APF BLOG

by Lil Zhang Van Gogh’s Parisian Novels (Romans Parisiens/Les Livres jaunes)  (November-December 1887) Introduction In the first part of Fables & Folklore for the Future, I looked at how different cultures experience time and, in turn, the future. I suggested bringing cultural myths and rituals into forecasting, as a way to connect with communities that are already imagining what comes next in their own ways, because the practice of futuring requires engaging with those who h

Part 1: Understanding Time Across Cultures by Lil Zhang Introduction Moleskin Sketches III by Pedro Correa ( pedrocorrea.com ) When we think of myths and legends, we might think of those from our past history, the ones embedded in our cultures as relics of how our ancestors understood the world. They are preserved as lessons, warnings, and reasonings from worlds that sought to make sense of what lay beyond the tools of their time. This form of knowledge-sharing is as old as w

By Grace Okubo The systems that shape our lives – where we live, what we eat, and how we work – are built on the stories we tell about...

By Lynesha Pillai Status quo Landfills in South Africa are under pressure from two major waste streams: unsellable clothing (textiles)...

by Rachel Magaji One reason I enjoy foresight is that it makes me more effective in my day-to-day job. Startups move fast and change all...

By James Balzer Image from Flickr In an era where governments are increasingly called upon to respond to complex, multidimensional...

by Rachel Magaji Image by freepik I work as a product designer with startups. In my experience, I have noticed a common problem. Many...

At a recent webinar hosted by the Association of Professional Futurists, retired Air Vice-Marshal John Blackburn AO delivered a sobering...

By Mohamed Okash AI image generated by Canva Magic Media On June 26, 2025, Somalia marked 65 years of independence. But this milestone...

From IT to AI - how can we re-apprise the IT revolution in the modern era? By James Balzer In a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the...

What Can Designers Learn from Medicine? by Rachel Magaji Image by freepik We may already be slipping into the future our grandparents...

By Grace Okubo We can quickly call to mind popular dystopian stories today because they dominate contemporary media. But can we say the...

by Wensupu Yang Preface In discussions about AI and the future of work, it’s become common to reassure ourselves that AI is not going to...

By Roger Spitz In 2023, the Cascade Institute launched its new polycrisis website, which includes the Disruptive Futures Institute as...

Part 2: Composting What Is, Cultivating What Could Be By amalia deloney This is Part 2 of “From Input to Interbeing.” If you haven’t read...

by James Balzer In the May Oceania Association of Professional Futurists (APF) webinar, we had the pleasure of hosting Patricia Lustig -...

By Grace Okubo The call to democratize foresight must expand beyond the boardroom to engage those who are most exposed to uncertainty....

Part 1: Reframing Public Participation as a Living System By amalia deloney Photo by Tara Winstead: https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-chec...

by James Balzer Complexity requires diverse participation  Foresight isn’t about predicting the future. Rather, it’s about anticipating...

By amalia deloney In the evolving landscape of societal transformation, the concept of public interest  has long ensured that essential...