The Design Futures Initiative connects designers, strategists, engineers, scientists, artists and futurists from around the world. We facilitate programs and conversations on the ethical, environmental, political and economic impact of future products and services.

About Us

 

The Design Futures Initiative is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, CA, USA

Our mission is to bring together designers, strategists, artists, scientists, and futurists to facilitate and advance responsible design and strategy practices that consider the ethical, cultural, environmental, political and economic challenges and opportunities of future products, services, and systems.

We do this in service of investigating what futures we want, what we want  to avoid, and how we might ultimately create the necessary agendas which critically consider our impact on all human-kind and  life on our planet.

 
 
 

Focus Areas

Our vision is to expand our global community and further the discourse around Speculative Design and Foresight as strategies for responsible, ethical, and mindful design futures.

 
 
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Communities

We support and enable local Chapters to form and thrive.

A primary function of our communities is to facilitate in-person events and functions where information and knowledge is shared and value is derived.

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Advocacy

Promoting the profession of futures design and engaging with like-minded communities, organizations, or individuals who share our goals and can help us achieve greater awareness for our causes.

Providing services, goods, interactions back to communities outside of our own that offer educational opportunities or other altruistic efforts.

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Education

Providing open access to resources, tools, frameworks, methodologies, or other materials which allow for the spread of information about the design futures profession and/or help establish a central repository for such assets.

We wish to educate our members, the extended design futures community, and society at large.

 
 

Our History

 

In April 2015, we launched our first meetup in San Francisco. We were fascinated with Speculative and Critical Design and wanted to create a platform where we could share work and methodologies. Over the years our events grew in size and popularity.

Since its inception, we’ve welcomed thousands of members worldwide, hosted hundreds of events, and workshops, and organized 3 conferences. Speculative Futures chapters exist in over 12 countries and we are growing every day.

 
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Board of Directors

 

The Design Futures Initiative is a volunteer-run organization

 
 
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Phil Balagtas

President & Founder
Experience Design

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Mary Lukanuski

Secretary
Sr Director Product Design, Zendesk

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Adam Zeiner

Board Member
Systems Designer

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Jack Wilkinson

Board Member
Senior Strategist, Jam3

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Andrés Valencia

LATAM Regional Director/Branding
CEO, Change Consulting

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Dana Martens

Communications and Special Programming Director
Director/UX Designer, Teach for America

 
 
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Vera Fearns

EMEA Regional Director
Research Fellow, New University of Lisbon

 
 
 

Advisory Board

 
 
 
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Chris Livaudais

Nonprofit Operations
Executive Director, IDSA

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Elliot Montgomery

University Programs
Associate Director, MFA Transdisciplinary Design at Parsons School of Design

 

Creative & Operational Support

 
 
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Travis Kupp

PRIMER2020 Host City Chair; Atlanta, GA Speculative Futures Meetup Leader
Truist

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Raquel "Roki" Kalil

Art Director & Creative Lead
Visual Designer at frog design

 
 
 
 
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