drupa is much more than just a global trade
exhibition for the print industry - drupa ranks as a top international fair
that identifies important trends, offers insights into future developments and
drives inspiration.
To provide participants with the best possible
visitor experience, drupa invests in top-class knowledge transfer through its
five special forums, the drupa Cube being one of them. “educate - engage -
entertain” has once again been chosen as the slogan of the drupa Cube for 2020,
designed to provide a broad spectrum of highly relevant content that is
motivating, highly stimulating and interactive for visitors thanks to the
various talk formats. World-renowned speakers are set to create a buzz with a
visionary range of topics. Best-selling author Michael Gale and internationally
renowned designer James Sommerville will also contribute to the top-class
programme with keynotes.
Over 40 sessions - keynotes, C-level sessions,
workshops, brand stories and best practice examples, the drupa Cube serves as a
source of inspiration and expertise on new digital business models. The content
will bring participants up to speed with the global megatrends that have
already left their mark and are on course to shape the future. In this respect,
digital transformation continues to play a significant role. The focus will be
on innovative web-to-print and packaging technologies, the potential of a
platform economy with more diversified sales channels and new collaboration
models, as well as the changing expectations of connected customers in a social
media culture - to the backdrop of the industry’s growing sustainability and
circular economy obligations.
“Our primary aim is to put as many ideas as
possible out there that participants can successfully implement in their own
companies,” says Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa and Global Head Print
Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf. “We want to offer a programme that meets
their actual needs.”
Practical
recipes for success
James Sommerville and Michael Gale, along with
representatives of global brands and leading industry experts, are on the
starting blocks to share their knowledge with drupa 2020 visitors. With “The
Digital Helix. Transforming your organization's DNA to thrive in the Digital
Age”, Michael Gale has written a guide for decision-makers who want to bring
their company into line with digital business models. Gale's book has become an
international best-seller. Top brands use his company Inc.digital's digital
helix algorithm to accurately place their marketing and sales investments in
digitization projects. The drupa Cube looks at the future of the industry and
offers concrete recommendations for activities that will secure a successful
digital management as well as important background information on how to take
the plunge into digital management. James Sommerville, on the other hand, is no
stranger to strengthening brand images. The British star designer dusted off
Coca-Cola’s old image in 2013, raised its design language to a whole new level
and gave it the face that is still etched in our memory today.
“The print industry has undergone a remarkable
technological transformation and can be hailed as a “best case scenario” in
this respect - both in terms of changed processes and new business models,”
says Michael Gale. “As we access new fields of application, acquire new
technologies and capture new vertical markets, we are caught up in the
maelstrom of this transition. The print industry must proactively embrace this
change. Companies that go digital increase their profits up to five times
faster than their competitors; companies that don’t follow this track will
therefore find the going incredibly tough. Personally, I find this new market
not only important but also very exciting and I'm eager to share my enthusiasm
with others. In the drupa Cube, we are putting the spotlight on a number of
examples and solutions designed to illustrate strategies for successful
corporate management.”
A programme
with depth
To give it a clear structure, the drupa Cube
programme is divided into five thematic fields. In addition to the Keynote
Presentations by James Sommerville and Michael Gale, the Business Evolution
lecture sessions focus on global market trends, best practices in sales and marketing,
and innovative business models. Print Futures is dedicated to relevant
technology trends in print and packaging, along with printed electronics
applications. Brand owners and agencies will also share their Brand Stories. In
the fifth category, Executive Think Tanks, business leaders are invited to
exchange ideas with keynote speakers. Pre-registration is required for these
sessions. The complete programme of the drupa Cube, which will take place for
the entire duration of the fair from 16 to 26 June, will be available online at
the end of February at www.drupa.com/cube-en.
Michael Gale is the founder of Inc.digital and
best-selling author of “The Digital Helix. Transforming your organization’s DNA
to thrive in the Digital Age”. When it comes to digital transformation and
artificial intelligence, he is considered one of the top ten influencers
worldwide. In his weekly podcast “Futures in Focus”, he talks to experts and business
leaders about future scenarios in the food, packaging, sports or health
industries and discusses future ways of managing companies against the
background of the digital revolution.
Today a star designer, James Sommerville began his
career in a small, self-founded design company called “ATTIK” in England before
joining Coca-Cola as Global Design Lead in 2013. Sommerville was not only
behind the phenomenally successful re-branding of the iconic Coca-Cola
trademarks, but also raised the profile of the company’s design department: The
team grew from a packaging department to a Global Design Team, which, as a
network of creative minds and first-class talents, took a pioneering role in
the field of design and helped Coca-Cola achieve significant growth. Since
2019, Sommerville has been using his extended design community as a network for
his agency Known.Unknown, which already works with strong, globally renowned
brands.
