This SuperSeminar is designed for designers, innovators, creative professionals, and strategic thinkers who want to go beyond surface-level trends and explore the deeper role of design and futures in shaping our world. Here’s why you should join:

Unlock the power of design as a strategic tool
As Kevin Bethune outlines in Reimagining Design, design isn’t just about creating visually appealing products—it’s a crucial element of problem-solving that can drive innovation and address systemic issues like diversity and inclusion. Bethune will reveal how design can be leveraged to anchor multidisciplinary teamwork and leadership that reflects today’s marketplace.

Engage in transformative conversations on futures design
Jake’s time in the speculative and futures design domains, particularly at the Institute for the Future (IFTF) in Palo Alto has taught him how to think beyond the present, and develop tools and real insights on how to engage with foresight and speculative design to influence decisions today that shape tomorrow. His groundbreaking work in experiential futures offers creative professionals new ways to innovate in their fields.

Here real-world actionable insights for creating positive change
Kevin has true, on-the-ground experience in the ways design, when integrated with other disciplines, can lead to meaningful change in both individual careers and large organizations. His experiences in corporate America and at Nike highlight how we can design not just for innovation, but for inclusivity and social equity.

Prepare for the future of professional practice
This seminar will equip you with fresh approaches to tackling the challenges of the future, with Kevin and Jake showing how to integrate strategic design thinking, futures foresight, and leadership to shape your professional and creative practices.

Jake This presentation delves into the interdisciplinary field of futures thinking, integrating governance redesign, neuropolitics, and experiential futures. It highlights the necessity of overcoming biases and designing robust political systems, stimulated by brain and mind research, to prepare for emergent societal changes. Emphasizing the importance of long-term thinking, it illustrates the substantial impact of foresight and immersive, experiential simulations on addressing complex issues like opioid abuse, climate change, and community relations. The session demonstrates how visual artifacts and detailed narrative world-building foster emotional engagement, promoting proactive community planning and resilience. Additionally, the presentation underscores the value of innovative pedagogical approaches to nurture futures thinking and integrate it within municipal and corporate systems, aiming to cultivate sustained strategic thinking in governance and education.

Exploring the Future: Insights from the SuperSeminar with Jake Dunagan

In the latest episode of the SuperSeminar series, we are treated to an enlightening conversation with futurist Jake Dunagan. Dunagan takes us on a journey through the innovative practices of envisioning future possibilities and the framework that guides his diverse body of work.

The Journey Begins: A Brief Introduction

Jake Dunagan’s work primarily revolves around shaping future possibilities at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California, while residing in Austin, Texas. He heads the Governance Futures Lab, a space dedicated to reimagining our societal systems. His roles don’t stop there; he’s also an adjunct at the University of Texas and works on projects related to healthcare systems and design.

The Three Pillars of Future Exploration

Dunagan outlines three pivotal pillars within his work that often overlap:

1. Political System Design: Analyzing and understanding governance systems to innovate and refine how we are governed.

2. Neuropolitics: Investigating how increasing understanding of the brain and our mental processes influence power dynamics and ethical landscapes.

3. Experiential Futures: The core focus of this discussion, involving creating tangible experiences that embody potential futures, encouraging meaningful reflection and learning.

Our Minds: Predictive Machines

Dunagan observes that human minds are naturally inclined to predict future scenarios, albeit not particularly efficiently. He points out the flaws in our affective forecasting – predicting our emotional responses to future events. Dunagan emphasizes the importance of incorporating foresight to bridge the gap between our innate predictions and reality.

The Power of Foresight

According to Dunagan, it is not solely our biological and cognitive limitations that impede future planning; external systems, like our social and institutional constructs, also play a role. By harnessing foresight, we can exercise a degree of control over these limitations, potentially leading to a better, more anticipatory approach to future challenges.

Creating Experiential Futures

A significant component of Dunagan’s approach involves what he terms “experiential futures.” This involves creating interfaces with potential futures to facilitate understanding and engagement on a deeper level. By simulating experiences, even fictional ones, we can infuse them into our memories, preparing ourselves for real-world analogs.

Practical Applications and Case Studies

Dunagan illustrates his approach with various case studies, particularly emphasizing his work with mayors and city leaders across the U.S. His aim is to mold future-oriented thinking within city governance and encourage mayors to think creatively and constructively about the legacies they wish to leave.

One standout example is the “posters from the future” initiative, where mayors envisioned impactful outcomes for their cities, encapsulating them in visual narratives. This exercise not only visualized potential futures but also stimulated dialogue and idea exchanges among policymakers.

Principles of Design and Engagement

Dunagan shares valuable insights on effective design principles, such as the “snake dog leash” concept, which uses minimal artifacts to evoke broader future narratives. Another principle, “555,” underscores the importance of crafting experiences that provide value across varying attention spans — whether that be five seconds, five minutes, or five hours of engagement.

Conclusion: The Art and Science of Shaping Futures

Through systematic methods and creative design, Dunagan emphasizes a pedagogical approach to futures thinking. By embedding emotional depth and creativity into his projects, he strives to provoke meaningful discourse and inspire proactive steps toward achievable futures.

Jake Dunagan’s insights shed light on the complexities and rewards of engaging with the future, offering a fresh perspective on how we can navigate the uncertainties of tomorrow with creativity and foresight. Whether you’re a policymaker, designer, or simply a curious mind, his strategies for thinking about the future are invaluable tools for evolving beyond the present.

KEVIN BETHUNE The presentation explores interdisciplinary approaches in design and innovation, emphasizing inclusive and empathic solutions through diverse teamwork. It underscores the significance of integrating engineering, strategic design, and business acumen in projects across varying industries, from biotechnology to cryptocurrency. Highlighted are methods like scenario planning for future foresight, employing ‘thick data’ to understand user needs, and leveraging lived experiences to address systemic inequities. The need for long-term perspectives and generative environments in innovation spaces is stressed, along with a critique of the short-term mindset in design. The discussion also focuses on evidence-based strategies to communicate design value in business contexts, the evolving role of technologies like generative AI, and the importance of collaborative problem-solving in shaping dynamic, future-oriented solutions.

Title: A Journey of Interdisciplinary Innovation: The Visionary Path of Kevin Bethune

Introduction

Navigating the intricate paths of design, business, and innovation is no child’s play, and few can attest to this better than Kevin Bethune. As a multidisciplinary visionary, Kevin’s journey through the realms of engineering, design, and business has redefined what it means to approach problems innovatively. Today, he runs a design and innovation practice, Dreams, Design, and Life, in Redondo Beach, California. His mission? To unlock human potential through empathetic, holistic solutions.

A Career Path Forged in Creativity

Kevin’s journey didn’t begin in design. Initially led by his creative inclinations, Kevin found himself in the world of mechanical engineering. His early days in the nuclear power industry sharpened his skills in product development, embedding the importance of coordinated team efforts and meticulous planning into his work ethic.

His transition to Nike marked his entry into professional design. Starting in business planning, his engineering roots expanded to the realms of product development and design through encouragement and mentorship from newfound colleagues. Under their guidance, Kevin designed footwear for Jordan and various other Nike brands, eventually contributing to the famed Innovation Kitchen.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Future of Innovation

Reflecting on his time at Nike, Kevin observed an emerging trend of multidisciplinary convergence in business schools and beyond. It was this insight that propelled him back to graduate school, further solidifying his creative foundation. However, starting anew wasn’t without challenges. The world wasn’t ready for someone like Kevin, who didn’t fit into a singular job description.

Yet, persistence led him to Los Angeles, where he collaborated with partners who shared his vision. Their startup endeavor eventually became BCG Digital Ventures, under the Boston Consulting Group’s support. This platform allowed him to foster environments ripe for innovation while creating new ventures with client partners.

Design Thinking and Collaborative Creativity

Kevin’s belief in collaboration as the currency for future innovation echoes through his work ethos. He stresses the importance of multidisciplinary teams coming together, operating at parity, to peer into the future through diverse lenses. According to Kevin, the true depth of understanding potential opportunities lies not only in conventional data but in the thick, qualitative insights - the motivations, attitudes, and behaviors of target audiences.

His approach is not merely about following industry trends but questioning fundamentals. For instance, why are sneaker molds so expensive? Could they be created from cheaper materials using additive manufacturing? These questions open avenues for alternative business models, pushing the boundaries of standard practices.

Kevin’s workshops with C-level executives demonstrate how confronting and cross-pollinating diverse paradigms can lead to the generation of multiple future scenarios, prompting informed strategic decisions for organizations.

Inclusion and Historical Context in Innovation

Innovating for the future requires an understanding of historical context. Kevin is deeply aware of societal imbalances and systemic inequities, emphasizing that all stakeholders, whether team members or target audiences, bring their histories to the table. This insight into lived experiences shapes better, more inclusive innovation processes.

In recounting his family’s history, Kevin highlights how overt and covert societal forces have shaped not just his family but wider societal dynamics. This acknowledgment of past and present inequities pushes Kevin to ensure diverse perspectives and histories contribute to future innovations.

Conclusion

As we look toward a rapidly transforming world – with tools like generative AI creating new paradigms – Kevin Bethune’s journey serves as an inspiring blueprint. He believes in the value of not just design thinking but creative problem-solving that transcends boundaries and disciplines. By fostering environments where collaboration thrives and every voice matters, Kevin is paving the way for a future where design isn’t just about aesthetics but is deeply integrated into solving the world’s pressing challenges.

The journey for Kevin Bethune has been one of relentless evolution, proving that by harnessing diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation can truly flourish.