Designing the future isn’t about crystal balls; it’s about context. By using historical events like the 1918 flu pandemic or the evolution of downtown Washington, DC, Jennifer Lo describes how history’s turning points offer a rich foundation for designing preferable futures. Is the famous saying, “those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it” ringing a bell? Learn three ways history shapes strategic foresight: frame for ideation, a stress test for plausibility, and a predictor of outcomes.
Through real-world projects, explore how rooting future-thinking in historical patterns creates credibility, creativity, and community engagement. Futures work helps us to gain depth when considering the forces that have shaped us. When we choose to respond with intention (not just imagination) we are able to leave behind the signals we want future generations to find.
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