The free one-day event was initially set to take place at the Rose Bowl, Leeds, on 7 April but was pushed back to 8 September due to the pandemic and was then due to be a hybrid event offering physical and online options to delegates.
But the seventh running of the event, which is organised by BPIF specialist interest group Creative Digital Industries (CDI) and targeted at the creative, digital, print and packaging industries, has now been retooled into an entirely virtual event that will take place on 16 September.
With the theme 'Future Focus', the online event aims to bring industries together and gain international engagement. The day will run from 9am to 5.30pm, in collaboration with BOSS, the BPIF and Pimento, and there will be various different sessions on offer for each audience.
The VMC said this event structure allows for the co-locating of various collaborators, giving attendees a wider choice of topics and array of exhibitors.
All delegates will come together for speakers including Jonathan Geldart, director general at the Institute of Directors, Felicity Burch, director of innovation and digital at CBI, and James Sommerville, founder of Known Unknown and former vice-president of global design at The Coca-Cola Company.
Speakers will share inspirational ideas and practical foresight as well as case studies of innovations seen throughout the pandemic. Interpersonal skills and communication methods will also be explored, including the interface between technology and real people.
During the day, the BPIF will host its annual Members' Day virtually for the first time, while other features will include a global panel session hosted by Intergraf, and a review of what the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has and will be doing for the sector.
CDI president Robert McClements told Printweek: “We've remained true to the purpose of the Visual Media Conference, and adapted it for the circumstances of today and the future. By melding it together with BOSS and the BPIF Members' Day we've been able to broaden the messaging.
“We've also been able to retain the speaker line-up. We've spoken to the presenters and asked them to review their presentations to take into account their experiences of the pandemic, how they are coping with it, where they've got case studies of people who have been successful and what kind of strategies are working.”
He added: “I have been delighted by the response that I've had from sponsors and from speakers, who all share the same feeling that we've found a way of doing something very relevant and worthwhile.”
Delegates can register for the event at: futurefocuslive.co.uk/#register
