Futuring – a new approach for futures thinking, dreaming and doing
DESCRIPTION
In this talk, theory will be mixed with practice. Reon Brand will highlight the development of future studies in terms of motivation, approaches and practice within companies illustrated with examples from within Philips. He'll outline how his thinking about futures and future studies has evolved towards what he calls 'Post-Anthropocentric futures’. The nature of ‘futuring’ is changing in a Post-modern world. He will reflect on the vital importance of ‘futuring’ in organisations and society, and how different philosophies of future sense-making can co-exist in organisations.
Frank Kolkman will introduce ‘speculative design’ as both a practice to give tangible form to the futures brought forth by Reon’s frameworks, as well as a methodology to wider disseminate and debate them. Speculative design allows designers to develop new ideas, alternative possibilities and counter narratives to challenge established systems, by strategically employing fiction to remove the various (commercial, technological, material, etc.) realities that constrain normative design practices. By placing technological developments in imaginary but believable everyday situations, that are materialized through design, it allows us to reflect on the implications and preferability of different futures before they happen.
OUTCOMES
- Learn that there is not only one future, but multiple futures that are co-emerging
Broaden your horizon with ‘futuring’; an active approach towards understanding deep streams of future change and preparing people, institutions and society for new paradigms
Understand that ‘futuring’ is more than predicting the future or creating scenarios for risk mitigation. It is an approach to awaken consciousness, transform ethics and deepen relationships
FORMAT
Live via Zoom.
STUDY POINTS
This talk is worth 1 SDC study point.
KEYWORDS
Case study, futures thinking, social design, experimentation
360° SERIES
ABILITY 01 - SOLVE FOR TOMORROW
LEVEL - EXPLORE
360° SERIES
ABILITY 01 - SOLVE FOR TOMORROW
LEVEL - EXPLORE
Meet the speakers
Reon Brand (South Africa) holds a PhD in Virology from the University of Cape Town, and his interests and career have evolved towards future studies, socio-cultural research and innovation. He currently works at Philips Experience Design as Design Principal in Future Studies and Innovation.
Frank Kolkman (The Netherlands) is a seasoned experimental designer. Trying to combine his curiosity towards the inner workings of things with analytical thinking and intuitive making, Frank aims to challenge our understanding of current and near-future technologies and their socio-political implications.
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