WHAT IS FUTURISM AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Futurism is the study and practice of postulating possible, probable, and preferable futures and the worldviews and myths that underlie them. Let’s talk about some of the fun and fascinating aspects that keynote speakers and future trends experts say tend to characterize the art and skill of futurism.

• Tomorrow-focused – The practice is inherently forward-looking, envisioning scenarios and conceptualizing images of the future through creative, critical and systems thinking.
• Change-oriented – It examines trends, drivers and potential disruptions that could substantially change, reshape or transform the future.
• Possibility-oriented – In effect, futurism looks beyond predictions to explore a range of plausible futures, alternative scenarios and emerging opportunities.
• Challenging assumptions – By questioning conventional wisdom and assumptions, futurism aims to shift mindsets and perspectives.
• Informing strategy – Insights derived from futurism can inform policy, planning, innovation and decision making to try to build desirable futures.
• Imagination – Futurists use brainstorming and creativity to envision the realm of the possible and reframe existing paradigms.
• Interdisciplinary – The skill of futurism draws on perspectives from diverse fields like technology, environment, demographics, economics, politics and culture.
• Shaping change – Experts look at how current decisions and priorities may shape or preclude future options and aims to foster agency.
• Long-term-centric -Unlike forecasting, futurism often examines mid- to long-range futures extending 10, 25, 50 or more years out.

Overall, the concept of futurism provides a framework for thinking systematically and creatively about multiple futures, identifying opportunities for innovation and influencing change.