How to Future Online Masterclass

Online

[NOTE: Due to a schedule conflict, this event is being rescheduled for late 2022. Registrants will be offered an opportunity to reschedule when new dates are announced. To find out about rescheduled dates, please leave your contact information below under Register Interest and you will be contacted when ticketing resumes.]

This unique online masterclass is a three-day program based on Changeist's How to Future approach that introduces you to applied futuring through a series of frameworks, tools and practices that enable you to bring this practice to your own work or area of interest or practice. This program is tested and refined through years of deployment with a range of international brands, governments, agencies and teams. Each day consists of 3.5 hours of engagement, lecture, discussion and exercise, with a practice project embedded in our activities (for more on this, see full programme description). The course is delivered through a mix of Zoom and Miro for online connection and activities.

Registrants will receive a code for 20% off the accompanying book "How to Future: Leading and Sense-making in an Age of Hyperchange" with their confirmation of ticketing.

NOTE: This session is timed for participants in US and Canada. Later sessions may be offered on other time zones.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

We have specifically designed this masterclass to:

  • Acquire a strong, common introduction to the foundational practices of applied futuring.Recognise their own future mindsets and journey and those of others, and act on this recognition.
  • Understand and apply common terminology, frameworks and best practices in futures research.
  • Construct a horizon scan and analyse trends and impacts.
  • Synthesize structured research into strategic narratives and scenarios.
  • Identify and design basic prototype concepts for new products/services/experiences/policies based on emerging scenarios.
  • Evaluate progress and quality of practice in applied futures going forward, and develop futuring culture within organisations or teams.

Tickets

Register interest in later sessions of this workshop.

Additional Information

**This Masterclass is delivered online, using **Zoom + Miro.

Please be sure to read the Masterclass FAQ prior to registration.

SESSION STRUCTURE

The 12.5 hours of this online session are broken up across three days of consecutive sessions to make it easier to participate, engage and absorb the concepts and forms we discuss. All sessions take place in a combination of Zoom and Miro and mix overviews of concept and use cases with discussion and hands-on exercises.

Note: This workshop will use a live theme or topic, to be voted on by participants prior to the workshop, as a focal point for sensing, scenarios and storytelling. Options for these include the future of mobility, future of the metaverse, or future of migration. Participants will have a change to rank their preferred option after registration, and instructors will build around the resulting first choice of registrants.

This Masterclass is designed as a sequential, connected programme across all three days, 12-14 September 2022, and no single-day registrations are available.



Schedule (All times US ET)

DAY 1 MODULE 1 — FRAMING FOR APPLIED FUTURES — 1:00PM-2:30PM

This intro provides a common onboarding to the state and uses of applied futures.

•Framing futures Seeing futures as a source of lightweight, agile and practical tools for systemic and critical thinking and exploration. • Situating futuring Applying it as tool for both strategic thinking and one of anticipatory innovation. • Scoping different scales of futures explorations Choosing framing questions and selecting tools.

BREAK     2:30PM-2:45PM

DAY 1 MODULE 2 — SENSING AND SCANNING — 2:45PM-4:30PM

This module focuses on research skills and tools for collecting insights about the future.

• Scanning and signal collection Background and best practices for collecting and organizing data, evidence and insights as signals of possible futures, including qualitative and quantitative insights, observational research, interviews and more. • Sensing taxonomies How to sort, prioritize and understand relationships among trends for analysis, and build inventories as an ongoing organizational resource. Using built inventories as a resource.

DAY 2 MODULE 1 —SENSE-MAKING AND MAPPING — 1:00PM-2:30PM

This module focuses on different approaches to yield new understandings from possible futures.

• Organizing and socializing future insights Generating trends and drivers, using current trend collections as a resource, and group sensemaking approaches. • Mapping and clustering for pattern recognition Making sense of emerging patterns, mapping uncertainty and identifying key strategic themes. This includes roadmapping and timelines. • Unpacking implications Understanding first and second level impacts and implications of change.

BREAK     2:30PM-2:45PM

DAY 2 MODULE 2 — SCENARIO DEVELOPMENT — 2:45PM-4:30PM

This module focuses on structuring and stress-testing narratives of possible futures.

• Understanding applications of scenarios When and where it makes sense to use scenarios. • Different scenario types Deductive (2x2), Inductive and Four Futures scenario approaches, and when to use them. • Quick inductive scenarios Combining patterns and themes into narratives about the future. • Deepening and stress testing Getting beyond surface scenarios, and exploring implications, personas and opportunities.

DAY 3 MODULE 1— PROTOTYPING & STORYTELLING — 1:00PM-2:30PM

This module focuses on developing communication prototypes to bring future scenarios or concepts to life.

• Getting from scenarios to “things" The role of experiences and objects to communicate future narratives for effective engagement. • World-building and rapid prototyping Turning narratives into stories and artefacts. • Communicating with scenarios and speculative prototypes Bringing others into your possible future to share and debate insights.

BREAK     2:30PM-2:45PM

DAY 3 MODULE 2 — ASSESSMENT AND REFLECTION ON FUTURING  — 2:45PM-4:30PM

This module is about embedding futuring as a go-to tool for the wider organization.

• Post-project analysis We look back on the tools and processes explored, to discuss takeaways and strategies for applying these approaches in day-today work, as well as strategic product or service development. • Measuring value We define useful metrics for measuring progress, and reflect on assembling appropriate toolkits for assessing an array of challenges and uncertainties. • Building ongoing culture Strategies for developing space and language for futuring,


LEARNING OUTCOMES

We have designed and tested this programme to enable participants to:

  • Acquire a strong, common introduction to the foundational practices of applied futuring.
  • Recognise their own future mindsets and journey and those of others, and act on this recognition.
  • Understand and apply common terminology, frameworks and best practices in futures research.
  • Construct a horizon scan and analyse trends and impacts.
  • Synthesize structured research into strategic narratives and scenarios.
  • Identify and design basic prototype concepts for new products/services/experiences/policies based on emerging scenarios.
  • Evaluate progress and quality of practice in applied futures going forward, and develop futuring culture within organisations or teams.

YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Scott Smith — Founder, Managing Partner, Changeist. 25+ years’ experience in forecasting, strategy and analysis. Previously a consulting futurist, research director and analyst for international agencies in US, EU and EMEA. Developer of the Strategic Foresight programme, Dubai Future Academy, Visiting Lecturer, Programme Developer, Innovation & Futures Thinking at IED Barcelona. Client engagements include ASOS, BBC, ING, New York Times, UNICEF, Comcast, Barilla, Arup, Therme Group, Dubai Future Foundation, International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent, National Lottery UK, and numerous global technology brands. He is the author of How to Future: Leading and Sense-making in an Age of Hyperchange, published by Kogan Page Inspire. More

Susan Cox-Smith — Partner, Director, Experience, Changeist. 25+ years as designer, creative director, writer, editor and producer working with large corporations, international organisations and universities. Leads educational design and creation of new learning tools for Changeist. Lecturer, Future Design, Dubai Future Academy. Contributing editor, How to Future: Leading and Sense-making in an Age of Hyperchange, published by Kogan Page Inspire. Client engagements include AXA, JPMorganChase, Comcast, International Women’s Development Agency, Museum of the Future, and multiple global tech entities. More

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