worth a try, right? 

The music was turned on, and the event ended with a party. Flea Bussy impressed us with some *amazing* avatar designs - a few of which made it into the flickr pool here ... but - sadly - it was already time for me to make my excuses, and leave.

Dressed as a fish.

(thanks Flea!).

Anyway, I had a great time, it was _wonderful_ to be awarded a prize, and I'll be watching with great interest where electrolux go from here. Thanks to all involved! :)

Comments

[Iris Mirabeau]

Congrats Shep! :D

[Funaria Moose]

I hope you'll always remember I called you my favourite designer first!