This is a digest of the 3PM session of General Seminar Season 05 Episode 01 where we discuss possible futures in which AI is as normal, ordinary, and everyday as wheels on luggage and televisions we talk to.

General Seminar is Near Future Laboratory's platform for sense-making in which we excavate artifacts from possible futures rather than make predictions and prognostications. This is the Design Fiction approach to imagining into possible futures.

To learn more about General Seminar sign up for the Near Future Laboratory's newsletter at ⁠https://nearfuturelaboratory.com⁠ and see past General Seminars at ⁠https://generalseminar.com

This is a digest of the 10AM session of General Seminar Season 05 Episode 01 where we discuss possible futures in which AI is as normal, ordinary, and everyday as wheels on luggage and televisions we talk to.

General Seminar is Near Future Laboratory's platform for sense-making in which we excavate artifacts from possible futures rather than make predictions and prognostications. This is the Design Fiction approach to imagining into possible futures.

To learn more about General Seminar sign up for the Near Future Laboratory's newsletter at https://nearfuturelaboratory.com and see past General Seminars at https://generalseminar.com

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, gather 'round for an electrifying journey through the cerebral and speculative realm of "Thrilling Wonder Stories." Listen as we regale you with a tale of imagination, innovation, and intellectual wonder. Our narrative unfolds through a dazzling array of discussions, exploring the intersection of technology, science, and the arts. From the organic to the artificial, from the accidental to the meticulously planned, our speakers weave a tapestry of ideas that challenge the boundaries of reality and fiction. Venture with us into discussions that span the history of consciousness, the marvels of special effects in film, the complexities of artificial intelligence, and the speculative frontiers of science fiction. This transcript is not just a record; it's a gateway to exploring the future's potential, the mysteries of the universe, and the uncharted territories of human creativity. Dive into a world where the wonders of tomorrow are discussed today, where imagination is the currency, and the possibilities are as boundless as the stars. Welcome to "Thrilling Wonder Stories," where every word is a step into the future!

With Liam Young, Matt Jones, Julian Bleecker, Bruce Sterling, and Kevin Slavin

https://patreon.com/nearfuturelaboratory

https://shop.nearfuturelaboratory.com

In this episode, I chat with the fun, creative, thoughtful Ruth Guerra, a design researcher with a knack for amplifying the questions about design, creativity, research and futures through a wonderful social media presence. We dive into her journey from a theater undergrad to mastering future design, where she champions participatory design with a twist. Ruth shares her passion for storytelling, not just any storytelling, but the kind that shapes our future. She's also getting busy hosting innovative workshops to help people get a sense of how design research and design fiction legible to normal humans. So buckle up, we're exploring how design, values, and a sprinkle of theater can make the world a more engaging place. Spoiler alert: there are no spoilers in here even though we talk for a moment about 'Leave the World Behind.' This is a fun one that just might have you thinking about joining the Near Future Laboratory Discord and supporting this podcast over on patreon.com/nearfuturelaboratory

Check out Ruth's Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ridguerra⁠

And definitely her Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/ridguerra⁠

Check out the episode's sponsored book, Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the book that came from an adjacent future in which the Sony Walkman failed: https://shop.nearfuturelaboratory.com/products/androids-dream-of-electric-sheep

Some things that happened at the Near Future Laboratory the last weeks of 2023 including a day trip to SFO using a travel voucher that was going to expire at the end of the year, meeting with the NFL gang for an awesome lunch and chat, hanging with Will Carey from https://formation.eco to continue working on the meaning, purpose, and offering of this reinvigorated evolution of Near Future Laboratory. There were also a bunch of (other people's) podcasts that dropped (links below). And it was the 9 year anniversary of OMATA which had me go back and reflect on how I used Design Fiction to help me create a future vision of the company and share that vision with investors who were so enthralled with this vision that they ended up buying the whole company.Linkshttps://formation.ecohttps://medium.com/design-fictions/why-did-i-write-an-annual-report-from-the-future-849cf12b0687Reality Plushttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/realitypl-us/id1722133066?i=1000639248112https://youtu.be/ld6FLoCH3Vw?si=NYJEXdD3jLDIybdgExpedition Works' Journey with Purposehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/julian-bleecker-a-little-bit-more-curious/id1697389263?i=1000638677720In Clear Focus / Design Fictionhttps://bigeyeagency.com/design-fiction-with-julian-bleecker/

Episode 082 of the Near Future Laboratory Podcast with Julian Bleecker in conversation with Shashwatch Santosh.

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In Episode 082, Shash and I dance around the world of design education from Shash’s experiences at Parsons School of Design. He describes the challenging norms and his explorations around the boundaries of speculative design and Design Fiction. Shash reveals that he is a proponent of creative confusion, and shares his journey through design school, emphasizing the importance of breaking away from traditional labels and constraints. We get a candid discussion of the struggle to define his work, moving beyond conventional roles like industrial designer or object maker, and embracing the ambiguous realm of speculative design.

Shashwatch's insights are insightful and profound, particularly useful for those in or considering design education. I was especially intrigued by his critique of how the term 'speculative design' can inadvertently create aesthetic stereotypes and limit the scope of design projects. He advocates for a design approach that transcends labels, allowing work to speak for itself without being confined by preconceived notions of discipline. This approach, he believes, fosters creativity and opens up a world of possibilities beyond the conventional boundaries of design.

I somewhat echo Shashwatch’s sentiments, and we wonder together and probe the practical aspects of translating expansive and imaginative thinking into viable career paths — where viable means an exchange of value (insight/imagination/creativity for $$$). Shashwatch responds with examples from his own life, discussing the challenges of job hunting and the importance of presenting work effectively to various audiences. He highlights the significance of maintaining technical rigor in projects, which helps in navigating the murky waters of creative industries.

Shashwatch also shares his experience of struggling with familial expectations and the pressures of justifying his unconventional career path. He stresses the importance of finding a balance between creative freedom and economic viability, a dilemma faced by many in creative fields. His journey underscores the need for designers to possess not just creative skills but also the ability to articulate and market their ideas effectively in a commercial context.

You can find Shash’s thesis project 'The Public Library of Usables', a concept born from his exploration of object-oriented ontology. This project challenges traditional object functions, inviting a re-imagination of how objects are used and interact with each other, reflecting his deep engagement with speculative design principles.

Hopefully this Episode provides a compelling narrative on the complexities of design education and practice, highlighting the importance of breaking conventions, embracing ambiguity, and balancing creative aspirations with practical realities. I’d say that Shash's journey and optimism is a testament to the transformative power of speculative design and the value of creative exploration in shaping a unique design identity.

1. Postcards from some possible futures, sent to me by Elliot P. Montgomery

Randy Plemel is a design and innovation consultant specializing in solving hard and complex problems for people in elegant, and hopefully simpler ways.

Randy has worked with a wide range of organizations in the public sector on democracy promotion, and the private sector on who their customer might be, including the Knight Foundation to reimagine the civic commons across eight cities, Bloomberg Philanthropies to cultivate city-based innovation in the U.S. and India, AARP to evolve their role in creating livable communities for all, and the City of Los Angeles and NYCHA to make cities better through design.

He’s also completed a range of new products and services with a diverse set of clients—including State Farm, Steelcase, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Tata, Citibank, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and Walgreens—on a variety of design challenges, from new digital communication tools, to blended digital and physical experiences, to entirely new retail strategy and concepts.

Randy holds a BS in Architecture and Masters of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyplemel/

Expedition Works: https://expedition.works/

Journey With Purpose: https://jwp.news/founding/

Avery’s Journey, Randy’s Design Fiction exercise gives purpose to Generative AI tools rather than freaking out or fetishizing and drooling all over them.

https://expedition.works/project/averys-journey

Journey With Purpose Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journey-with-purpose/id1697389263

(p.s. This ‘Better Bin’ episode with Colin Kelly discussing how his ad-hoc, let’s-see-what-happens submission to get the contract to design the new New York City public trash bin is awesomely inspiring.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colin-kelly-better-bin/id1697389263?i=1000633101486)

Here it is. Another episode of 'Last Week from the Near Future'. This is Episode 007, for Week 49 of 2023.

Please support the Near Future Laboratory Podcast and get access to our awesomely vibrant Near Future Laboratory Discord community over on Patreon.

Here it is. Another episode of 'Last Week from the Near Future'.

Last Week from the Near Future Laboratory - Week 48/2023