In our final new episode of the year, we have the privilege to speak with visionary architect and activist, Pascale Sablan, only the 315th living African American woman registered architect in the United States and the youngest African American ever to be inducted into the AIA College of Fellows. In addition to being President of the acclaimed Adjaye Associates’ NYC studio, Pascale has served in various capacities at the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), including as Global President from 2023-2024. Her forthcoming book, ‘GREATNESS: Diverse Designers of Architecture’ builds on her work at NOMA and the nonprofit, Beyond the Built Environment, she founded to empower women and BIPOC designers. Pre-order today and hear more from Pascale in this excellent episode! | S6 E7 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented by iF Design- host of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD- Future of XYZ is also a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz and @ifdesign on Instagram, listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts, watch on YouTube, or visit ifdesign.com/XYZ for show links and more. 

Digital has become such a part of our lives, intertwined with everything we do, that most of us- personally or professionally- never pause to think about the environmental impact of our online interactions. Our guest this week is an expert in digital strategy with an eye towards people and planet. In the Future of Digitality, we are provoked to think differently about our digital engagement and resulting carbon footprints. For anyone interested in sustainability topics, this is a don’t miss episode. | S6 E6 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented by iF Design- host of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD- Future of XYZ is also a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz and @ifdesign on Instagram, listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts, watch on YouTube, or visit ifdesign.com/XYZ for show links and more. 

This fascinating episode begins with the etymology of the Italian word “mobilia”, then continues into the historical evolution of furniture design, current trends, material innovation, the complexities of sustainability, and the importance of deep research. Furniture is not singular or monolithic, and neither is this conversation with our guest, a renowned Icelandic industrial designer based in New York City, which explores what it means to design for human living in so many diverse public and private spaces. | S6 E5 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented by iF Design- host of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD- Future of XYZ is also a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz and @ifdesign on Instagram, listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts, watch on YouTube, or visit ifdesign.com/XYZ for show links and more. 

Our guest this week may have the world's (or universe’s?) coolest job! As Creative Director at NASA, David Rager oversees the agency's visual brand. From changing iconic logos to elevating design language on extraterrestrial transports, creating useful artifacts with high-profile artists to producing creative tools for public learning- his team is responsible for “communicating the value of NASA’s [amazing] work”. Also, Happy Halloween! Check out some spooky NASA-designed graphics imagining life on the exo planets: https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/immersive/galaxy-of-horrors/. | S6 E4 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented by iF Design- host of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD- Future of XYZ is also a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz and @ifdesign on Instagram, listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts, watch on YouTube, or visit ifdesign.com/XYZ for show links and more. 

Want to learn about circularity, but not sure what it is? Few people are better poised to talk about maximizing systemic change and collective action than this week’s guest from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Tune in to learn about efforts being undertaken to inspire and empower the world’s designers to create products, services, and systems that address the root cause of global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution- and help regenerate nature's bounty. | S6 E3 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented by iF Design- host of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD- Future of XYZ is also a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz and @ifdesign on Instagram, listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts, watch on YouTube, or visit ifdesign.com/XYZ for show links and more. 

A musical virtuoso who tours with Jon Batiste and serves as the Musical Director of Grace Farms Foundation- our guest this week brings us an episode that is both bold and beautiful. Touching on the role of music in family, culture, and tradition- to the influence and impact of technology on the music industry especially in the 20th century- this is a heartfelt and profound exploration of what music really is, where it intersects with so many other creative disciplines, what it provides us as human beings, and how we can hopefully ensure a beautiful future. | S6 E2 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented by iF Design- host of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD- Future of XYZ is also a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz and @ifdesign on Instagram, listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts, watch on YouTube, or visit ifdesign.com/XYZ for show links and more. 

What other topic would we discuss in our 125th overall episode and kickoff to a new season, with our new presenting sponsor, @ifdesign and now as part of the Sandow SURROUND Podcast Network- than the Future of DESIGN!? Our three guests represent an incredible knowledge base covering cross-disciplinary design from cars & tech, to furniture & sound. Together, we dive deep on industry trends & challenges, and of course, the importance of good design & educating the next generation of designers. This is a launch episode you won't want to miss! | S6 E1 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented by iF Design- host of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD- Future of XYZ is also a proud member of the SURROUND Podcast Network. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz and @ifdesign on Instagram, listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts and surroundpodcasts.com, watch on YouTube, or visit ifdesign.com/XYZ for show links and more. 

Innovation- it's a huge topic ranging from the invention of the wheel or printing press, to mindset shifts or harnessing the technology that fuels our modern world. This week, we speak with the host of another podcast, Barriers to Entry, who focuses on how emerging technologies are being brought to life to solve problems and create new opportunities especially in the design industry. From hot topics like AI and its real-life human implications to the impact of venture capital- don’t miss this exciting conversation. Episode 9, Season 5. 

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented in collaboration with Rhode Island PBS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz on Instagram, and visit www.future-of.XYZ or www.ripbs.org/XYZ for show links and more.

“We are a species of curiosity and survival; I’m convinced that exploration is embedded in our human DNA.” Chris Rainier is the son of an explorer and an artist who started his career as Ansel Adams’ assistant, going on to become one of this generation’s most well-respected documentary photographers and filmmakers, and a National Geographic Society Explorer. He is fundamentally positive and believes deeply in the need to involve the entire human voice, all 6000 languages and our knowledge bases to move into the future. Episode 8, Season 5. www.chrisrainier.org  

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented in collaboration with Rhode Island PBS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz on Instagram, and visit www.future-of.XYZ or www.ripbs.org/XYZ for show links and more.

Imagine a hiring process where all you have to do is put your name on a list. Where you can earn a living wage regardless of your education, disability, race, prison time, homelessness, or other traditional barriers to employment. It’s called ‘open hiring’ and Greyston Bakery- provider of brownies to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream- has been implementing it for 42 years. A positive catalyst for lifting traditionally marginalized employees and their communities out of poverty, it also offers significantly positive returns for implementing businesses. The model may sound radical, but it’s anything but. Learn more at https://www.greyston.org/ and in Episode 8, Season 5.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Future of XYZ is a bi-weekly interview series that explores big questions about where we are as a world and where we’re going. Presented in collaboration with Rhode Island PBS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Follow @futureofxyz on Instagram, and visit www.future-of.XYZ or www.ripbs.org/XYZ for show links and more.