Futur-ish 004: The Future Right at Your Feet that you Never Think About (with Nick Foster)
Sep 18, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Nick Foster, a futures designer and former head of design at Google X, digs into the often-overlooked world of mundane technologies, like socks. He critiques the hype surrounding flashy futurism and emphasizes the economic significance of everyday products. Nick reveals surprising insights from his research, underscores the importance of practicality in design, and challenges the industry to focus on real-life implications rather than merely grand visions. Expect thoughtful insights that might just change how you see the future!
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Writing To Clarify Futures Thinking
- Nick Foster wrote a book to make sense of his thinking and expose how people actually think about the future.
- He wanted a readable, honest take rather than another manifesto or method book.
Four Mindsets Shape Future Talk
- Foster defines four mindsets people use about the future: Could, Should, Might, Don't.
- He argues each has value but fails when used alone without lateral consideration of the others.
The Power Of The Future Mundane
- Foster highlights the 'future mundane'—everyday industries that dominate lived experience but get ignored in futurism.
- He contrasts their scale with hyped tech to show where real present value lies.
