Open Lecture: Nik Baerten
Open Lecture: Nik Baerten
Future Stories for present change.
We all know that our choices today influence tomorrow, yet we often forget that the ways in which we imagine tomorrow define our options.
This is why the diversity of stories of how we expect or envision tomorrow to be, is so important. Stories and vistas of the future help us to anticipate and pave the way for change. They render the future tangible, giving people a grip on worlds that aren’t here yet. From the possible to the plausible, the probable to the preferable, they stretch the mind-frames of people and organisations, enabling them to explore future challenges and opportunities so as to inspire new courses of action.
The future can be rendered tangible in a myriad of ways: from sketches, oral stories, and movies, to artefacts, theatre and immersive experiences. Stories can be crafted by professionals or by amateurs alike, if enabled and guided by the right triggers and tools. Nik will share a range of insights illustrated by examples from projects in which his studio has been involved over the course of the past 10 years. Attention will be paid to the ways in which to elicit stories from people as a means of enabling expression, exploring and building common ground, as well as ways in which speculative fictions can spark debate and trigger action.