Near Future Laboratory is the creative design, innovation, technology and strategy studio that pioneered the grounded futures practice known as Design Fiction.

It was founded by Julian Bleecker, BSEE, MSEng, Ph.D. in 2004 when he purchased the URL nearfuturelaboratory.com to use as his blog shortly after he became a Professor at the University of Southern California's world famous School of Cinematic Arts (the USC Film School), where he taught graduate students interactive media theory & practice.

Over the last twenty+ years, he has empowered some of the world's largest and most forward-thinking organizations to make sense of, and respond to, the dynamics of the kinetic and uncertain environment in which they operate. As a consultant, facilitator, creative partner, and even as an employee, Near Future Laboratory has helped these organizations amplify their ability to make meaningful strategic choices by grounding creativity and imagination into practical, tangible contexts.