Summary
Feel like foresight is best left to economists and business strategists? Think again. Fight your imposter syndrome to harness the power of futures-thinking in your design organization to imagine and pursue preferable futures in how you work, what you produce and even in your personal life. You do not have to stop the world to look, think and act – make the futures mindset a natural habit and make small actions today turn into a better world tomorrow.
Key Insights
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Futures thinking is essential for proactive decision-making in design operations.
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The pandemic has revealed profound vulnerabilities within small and large businesses alike.
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Historical data shows significant global improvements in health, literacy, and environmental protections.
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Collaborative futures thinking can lead to more informed design choices and policies.
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Creating diverse teams enhances creativity and foresight in addressing future challenges.
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Innovative technology, when properly harnessed, can improve health and societal outcomes.
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Sustainable practices are not a hindrance to growth but a pathway to innovation.
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Social media and digital platforms can have both positive and negative implications for societal progress.
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Long-term planning must account for diverse stakeholder needs for effective futures.
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Futures thinking can be applied by all roles within an organization, not just futurists.
Notable Quotes
"Thank you for those of you who have just hung in to the very last talk today."
"It's really important that we take time to think about the future."
"If you read books by Hans Rosling, Steven Pinker, and Byron Reese, you'll see how the world we’re living in today is better than past years."
"The number of undernourished people has decreased dramatically from 28% in 1970 to under 10% by 2019."
"Science and technology work when we really put our minds and hearts to it, imagining futures that can improve lives."
"You might be saying, I'm just a project manager or I'm just a designer, but I call bullshit on that."
"Foresight is a set of skills that can help you consider the future with critical thinking."
"It's not enough to think about where things are going; we need to make a plan to influence that future."
"Every decision we make today influences those who will come after us."
"We need to embrace change and not expect just one linear path going forward."
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