Future makers

Shaping the future is a skill that can be developed. Bringing about changes in society requires more people to talk about the future, develop their future-related skills and imagine alternative futures.

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Shaping the future is a skill that can be developed

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

What is it about?

Right now, Finland is faced with major issues and actions concerning the future. The journey towards a society based on the limits of Earth’s carrying capacity requires a large group of reformers – people, organisations, all of us.

To build a better tomorrow, we need more people to discuss the future, imagine alternative futures and take action towards a desirable future. Shaping the future is a skill that can be developed!

The Future Makers project combines, develops and teaches future-oriented thinking and change-making skills.

The project aims to bring together and popularise future-oriented thinking and change-making skills. Change makers have always also been futurists. They have had the courage to question things and imagine scenarios that have not yet happened. The project aims to reach individuals and collectives that wish to develop these skills in their respective organisations and networks.

What have we done so far?

The project began in spring 2020. Assembled through an open search, the development team served as a sparring partner in spring 2020 for Sitra’s team charged with conceptualising and developing a workshop method that combines future-oriented thinking and change-making skills. The work was also supported by an international team of specialists. The result of the development effort was Futures Frequency, a method for imagining and shaping alternative futures. The method was published in January 2021 for open use by all interested parties and, during the spring, we organised facilitator training events for people interested in taking advantage of Futures Frequency. We also issued the publication Influence the Future, which focuses on future-oriented thinking and change-making.

The Futures Frequency workshop method is available for use by anyone. It does not require previous experience or competence related to future-oriented thinking. The complete materials and instructions for facilitating a Futures Frequency workshop are available online.

Where are we now?

Throughout 2022 Sitra is supporting ten teams to use the Futures Frequency method. The teams are from different parts of Finland and use the method in relation to such areas as zoning, foster care, village development and church social work. Read more about the teams here (in Finnish). At the end of the year, the experiences of the teams will be published so that everyone interested in using the Futures Frequency method can benefit from them.

In addition, a card game called “Hyvät kortit” (Cards of Hope) will be launched in 2022, encouraging all future-minded people to create hopeful visions of the future. The game shows that talking about the future need not be deadly serious but can be creative and fun.

Who is involved?

We work with a wide range of groups, communities and organisations that are interested in developing future-oriented thinking and change-making skills.

Feel free to contact us if you have a proposal for collaboration or if you want to find out more about what we do.