Near Future Laboratory Podcast

Tobias Revell, a contributor to 'Towards the Realm of Materiality,' explores the impact of Philip K. Dick's science fiction on modern tech narratives. He delves into how Dick's visions, particularly those in 'Minority Report,' have shaped real-world technology. The conversation includes innovative methods to transform speculative designs into practical realities. Additionally, Revell discusses the adaptive nature of everyday tech and how Dick’s stories can serve as a guide for reimagining our future in an AI-driven world.

Near Future Laboratory Podcast Episode 90: Exploring Creative Worlds with Kyle Ng Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/nearfuturelaboratory Join us at Detroit Imagines Harder: https://detroit.imaginesharder.com $55 Gets You 4 Design Fiction Books (Plus Electronic Sheep Training Cards): https://shop.nearfuturelaboratory.com/products/the-manual-of-design-fiction-paperback In Episode 90 of the Near Future Laboratory podcast, Julian Bleecker, founder of the Near Future Laboratory, sits down with Kyle Ng, creative director and founder of Braindead, to discuss his journey through creativity and innovation. Kyle shares his experiences from a young age, detailing his diverse creative influences, from sports and punk rock to film and new media. He speaks about his brand evolution, beginning with Farm Tactics, and how he navigated the fashion world with a unique DIY ethos. We get into the importance of storytelling, building immersive worlds, and staying true to one's creative instincts. 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Upcoming Event: Detroit Imagines Harder 03:22 Design Fiction Books and Merchandise 04:03 Conversation with Kyle Ng Begins 04:10 Kyle Ng on Curiosity and Inspiration 08:25 Exploring Technology and Identity 16:44 Kyle Ng's Journey and Influences 22:43 Early Career and Creative Exploration 31:27 The Birth of Farm Tactics 32:54 From Biking to Business: Early Hustles 35:33 Scaling Up: From Local to Major Collaborations 37:41 The DIY Ethos and Business Growth 39:33 The Philosophy of Success and Failure 42:34 Brain Dead: Evolution and Expansion 48:03 Building Cultural Experiences 55:05 The Future Vision and Personal Anecdotes 57:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Silvio Lorusso, a Lisbon-based designer, artist, and author of 'What Design Can't Do', dives into the intriguing interplay of design and disillusionment. He discusses how design can fulfill dreams yet contribute to societal challenges, reflecting on the shift from tangible practices to abstraction. The conversation touches on the ethics of AI, the cultural impact of memes, and the evolving dynamics in the crypto art scene. Silvio shares personal anecdotes that weave a tapestry of skepticism mixed with hopeful aspirations for the future of design.

Dave Gray, an expert in creating communities fostering human connection and imagination, discusses building new ways to organize human potential. They explore the School of the Possible community vision, ideal creative communities, value of connection, service, and creating joy in work.

Taryn O'Neil and Tamara Krinsky are the creative force behind ⁠Scirens⁠, a creative team working at the intersection of science & storytelling, creative entertainment that encourages curiosity and imaginative thinking to shape a new vision for a rapidly changing world. They recently produced the trailer for Arizona State University's Center for ⁠Science and the Imagination⁠'s ⁠Climate Action Almanac⁠. You can see the trailer, called The Assignment over on Youtube. Thank you to all my patrons who support this podcast and the work amongst the Near Future Laboratory's Discord community. Please consider supporting this work by becoming a Patron over at ⁠patreon.com/nearfuturelaboratory⁠. If you're interested in the work we do and how we do it, you will find some useful references and tools over at ⁠https://shop.nearfuturelaboratory.com⁠ https://scirens.com/ https://www.climatealmanac.org/ https://csi.asu.edu/

This is a digest of the 3PM session of General Seminar Season 05 Episode 01 where we discuss possible futures in which AI is as normal, ordinary, and everyday as wheels on luggage and televisions we talk to. General Seminar is Near Future Laboratory's platform for sense-making in which we excavate artifacts from possible futures rather than make predictions and prognostications. This is the Design Fiction approach to imagining into possible futures. To learn more about General Seminar sign up for the Near Future Laboratory's newsletter at ⁠https://nearfuturelaboratory.com⁠ and see past General Seminars at ⁠https://generalseminar.com

This is a digest of the 10AM session of General Seminar Season 05 Episode 01 where we discuss possible futures in which AI is as normal, ordinary, and everyday as wheels on luggage and televisions we talk to. General Seminar is Near Future Laboratory's platform for sense-making in which we excavate artifacts from possible futures rather than make predictions and prognostications. This is the Design Fiction approach to imagining into possible futures. To learn more about General Seminar sign up for the Near Future Laboratory's newsletter at https://nearfuturelaboratory.com and see past General Seminars at https://generalseminar.com

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, gather 'round for an electrifying journey through the cerebral and speculative realm of "Thrilling Wonder Stories." Listen as we regale you with a tale of imagination, innovation, and intellectual wonder. Our narrative unfolds through a dazzling array of discussions, exploring the intersection of technology, science, and the arts. From the organic to the artificial, from the accidental to the meticulously planned, our speakers weave a tapestry of ideas that challenge the boundaries of reality and fiction. Venture with us into discussions that span the history of consciousness, the marvels of special effects in film, the complexities of artificial intelligence, and the speculative frontiers of science fiction. This transcript is not just a record; it's a gateway to exploring the future's potential, the mysteries of the universe, and the uncharted territories of human creativity. Dive into a world where the wonders of tomorrow are discussed today, where imagination is the currency, and the possibilities are as boundless as the stars. Welcome to "Thrilling Wonder Stories," where every word is a step into the future! With Liam Young, Matt Jones, Julian Bleecker, Bruce Sterling, and Kevin Slavin https://patreon.com/nearfuturelaboratory https://shop.nearfuturelaboratory.com

In this episode, I chat with the fun, creative, thoughtful Ruth Guerra, a design researcher with a knack for amplifying the questions about design, creativity, research and futures through a wonderful social media presence. We dive into her journey from a theater undergrad to mastering future design, where she champions participatory design with a twist. Ruth shares her passion for storytelling, not just any storytelling, but the kind that shapes our future. She's also getting busy hosting innovative workshops to help people get a sense of how design research and design fiction legible to normal humans. So buckle up, we're exploring how design, values, and a sprinkle of theater can make the world a more engaging place. Spoiler alert: there are no spoilers in here even though we talk for a moment about 'Leave the World Behind.' This is a fun one that just might have you thinking about joining the Near Future Laboratory Discord and supporting this podcast over on patreon.com/nearfuturelaboratory Check out Ruth's Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ridguerra⁠ And definitely her Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/ridguerra⁠ Check out the episode's sponsored book, Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, the book that came from an adjacent future in which the Sony Walkman failed: https://shop.nearfuturelaboratory.com/products/androids-dream-of-electric-sheep

Some things that happened at the Near Future Laboratory the last weeks of 2023 including a day trip to SFO using a travel voucher that was going to expire at the end of the year, meeting with the NFL gang for an awesome lunch and chat, hanging with Will Carey from https://formation.eco to continue working on the meaning, purpose, and offering of this reinvigorated evolution of Near Future Laboratory. There were also a bunch of (other people's) podcasts that dropped (links below). And it was the 9 year anniversary of OMATA which had me go back and reflect on how I used Design Fiction to help me create a future vision of the company and share that vision with investors who were so enthralled with this vision that they ended up buying the whole company.Linkshttps://formation.ecohttps://medium.com/design-fictions/why-did-i-write-an-annual-report-from-the-future-849cf12b0687Reality Plushttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/realitypl-us/id1722133066?i=1000639248112https://youtu.be/ld6FLoCH3Vw?si=NYJEXdD3jLDIybdgExpedition Works' Journey with Purposehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/julian-bleecker-a-little-bit-more-curious/id1697389263?i=1000638677720In Clear Focus / Design Fictionhttps://bigeyeagency.com/design-fiction-with-julian-bleecker/