Archeological Expedition
002 ⎟ The Futurist Edit
Dear Futurist,
This week, let’s embark on an expedition (my 10-year-old self, who once dreamed of becoming Indiana Jones, is internally screaming with excitement). We’ll be diving into a fascinating concept: artefacts from the future. These imagined objects are not just thought experiments, they are tools that help us step into possible futures and explore what might be ahead.
What you will find inside today’s issue:
The Game: Explore the concept of future artefacts as tools for foresight. Learn how they are created, why they matter, and how they help uncover opportunities and gaps in today’s world.
Step Into the Future: Immerse yourself in a story where you stumble upon a beauty artefact from 2045. What does this object reveal about technology? beauty? society?
Signals of the Future: Connect events and facts from today that could lead to the creation of such a beauty object.
Back to the Present: Actionable strategies for companies of all sizes to begin exploring a tech-driven future of beauty
THE GAME
✦ Today’s Tool ✦
Future artefacts are objects that don’t exist (yet) but feel like they belong to a world where they could. They are physical or conceptual manifestations of speculative futures, designed to help us think about what might be, what we might want, and what we should prepare for. But how do you create one, and why should anyone bother?
✦ How It Works ✦
Creating a future artefact is part art, part strategy, and part archaeology…of the imagination. Here’s the gist:
Set the Stage: Pick a specific time in the future. Maybe it’s 2050, and climate change has dramatically reshaped the way beauty products are made and consumed. Or perhaps it’s 2080, and beauty has become fully integrated with biotechnology. The more detailed the context, the richer the artefact.
Identify Trends and Tensions: Dive into emerging technologies, cultural shifts, and societal needs. What’s gaining traction today that could evolve into something transformative tomorrow? For example, consider the rise of AI, waterless beauty, or inclusivity in design.
Build the Object: This can be anything from a 3D-printed prototype to a written description or even a conceptual sketch. What does this object say about its time? How does it solve a problem or spark curiosity?
Tell Its Story: An artefact without context is just an oddity. Who uses it? What’s its purpose? How did it come to exist? Answering these questions grounds the artefact in its imagined world and makes it more compelling.
The idea here isn’t about predicting the future perfectly, it’s more about sparking conversation and exploration. Think of these artefacts as prompts for dialogue rather than definitive answers.
✦ Why It Matters ✦
Creating future artefacts might sound fanciful, but it’s a serious strategic tool. Here’s why:
Spot the Gaps: Artefacts can highlight what’s missing in today’s landscape. They reveal untapped opportunities or potential pitfalls. For instance, a future artefact might suggest a beauty industry entirely free of packaging waste. What’s stopping us from looking into that possibility now?
Test Assumptions: By imagining how trends might play out, you can stress-test current strategies. How will today’s interest with personalisation evolve as biometric tech becomes more dominant?
Inspire Innovation: Seeing a tangible representation of the future can spark creative thinking and innovation. It pushes teams out of their comfort zones and encourages them to think beyond incremental improvements.
Make the Future Feel Real: Futures can feel abstract or distant, but artefacts make them tangible. They help teams and individuals connect emotionally with what could be, prompting alignment and motivation.
✦ Let’s Play ✦
Creating a future artefact requires a combination of many skills, from in-depth research to innovative design, a process that’s intricate and often requires collaboration across multiple experts. Instead of diving into that complexity today, let’s approach the idea from a different perspective. What if, somehow, we stumbled upon a beauty object from the year 2045?
STEP INTO THE FUTURE
