We have attended various conferences in our time. Some were well worth the investment and effort. And some, not so much. However, we feel there is always something to be learned…if you are truly listening. While we encourage the use and value of Twitter, we also recommend putting your phones down long enough to actually ‘hear’ what is being said.

Some conferences are definitely heads above the rest – giving you months, if not years of inspiration. Here are a few of RTP Interactive’s favorite conferences in the Interactive space:

Web Design

An Event Apart

This conference is somewhere between design and technical, but fantastic. An Event Apart is an intensely educational two-day learning session for passionate practitioners of standards-based web design. If you care about code as well as content, usability as well as design, An Event Apart is the conference you’ve been waiting for.

SXSW

South by Southwest really does have something for everyone. SXSW offers more than 200 panels and presentations covering everything from social media strategies and emerging business models to the latest in web design and development. Plus, it looks darn fun.

Web Visions

This will be on our list to check out next year…WebVisions is a nationally recognized conference that explores the future of Web design, technology, user experience and business strategy.

How Design Conference

While we would love to see a more Interactive heavy focus next year, you can’t go wrong with some good design inspiration and new thoughts and techniques.

TedX : Boulder

While not design specific, we can’t help but get our juices flowing when listening to the great variety of speakers and subjects. Look for a TedX in your area.

Art Museum

Our team still finds the local art museum one of the greatest places for design inspiration. For us, the Denver Art Museum is a great option! While we work on the computer, don’t forget to seek out found objects, the library, your sketchbook, and your local museums for inspiration in web design.

Search

Search Insider Summit

This conference offers an intimate setting and deep Search discussion with key industry players. Search Insider Summit brings some of the best minds in the Search industry together to share leading edge information and experience on search marketing in a think-tank environment.

Search Engine Strategies (SES)

SES is one of the longest running SEO events and it continues to gain momentum. SES is a conference & expo series that educates delegates on search engine marketing, including optimization and advertising strategies, tactics and best practices. It also has a great global presence.

Search Marketing Expo (SMX)

Has quality, local search events in cities around the world. While most SMX events have a mixture of basic through advanced content, SMX Advanced is also available if you want to dig a bit deeper.

Online Marketing Summit

Covering the topics of Social Media, Search, Email, Demand Generation, Analytics, Usability and Integrated Marketing, the OMS 23-City Tour offers attendees the opportunity to learn actionable best practices, strategies and tactics from leading authors, academics, brand marketers and online pioneers.

SEMpdx

One of the strongest local/regional groups we have seen is SEMpdx in Portland. They put on a great event with presentations from industry experts and thought leaders from around the country.

*Thanks to Kent Schnepp of EngineWorks, and Jeffrey Pruitt with Acendant for providing additional considerations for our Search list.

Web Development

Adobe Max

Choose from hundreds of sessions and labs presented by industry leaders and Adobe experts on best practices and emerging technologies. There are various tracks for Design and Develop and Envision.

Microsoft MIX

A conference for web designers and developers building the world’s most innovative web sites. We’ll be waiting for details on what Mix 2011 holds.

360iDev

An iPhone development conference for iPhone and iPad developers. They claim to be the first and best iPhone developer conference in the world.

Future of Web Design

CSS, JQuery, HTML5, Accessibility, you name it. You’ll have to cross the pond, but it looks like it will be worth the wait if you’re looking for a conference in 2011.