Stephen Molloy: It pays to be connected in Asia

By Stephen Molloy, Lomah Studios

The app strategist reflects on this year’s Creative AllStars event held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at the Creative AllStars Conference in Kuala Lumpur. I know, you’re asking: “What’s a tech guy doing at a creative conference?” The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Everybody is Creative’, and the list of speakers was a definite reflection of that.

It was a great experience to share the stage with Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer with Ogilvy & Mather New York, and Nils Andersson, President & Chief Creative Officer, TBWA China. It’s always enlightening to watch top industry minds come together to tackle the tough questions and share their expertise with a crowd eager to soak it up.

When it came to my turn, I spoke about how apps continue to change the world. It’s pretty astonishing but do you realise that today there are more mobile devices than there are people in the world?

As a result, technology has changed more in the past 18 months than in the past 18 years, and apps are largely behind this massive paradigm shift. It’s true that the internet changed the world, but apps have done – and will continue to do –  more to change how we live, work, and communicate, than the internet has since the early days of dial up modems and BBS’s. Apps have made the world a smaller, more connected and easier to navigate place.

People always seem shocked when I make that assertion. But remember, the first Apple iPhone wasn’t launched until 2007, and the App Store first opened on July 1st, 2008. Apps are really young in terms of tech. Remember that Facebook launched in 2004, making the App Store a baby in the tech field.

Over the past year-and-a-half, amazing things have happened in the world of apps. Today, designing an app is a common occurrence. In fact, 91 per cent of all brands have an app in the App Store. Need to find a house? Check out the app store. Looking for a ride home after the club closes? Check out the app store. Want to find the nearest Starbucks? Check out the app store!

Ever since Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion, everyone wants to invent and design the next greatest app.

Speaking in Asia is something that I truly enjoy. When one goes to Asia, it seems like everyone and everything  is connected. People from Kuala Lumpur pop over to Singapore for a long weekend, or jump across to Hong Kong for a spot of shopping. Asia, too, is a small world, much like the world we’re creating with apps.

Speaking at the Creative AllStars Conference gave me the opportunity to connect with some amazing people, from intriguing backgrounds, including Pat Law, founder, GOODSTUPH who spoke openly on ‘the importance of being a social slut’, and Steve Lawler, head of creative at Kult Magazine, who convinced us that creative inspiration normally comes from places you’ll never expect.

I confess; I can’t wait for next year!

Stephen Molloy

App Strategist & Author of ‘How Apps Are Changing the World’.

Mobile: + 61 (0) 412 149 216

Email: steve@lomahstudios.com

Skype: stephendmolloy