Keynote

Simplexity

Keynote LeadDr. Werner VogelsAWS re:Invent 2024KEYNOTE

Why systems grow complex, and how to keep the complexity from winning.

‹ All work

Inside this work

Simplexity distilled decades of distributed-systems experience into principles for keeping architectures evolvable as they scale: why complexity accumulates, and the discipline it takes to keep it from winning.

I shaped the theme and the story arc, built the run of show, and worked with speakers, demo teams and production through months of drafts and rehearsals to the final performance.

Production

RoleKeynote Lead
Creative DirectorPatrick Johnson
Program ManagerAarika Ellsworth
SpeakerDr. Werner Vogels
EventAWS re:Invent 2024
VenueThe Venetian, Las Vegas
Opening filmMonks

Backstage

The keynote team together on stage after the show Werner Vogels on stage beside Lehman's laws of software evolution, seen through a prism Werner Vogels in front of a timeline of S3 features, a close-up of him beside it Werner Vogels close up, lit pink and purple Andy Warfield walking on, his name on the screen Andy Warfield on stage in front of a sculpted white disc Andy Warfield in front of "18 years of complexity at scale" Andy Warfield in front of a line drawing of a race car The audience watching the keynote under magenta light Werner Vogels on stage among the Simplexity graphics The hall from the back, the stage lit under orange arcs Werner Vogels close up, mid-sentence