“EMMA makes it easy to manage complex streams of content in a smart way”, Menno Liauw, Strategy Director and Partner at Vandejong Creative Agency
Hello from EMMA! Every week we publish interviews with the members of EMMA´s international project team to introduce the creative minds behind.
Today: Menno Liauw, Strategy Director and Partner at Vandejong Creative Agency.
Today: Menno Liauw, Strategy Director and Partner at Vandejong Creative Agency.
Please tell me something about yourself and your professional background.
Menno Liauw: After studying Language and Literature I have been working with creatives for over twenty years – the last fifteen years at Vandejong Creative Agency as Strategy Director and Partner. I’m specialized in branding, business plans and exploitation, and mainly focus on (long-term) developments of these for organisations.
Besides Vandejong, I’m co-owner of Unseen, an Amsterdam-based photography fair, festival and platform. For the past five years we’ve built up the strong position of Unseen as an art fair, and from now on we are investing in digitalising the platform and expanding its services. We are also planning to go international with Unseen.
I am also one of the founders of Spring House, a members club for radical innovators. The building houses a restaurant, co-working spaces used by 150 professionals, and many events take place there, such as talks and exhibitions. Vandejong is also located at Spring House.
What makes the development of the EMMA tool so interesting and relevant for your work?
Menno Liauw: The EMMA tool is relevant because I think we can make it a distinctive one. It is a great system to manage content from multiple social media streams. Today’s social media landscape is ever-changing. EMMA makes it easy to manage these complex streams of content in a smart way. Also, it is very handy for creating real-time, personalised, on-the-spot information. It provides you with good ‘live info’ during a festival – which saves time to actually experience what’s happening instead of checking your devices all the time. This way, your festival visit will be more satisfying. Until now that hasn’t really existed yet. For example, at the Frankfurter Buchmesse or at Unseen the EMMA tool could be of use. It is useful for both the festival organisers and the visitors.
If you take a look in the crystal ball – how will the digital world look like in ten years´ time?
Menno Liauw: The digital world will be very dominant, almost completely and more intensely present in our existence. I am very aware of the dangers this involves, mainly concerning privacy issues. Technology decides for you what you want, instead of what you want as a human being. I personally try to avoid that, for example by guarding my personal data.
Thanks for your time, Menno!
Meet EMMA at Unseen Festival, September 22-24, 2017, Amsterdam (https://unseenamsterdam.com/)
Meet EMMA at the Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 11-15, 2017): Hot Spot Innovation, Hall 6.2, D65 (http://www.buchmesse.de/en/)
Meet EMMA at the Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 11-15, 2017): Hot Spot Innovation, Hall 6.2, D65 (http://www.buchmesse.de/en/)