Vote for our SXSW PanelPicker proposals!

The SXSW PanelPicker 2025 is open! From now until 18th August, you have the chance to vote for what you’d like to see on the programme at next year’s event.

Head over to the SXSW website and cast your vote for the following DesignStudio proposals:‍

How EA is Using Esports to Usher in a New Era of Fandom‍

From the traditional pitch to the virtual arena, consumption habits are changing and sports fandom is evolving. Esports programs like EA SPORTS FC Pro and the Madden NFL Championship Series are influencing how fans experience their favorite sports.

Join EA's Monica Dinsmore, and DesignStudio's Richard Swain, for a fan-fueled fireside chat. They'll go behind the scenes on how esports is transforming fandom and how they're leveraging the latest technology, live events, and real-world IP to bridge the gap between gamers and sports fans – and what it means for the future of sport.

Vote: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/150339

The World is Flat: Why Fandom Should be Everyone’s Business‍

91% of US adults today are fans who watch, follow or interact with a franchise in some way with more than half thinking about or engaging with it at least once a day. It’s not surprising then that fandom has become one of the hottest commodities in business. Combine this with the fact that younger audiences are showing an increased interest in, and obsession over, overseas content (shows, movies, sports leagues etc.), the potential for sustained growth appears almost infinite.

Drawing on experience working with EA, Bungie, LIV Golf, and Borussia Dortmund, DesignStudio Principal, Richard Swain explores what brands can do to make fandom work for them, either through their own IP or their proximity to it.

Vote: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/146965‍

Making an Enemy of Boutique Fitness

Today, modern fitness is built primarily for the few, with boutique brands at one end and big box gyms at the other, with very little in between. As the interest in general health and wellness continues to grow, Orangetheory is looking to democratize fitness, bringing science-backed solutions to a broader, diverse population with the goal of helping more people live longer, more vibrant lives.

We discuss the changing fitness landscape, how Orangetheory thinks of itself as a challenger brand, and what tactics we are applying to build a unified brand experience through their franchisee network.

Vote: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/150457

You can learn more about the SXSW PanelPicker here.