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Think 2019
IN-PERSON MEETINGS
/
MEETINGS /

INDUSTRY:
Technology
EVENT TYPE:
Conference
LOCATION:
San Francisco, CA
ATTENDEE COUNT:
30,000+
Over 15 years of collaboration, Drury helped evolve IBM's global customer B2B events. The culmination of that partnership is IBM Think - the company's flagship mega-conference and showcase for innovation at the intersection of business and social progress.


The Ask
Migrate IBM's yearly gathering of global technologists and business leaders to one of the country's most prominent tech hubs and cultural hotspots; acclimate attendees to this new host city while facing incredible experiences that drive engagement.

The Solution
Drury managed sessions in 12 different venues across downtown San Francisco, providing full production and creative services; video production, graphics, animations, scenic & environmental design, staging, lighting & A/V, speakers & entertainment, and overall production support.




30K
Attendees
24
400+
Sessions produced and coordinated
65K
30+
Speakers booked
12+
Live Broadcasts on 400+ screens
Global viewers
Hours of original Think Today content
General Sessions
For the official kickoff featuring IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, Drury worked closely with the Brand team to incorporate the IBM voice into all aspects of creative and production— from staging to lighting to walk-in to music to the supporting imagery on screen.

Science Slam
Project Debater


Based on pioneering research in language processing and deep learning, IBM developed Project Debater—the first AI to debate humans on complex topics. Drury helped IBM showcase this incredible technology by producing Debater's grandest challenge yet: A live showdown with human debate champion Harish Natarajan on the topic of subsidized preschool.
Every year, people around the world eagerly await the debut of the IBM Research “5 in 5”— a prediction of the five innovations that will change our lives within the next five years. This year, the theme was IBM’s work in transforming the food chain as we know it, from farm-to-table to waste reduction. Drury worked with the Brand team to develop a theatrical creative concept that included an interactive kitchen set and food props on stage.
AMC Metreon
For the official kickoff featuring IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, Drury worked closely with the Brand team to incorporate the IBM voice into all aspects of creative and production— from staging to lighting to walk-in to music to the supporting imagery on screen.



"
"These experiences allowed attendees to contemplate their role in solving global challenges alongside IBM."
- Quote Attribute


Think Today Broadcast
IBM and Drury created and produced this live broadcast network to keep attendees connected to everything happening at the event, including late-breaking news, updates, announcements, scheduling changes, feature stories, and traffic & weather reports. By the time our broadcast team signed off, we aired 26 segments with 12+ hours of original content and 50+ interview guests.



Digital & Streaming
Drury helped IBM coordinate, program, and map the Think Today broadcast and other digital content to over 400 screens in 13 different locations—including eight off-site locations and a massive screen in the middle of a crowded SF thoroughfare. Screen sizes varied between 46” monitors to 36’ x 20’ LED screens. Ginni Rometty’s kickoff address alone was streamed to 67 different screens.


Trends and Directions

Drury was responsible for all aspects of content presentation in the Yerba Buena Theater, including staging, lighting, A/V production, stage management, and more. In order to give these 17 unique sessions a consistent look and feel, we also created an opening video sting that incorporated the Think theme animations and introduced the session topics.
Innovation Talks
This series of 16 insightful sessions featured thought leaders and trailblazers ranging from skateboarders Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen to musician Imogen Heap to 15-year-old aspiring astronaut Taylor Richardson.
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