DDB NZ’s new digital creative director Haydn Kerr is getting a glimpse of the future at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Here’s what he’s learned so far.

The opening keynote at SXSW in Austin, Texas, features some heavy hitters. Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, joins Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas and Steven Levy, senior writer at Wired, for a debate on the next few years in the digital world. Contagion’s Tom Bates is there to find out what’s next and whether privacy is gone forever.

Our weekly wrap of good things, strange things, funny things and other things from inside the intertubes.

For some, the consumption of bacon is close to a religious experience. And Oscar Mayer has referenced that intense love, bowing down at the porcine temple and creating a surreal spot to promote a new app that wakes people up with the smell of bacon.

New Zealanders, like the inhabitants of many other developed nations, tend to take peace for granted and struggle to comprehend the horror of life in a warzone. But Save the Children has created a powerful ad that makes that suffering much more relevant with a powerful one-shot-a-day video that imagines what it would be like if London was subjected to a crisis like that seen in Syria.

Vend’s startup introduction video was a fun take on the world of cloud point of sale systems, involving nearly all its staff, a customer and even a baby. So it’s not surprising the behind the scenes clip reveals even more fun, from mattress dives to communal cheers.

Only five months after NBR reported that Mediaweb was unable to pay its staff, it has now been announced that the publisher has gone into receivership. Updated with comments from Tony Maginness, the receiver who has been appointed to the case.

Facebook has challenged Kiwi creatives to come up with a three month campaign that makes the most of the social network’s native functionality. That means looking past apps to newsfeed posts rich with imagery and video, according to the brief.

Guy Williams has literally become the (disembodied) face of responsible drinking in New Zealand as part the second stage of DraftFCB’s ‘Say Yeah, Nah’ campaign from last year. Updated with comments from Guy Williams on why he decided to participate in the campaign.

Former Guardian interactive editor Jonathan Richards has entered a shiny new world of storytelling at Google’s Creative Lab in Sydney. But he warns ad industry members that they ignore traditional techniques and media at their peril.

If Pizza Hut has its way, it might not to be too long before you’re using an interactive touchscreen table to make up and order your food. And if your wait proves too long, a list of games is also on the menu.

B Magazine, a partnership between Clanmouse and Bronwyn Williams, is offering iPad users the chance to buy products within its virtual pages. Clanmouse says it’s a model that seeks to bridge the gap between advertising, retail and publishing.

Following a competitive pitch involving two other agencies, Carat has been awarded the media planning and buying business for Barfoot & Thompson. But that silver lining comes with a fairly big cloud, because Dick Smith has left the Carat building.

The ‘Spark Should’ page Telecom set up to take feedback on its name change later this year has seen customers complaining about a range of product and service issues as well as the new brand. The company says the page could become a permanent feedback mechanism.

Facebook’s new online video series recognises the fact that more and more we’re organising our gatherings using social networks. Facebook conversations result in some surprising meetups in the clips, like using a couch to ski down a slope.

A Kiwi DJ is among the lineup of ambassadors with strong social media presences tapped by Contiki to show off possiblities for the big OE. The #noregrets Adventure Challenge has a contest each week for the target audience of 18-35 year olds thinking about travel destinations.

Increasingly the things we need to see are seen on screens of all sizes. Samsung has recognised this with a TVC that manages to cram in a huge array of tech, including the recently released Galaxy S5 and its ultra-thin screen TV.

House of Travel has launched an iPhone and Android app in collaboration with developer Satellite Media. The app gives existing customers access to their itinerary and a virtual version of their travel consultant with support via their mobile phone.

If Ellen de Generes can break Twitter with her celebrity selfie, maybe you can do the same with a new site that lets you puts your mug alongside the stars. Or you could just try going viral with the Official Grumpy Cat take on the famous snap.

The recent Warriors campaign was all about the fans—and the emotional rollercoaster they ride every year. The wider Super Rugby competition has embraced the fans too with its Play Your Part campaign. And the Blues and its agency Big have also tapped into that supporter-focused sentiment with Join the Game.