Creative Forum

February 21-22, 2010
Hyatt Olive 8 | Seattle

Join us in Seattle for the first annual IMCA Creative Forum. This ground breaking event focuses on creative trends and issues facing financial services marketing directors, marketing communications managers, and creative professionals.

 

We gather in beautiful Seattle, home to some of the world’s most talented creative professionals and world-class brands. Our agenda already includes presenters representing global brands Getty Images, Adobe, Starbucks, NIKE, and Lego.

 

Here’s a preview of this exciting agenda:
 

 

Rub Elbows Reception – Sunday night networking fun with peers at GAMEWORKS in downtown Seattle, just steps away from the Olive 8 Hotel.

 

Andrew Delaney
Head of Content
Getty Images

 

Overview: After seeing retirements dwindle, job-loss rates rise and housing market values continue to decline, it’s no wonder we’re all a bit insecure and wary. The biggest difference between consumer and social behavior today and two years ago is the complete breakdown of trust. Just as there is a debilitating lack of liquidity in the financial markets, the relationship between finance institutions and customers is far from fluid as well. In light of the continuing recession, it’s now more important than ever for Insurance and Finance institutions to reinvent their advertising and marketing strategies in order to not only distinguish themselves from the competition, but more importantly connect with customers in way that shows they understand the changing realities of our day-to-day life and belief systems. Words like “luxury” and “security” mean something completely different to what they did 12 months ago.

 

For advertisers and marketers the big question is, “What does this fast changing set of consumer values and beliefs look like?” Getty Images will share and discuss current examples of visual communication in the Insurance and Finance sector as well as highlight opportunities for the visual language to evolve in the future.

 

Will Eisley, Director, Adobe Creative Suite Products
Adobe Incorporated
 
Overview: New industry trends require combining print, web, video, and mobile content into experiences that enhance a brand and actively engage audiences. Will Eisley, responsible for setting three- to five-year roadmap and strategic direction for the Adobe Creative Suite, will explore how these trends are reshaping design, and learn how Adobe technologies enable you to create, manage, and publish content across multiple channels efficiently and cost effectively. Regardless of your core discipline – marketing and communications strategy, editorial design, advertising, print design, video production, or interactive, web, and mobile development, you’ll walk away with practical information about how to create 360-degree design experiences for your clients.

 

Mitch Dunford, Chief Executive Officer – Wells Publishing, Inc. - Insurance Journal Magazine, Insurancejournal.com, MyNewMarkets.com, ClaimsJournal.com

Overview: We are in the midst of a Web 2.0 technology revolution, and the insurance industry is taking note. But using technology in the insurance industry doesn’t only mean email, spreadsheets and advertising. The use of social media tools, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, podcasts, wikis, and video is expanding rapidly and changing the way people buy and sell insurance. Wells Publishing CEO Mitch Dunford will share his real world insights on how savvy carriers, agents, brokers, and wholesalers are making social media work for them for both internal and external communications.

 

Rich Look, IMCA President

Vice President of Communications, Inventure

Overview: To come out a winner, thoughtful preparation is needed before submitting your creative work to the annual IMCA Showcase Awards competition. In this session, Rich Look and IMCA Executive Director Temie Seibert we’ll review category requirements, judging criteria, and the submission process. You’ll also get helpful tips on what it takes to differentiate yourself in the eyes of the judges and how to create an impressive visual display at the annual conference. 
 

Randall L. Clinger, CPCU, ARe
VP, Head of Marketing Communications - America

 
Overview: Great marketing and creative stems from a strong corporate culture. At Swiss Re, the award winning Marcom team is charged with the overall management of corporate brand positioning, brand promise and brand architecture through research, communications, partnerships, design and other marketing disciplines. Randy will discuss how the team at Swiss Re was recruited and assembled, and is motivated today to produce best-in-class marketing communications that have achieved worldwide recognition. Learn how the team built a unique collaborative environment and elevated its value through expansion and positioning of the brand, resulting in new revenue-generating initiatives. 
 

Betti Fujikado, Co-Founder - Copacino + Fujikado

Overview: All companies are looking for measurable results. But many ignore the power, value and effectiveness creative has on ROI. In this session, the creative agency behind Safeco Insurance, REI, and the Seattle Mariners baseball team will present thoughts and case histories on how to successfully achieve ROI in multi-platform campaigns by successfully integrating traditional and digital media to achieve quantifiable results. And, to make it interesting, Betti will share case studies illustrating why the intrinsic drama of advertising can produce positive results even if not always measurable (aka she’ll spend a little time rejoicing in not being a bean counter).