Imagination in the Era of AI

Next week I’ll be giving a talk to students and faculty at Princeton University’s Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education. The talk is titled “Imagination in the era of AI” in which I will be talking about the relationship of Imagination and Innovation, and how the two are always productively entangled in the work I do at Near Future Laboratory.

My hypothesis in this context is that the intersection of Imagination and Innovation is not only essential for navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving technological landscape but also serves as a catalyst for transformative solutions that address pressing global challenges.

And we have a few of those, particularly in the domain of pedagogy.

Alongside of this talk, and perhaps the primary motivation for traveling across the country, is that my host, Carl DiSalvo and I are working on a speculative exercise to consider possible evolutions of design education. Or more generally — the practice of practicing to become a creative creator of meaning and value. 

In this environment, we will explore how fostering a culture of imagination within engineering and design can empower future leaders to not only envision but also actualize innovative solutions that resonate with the complexities of contemporary challenges. How would one use a simple artifact like a brochure, a curriculum guide, a campus map, or report card to think though how creative education might evolve in the near future?

So — this is also why I am hosting General Seminar Season 06/Episode 02 specifically on this topic, this Tuesday April 15th. This seminar will serve as a platform you can participate in with me where we will engage each other in reimagining these everyday artifacts, challenging ourselves to consider how ‘design education’ can be redefined to inspire creativity and facilitate a more dynamic approach to education that feels responsive to the rapid advancements in technology, shifting global contexts, and a sense of aspiration and possibility. 

Why The Keller Center?

Well, as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship at Princeton it’s a great place to engage the topic. Entangling Design, Entrepreneurship, Innovation Practices is really more closely aligned to my own practice, if I stop to think about it. (And I do..)

I remember a very good friend and colleague once remarked while I was in the throes of developing the OMATA One — it’s a designed product, right? — that “design wants you back.” And I was a bit like..eh?? What am I doing if not designing? Has design become voided of material-making processes and practices? Must it be non-commercial? Is it only design if it is adversarial to commercial capital interests?

A place or facility that focuses on the intersection of engineering, design, and entrepreneurship may also be a place that aims to imbue within students the capcity to creative leaders — ones who bring charisma, imagination, and a spirit of aspiration. Is that The Keller Center? I don’t know _ but it exudes this potentiality (and may be as flawed as any other institution with more structure than moxy.)

In any case, the project Carl and I are ambling through is our speculation on the possible futures of creative pedagogy, and through this speculation, we hope to ignite a collective imagination that transcends traditional boundaries and fosters an environment where innovative ideas about pedagogical practices can emanate in consideration of the needs of a rapidly changing world. In this spirit, we will challenge ourselves to think critically about how these artifacts can be reimagined, transforming them into tools that not only convey information but also inspire engagement, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of knowledge and practice in design education.