I’m the founder, though no longer the convenor of Semiofest’s series of informal online “sessions.” These events are intended not only to share best practices among, but to nurture collegiality and friendship within the global semio community.

Coming up on September 25th (at 2 pm UK time)…

SELLING SEMIOTICS

Get tickets (suggested donations only) at the link above.

Selling semiotics is not only a commercial act. For some of us, it’s a labor of love; for others, a stand against the creeping threat of meaninglessness in the age of AI. At times it can feel like an odyssey, and we often ask each other, How do we do it? Ángeles Rodríguez has convened a team of clients and semioticians from different regions for a conversation on this subject.

Our sessionists:

• SAMUEL GRANGE studied with French pioneer of applied semiotics Jean-Marie Floch and is a specialist of semiotics, applied to innovation and positioning programs and is a thought leader in applied semiotics. Has applied his knowledge in marketing consultancy, design and research agencies for many major companies, as well as small startups in most business fields, collaborating with marketers and designers. Sam co-organized the Semiofest 2015 in Paris.

• ANNE-FLORE MAMAN LARRAUFIE is a scholar and consultant whose work explores the semiotics of luxury, branding, and consumer culture. She holds a PhD in Business Administration from ESSEC Business School and an engineering degree from the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr. Founder of SémioConsult®, she advises international organizations and brands on meaning, identity, and strategic positioning through semiotic and qualitative research approaches. Her research investigates the symbolic dynamics of markets, particularly in the fields of luxury and cultural industries. She teaches strategy, management, and branding at institutions including École Polytechnique, HEC Paris, the Institut Français de la Mode, and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

• VIOLETA PARRA is a Colombian psychologist and researcher. She’s passionate about insights, human behavior, cultural studies, semiotics and people’s stories—which made it easy for her to fall in love with CMI. She says her purpose, both at work and in life, is to “Be a light for others” and strive to bring clarity, joy, and inspiration, supporting people and teams in achieving their goals. Before joining Unilever in 2018, she spent 10 years working in market research and consumer psychology. Since then, she’s lived in Colombia, El Salvador, and Mexico.

Session host:

• ÁNGELES RODRÍGUEZ is a Mexican qualitative researcher who flows naturally between methodologies and cultures. She regards research as a living entity that breathes and thrives in the streets and pop culture. With over 15 years of experience in qualitative research, cultural strategy, and commercial semiotics, she has built her career around translating cultural signals and human behavior into meaningful opportunities for brands. Outside of work, she is a dedicated explorer of Mexico City—especially when it comes to discovering hidden gems and great food.

SEMIOFEST SESSIONS: R/D/E | BINARIES | SEMIOTICS & UX | BODY SEMIOTICS | AI & SEMIOTICS | SEMIOTICS & CINEMA | FICTIONAL DECODERS | ON COLOUR | & more.

Also see these global semio series: MAKING SENSE (Q&As) | SEMIOFEST SESSIONS (monthly mini-conferences) | COVID CODES | SEMIO OBJECTS | COLOR CODEX | DECODER (fictional semioticians) | CASE FILE | PHOTO OP | MEDIA DIET | TATTOO YOU (semioticians’ tattoos).