Designing the Future Lecture and Exhibition

What is the future fundamentally? At its most basic, the future is unknown. It can only be predicted on the basis of known circumstances: current technologies, attitudes, and lifestyles. Early 20th century proposals of the future contained fantastic landscapes and preposterous technologies. But as the 20th century drew to a close, futurists shifted focus from the distant future to the near future. At the same time, the “present” became shorter. Instead of lasting three or four years, it was reduced to the brevity of a news cycle. Driven by the ever-increasing speed of technological and social change, the “present” and “future” became one and the same. Without a temporal distinction, how else can the future be conceived? How can we visualize the future, when it is same as the present?

On October 25, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will hold a conversation about the design of the future in an era in which the “future” exists in the present. The discussion will be led by three professionals who specialize in envisioning and creating the future.

Plus companion exhibition at Japan House: Sou Fujimoto: Futures of the Future.  Free exhibition runs Oct 27 – Dec 12 at Japan House Los Angeles, Hollywood and Highland 2nd Floor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 90028.