Sexy technology, elegant UX, and savvy media buys are all of secondary importance when it comes to crafting engaging, social experiences. The most valuable digital currency for creating participatory content, is in fact good old fashioned human connection. Drawing from his experience creating viral hits Selfless Portraits and Snail Mail My Email, Interactive Artist Ivan Cash explains why people's universal desire for real, meaningful moments leads them to enthusiastically jump past hurdles and engage in ways that research and testing can’t possibly predict. Cash goes on to assert that people are capable of so much more than 'share,' 'like,' and 'tweet' (they just need to be empowered) by using these projects as case studies. Author of Snail Mail My Email, Cash's work has exhibited internationally and been featured in CNN, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company. He was recently recognized as an ADC Young Gun X.

1. Hi!
I’m Ivan Cash.

2. SOCIAL EXPERIMENT

5. CREATIVE PHILOSOPHY
I love people.
I love connecting with people.
I love connecting people with other people.

6. SNAIL MAIL
MY EMAIL
THE
PASSENGER
PROJECT
SELFLESS
PORTRAITS

7. SNAIL MAIL
MY EMAIL

19. THE LETTERS

33. 234 Volunteers
10,457 Letters Sent
70 Countries
All 7 Continents

35. “I am absolutely charmed by this project –
and now I am the proud owner of a drawing
of an alligator whose artist I will never meet.
This touches me in such a unique way.”
— Laurie

36. “I had the best time volunteering for this project. I wrote
letters in Spanish, English, Dutch, French, Polish, and Greek.
My favorite special request was from a brother to his two
younger brothers. It said, can you please make it look like a
wolf got ahold of it. My dog had a great time fulfilling that
request. Not sure if it looked like a wolf ate it but it definitely
looked like a puppy had a good time trying.”
— Gia

39. SMME has since transitioned
to a week-long, annual event,
held every Fall.

40. WHAT I LEARNED
We as humans have a universal desire
to create, collaborate and be a part of
something meaningful.

41. THE
PASSENGER
PROJECT

44. w
e
f
ly toge
t
h
e
r
the

56. Next time you fly, participate via ThePassengerProject.com

58. WHAT I LEARNED
People are capable of so much more than
‘share’ ‘like’ & ‘tweet.’
(They just need to be empowered.)

59. SELFLESS
PORTRAITS

63. Strangers Across the World Drawing
Each Other’s Facebook Profile Pics

64. “What if people don’t participate?”
“Too many points of friction.”
“What if someone doesn’t
like their portrait?”
“What if someone draws an
inappropriate picture?”

85. 32,000+ Portraits
130 Countries

86. • Sponsor
• UX Designer
• Focus Group
• Media Buy
• PR Team
• ModeratorNO

87. PROBLEM
NO

88. Selfless Portraits inspired me to draw
after 10 years of nothing!”
— Jennifer S, Indiana

89. “I began thinking about the person’s profile
who had been assigned to me. I wondered
what his hobbies were, if he likes cold
weather, and why he chose to do the Selfless
Portraits project. I also browsed the gallery
of images submitted by others, and felt a
sense of collaboration and community.”
— Michelle, Seattle

90. “Drawing a stranger has become a part
of my daily meditation routine.”
— Andreas B, Germany

95. In the 25 years before, I haven’t drawn more
than 3 or 4 pictures - I was always convinced
that I was somebody who “could not draw.”
— Andreas, Germany

96. POINTS OF FRICTION
1) Click ‘Participate’ on SelflessPortraits.com
2) Log in through Facebook Connect
3) Select Profile Pic to be Drawn
4) Crop Chosen Profile Pic
5) Hand Draw Randomly Assigned Subject
6) Scan / Photograph Drawing
7) Upload Drawing
8) Crop Drawing
9) Submit Portrait
10) Share Portrait

97. WHAT I LEARNED
If offered a compelling human experience,
people will enthusiastically jump past hurdles
and engage in ways that research & testing
can’t possibly predict.

98. People are capable of so much more than ‘share,’ ‘like,’
& ‘tweet.’ (They just need to be empowered.)
We as humans have a universal desire to create,
collaborate, and be a part of something meaningful.
If offered a compelling human experience, people will
enthusiastically jump past hurdles and engage in ways
that research & testing can’t possibly predict.
RECAP

99. People are capable of so much more than ‘share,’ ‘like,’
& ‘tweet.’ (They just need to be empowered.)
We as humans have a universal desire to create,
collaborate, and be a part of something meaningful.
If offered a compelling human experience, people will
enthusiastically jump past hurdles and engage in ways
that research & testing can’t possibly predict.
RECAP

100. People are capable of so much more than ‘share,’ ‘like,’
& ‘tweet.’ (They just need to be empowered.)
We as humans have a universal desire to create,
collaborate, and be a part of something meaningful.
If offered a compelling human experience, people will
enthusiastically jump past hurdles and engage in ways
that research & testing can’t possibly predict.
RECAP

102. THANK YOU
(PLEASE DON’T GO TO IVANCASH.COM)

103. Oxt Weekend