Ever Wondered What You Might Discover in a Great Conference Gift Bag?

Well here’s what I found at TEDActive 2011: The Rediscovery of Wonder. It was heavy to carry home, but worth the weight! And I think there is some interesting gift bag inspiration for others of us in the future.

Of practical use during (and after) the event:
– A special limited edition design JAMBOX wireless speaker + speakerphone by Jawbone: a small packaged hi-fi streaming wireless audio from any Bluetooth device, OR a scooter for speeding around the spreading hotel venue (these were the gifts of fame this year!)
– A ceramic Bento Box for healthy meals on the move, away from home – ‘Box Appetit’, by www.black-blum.com
– A re-usable water bottle from www.natura.com (with info on refill stations in the venue)
– A drip coffee bag of very freshly roasted from Hebo Coffee Ltd. (www.hebocoffee.com)
– A little book from the www.CoffeeCommon.com to guide attendees’ coffee experiences
– Two bags: A unique bag created from a billboard by www.bannertheory.com – turning unsustainable waste into sustainable good AND a sturdy travel bag from www.JackSpade.com
– A compact LED flashlight from www.newegg.com (especially useful for the desert party)
– An Action Journal from Behance (www.CreativesOutfitter.com)

Interesting conversation-starters:
– Full colour attendees brochure with portraits and “three things to talk with me about”
– A publication featuring the amazing stories of the 2011 Long Beach TED Fellows
– A mini-publication of photos compiled from TEDx events across the globe in 2011
– Necklaces from women in Kaolack, Senegal
– A peaceBOMB bracelet – made from fragments of bombs – supporting artisan families, community development, and clearance of unexploded ordnance from farmland and forests in Laos (www.shoparticle22.com and www.bigballsfilms.com)
– A $100 philanthropic gift card underwritten by REDU for use supporting a classroom project of choice from www.DonorsChoose.org online charity

Reading material to keep up the (re)discovery post-TED:
– A special TEDGlobal issue of “Design Mind” – the award-winning publication of global innovation firm frog design – entitled “And Now the Good News”
– Seth Godin’s latest book: Poke the Box
– Trois Couleurs Special Issue: JR 2001-2011, A Retrospective
– ‘Imagine, Design, Create: How Designers, Architects and Engineers are Changing the World’ edited by Tom Wujec
– A TEDBooks Gift Card courtesy of Lincoln.com for use via Amazon.com

Further learning opportunities and brain exercises:
– Research credit to Frost & Sullivan (www.frost-and-sullivan-institute.org) for your choice of ‘The Visionary Membership’, ‘The Growth Partnership Service’ or ‘The Top 20 Mega Trends Study’
– A free LivingHome Feasibility Analysis or one-hour environmental design consultation to help you assess how to lower your ecological footprint for an existing home or office (www.livinghomes.net)
– A subscription to Lynda.com – online software training videos
– The Unit One version of the Rosetta Stone solution (language of choice)
– One month tuition-free access to the Rouxbe Cooking School (www.rouxbe.com)
– A year’s subscription to MAKE: technology on your time (www.makezine.com)
– Two A-ha! Brainteasers of choice from www.thinkfun.com

For the journey home and to share with others:
– Complementary wifi session from your return journey – courtesy of Delta Air Lines
– Free Personal Travel Planning Package from JetSetter
– A Blu-ray of Pixar’s latest film, Toy Story 3
– The feature film ‘Waiting for “Superman”’ – from the Director of An Inconvenient Truth – looking at education in the United States (DVD)
– CD of the Venezuelan clarinet of Alcides Rodriguez
– In support of Sylvia Earle’s TED wish – Drivers of Change: Oceans – cards to share with your community and help shape a better world (www.driversofchange.com)
– A page of Seed Paper from www.greenfieldpaper.com to plant when back home, mixing 100% post consumer content with their custom wildflower mix.

I’m keen to learn what Gillian’s going to come home with next week after her time at TEDGlobal!