Contributed By: Julian Bleecker

Published On: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 02:47:12 PDT

I recently had the privilege of presenting the keynote at the ANDI Innovation Land Summit 2024 in Bogotá, Colombia. It was an incredible opportunity to delve into the essential relationship between imagination and innovation—a relationship that, I believe, forms the backbone of progress in any field.

Throughout my talk, I shared some of my favorite examples illustrating how imagination precedes and facilitates innovation. Consider the absurd delay in putting wheels on luggage or the time when jogging wasn’t considered a recreational activity. These examples serve to remind us that imagination is often the catalyst for transformational change.

I introduced the concept of ‘Design Fiction’ as a methodology aims to unlock imagination by crafting ‘artifacts from possible near futures.’ The process of Design Fiction involves assessing the current state of affairs, synthesizing insights from various trends, and then imagining new possibilities. One exercise I particularly enjoy is reimagining something as everyday as breakfast through the lens of current trends, posing questions about what the future of breakfast could look like.

The talk moved further into how science fiction, particularly inspirations from shows like Star Trek, can stimulate innovation. It’s fascinating to see how ideas presented in these fictional worlds, such as the Star Trek communicator, can later influence real-world technology developments like the mobile phone.

In my session, I shared several project examples where we’ve employed Design Fiction to envision potential future innovations tangibly and engagingly. Notably, our collaboration with IKEA allowed us to reinvent what their catalog could look like, helping them imagine the future of home life through the inclusion of future-centric products and concepts.

As I concluded, I emphasized the use of various tools and methods I’ve developed to help organizations nurture creativity and innovation. By tapping into this existentially vital capability—our imagination—we can expand our horizons and envision new, improved realities.

This summit served as a reminder of the limitless potential of human creativity when it is embraced and leveraged in meaningful ways. I left the event feeling inspired by the vibrant community of leaders and thinkers dedicated to driving innovation forward. Thank you to everyone who engaged with me and shared in this journey of imagination and innovation.