Futurespaces

Question for the community a friend is looking for a futurist to come speak at an annual meeting in Norfolk VA. They're specifically looking for someone who's got a point-of-view through the lens of futurism around cities and places. Recommendations? Thanks in advanced. - Josh

This week on FutureSpaces, join us for an exclusive conversation on IP Development: Ownership, Design, and Collaborative World-Building with Rebecca Barkin! For decades, independent creators have faced a tough choice: maintain full ownership of their IP or sign deals that limit creative control and distance them from their fans. Web 3.0 is challenging that status quo. With decentralized tools, creators can now develop, expand, and monetize their IP while retaining full rights. This shift is more than technological—it’s about creative freedom, fair compensation, and collaborative world-building with communities at the core. ? Rebecca Barkin—Co-Founder and CEO of LAMINA1, alongside legendary sci-fi author Neal Stephenson—is at the forefront of this movement. Lamina1 is a creator-owned platform for IP incubation, distribution, and monetization, empowering artists and innovators to shape the future of immersive content. With over 20 years of experience leading creative and technical teams, Rebecca has played a key role in some of the world’s most ambitious experiential projects, including Mukaab, Madison Square Garden Sphere, Magic Leap, Nod.AI, and more. ??? Don’t miss this conversation—a deep dive into the new economy for creators, the future of decentralized IP, and the power of immersive design. ?? Thursday, March 27 ? 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT / 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT ?? Virtual Event RSVP to Thursday's conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gkj9-Zj7

?? Calling All Emerging Experience Designers! ?? We’re launching something new—a crit session for designers entering or preparing to enter the world of experience design. ?? RSVP / Sign up here: https://lu.ma/fs_crit_001 We’ve assembled a panel of top industry experts to review four projects from up-and-coming designers, offering insights and actionable feedback in front of a live Zoom audience of fellow experience designers. ?? Want to showcase your work? ?? Need feedback from some of the best in the industry? ?? Curious to see how top practitioners approach their craft? This is your chance to gain valuable perspective, refine your work, and learn from the feedback given to others. ?? If you’re a student and would like to participate, apply here: https://bit.ly/fs_xd_crit Meet Our Experts ? Jasmin Jodry Award-winning Creative Director & experience designer, recognized as a Top 50 Immersive Influencer worldwide. Jasmin specializes in location-based entertainment, immersive storyliving, and brand storyworlds, blending storytelling, worldbuilding, performance, and technology. ? Dominick Gokgoz Design Director at Figure-8, home to the Museum of Ice Cream. A lifelong creator and artist, Dominick brings imagination and artistry to experience design, working across entertainment, play, and emerging creative verticals. ? Julian Rad Creative Director designing immersive environments that fuse AI, theatrical storytelling, emotional journeys, and technology. His work spans cloud computing, search engines, and the human experience. ? Carla Diana Designer, author, and educator exploring the future of technology through hands-on experimentation in product design and tangible interaction. Her work—spanning robots, connected devices, and interactive experiences—has been featured in Popular Science, Technology Review, and The New York Times. Moderated by: Josh Goldblum ?? Don’t miss this opportunity! Whether you’re applying or tuning in, this session promises insights, inspiration, and a front-row seat to top-tier experience design critique. #ExperienceDesign #DesignCrit #EmergingDesigners #Futurespaces #CreativeFeedback

Navigating a world where the lines between fact and fiction blur is a complex challenge. In "The Art of Immersion," Frank Rose delves into how stories shape our understanding of reality, even as they sometimes distort it. Our brains naturally seek patterns, leading to apophenia—where we perceive connections that aren't there. In today's digital era, the rapid spread of narratives often outpaces facts, influencing our views on science, politics, and technology. What implications does this phenomenon hold for tomorrow? Explore these questions during "Pattern Recognition," a live discussion with Frank Rose—an acclaimed author, digital anthropologist, and storytelling expert. Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 20th, at 11 AM PDT: https://lnkd.in/gUhHzZzJ Frank Rose is the author of?The Sea We Swim In: How Stories Work in a Data-Driven World?and?The Art of Immersion: How the Digital Generation is Remaking Hollywood and Madison Avenue. He is a senior fellow at Columbia University’s School of the Arts and teaches strategic storytelling to global business executives. Frank's work explores how stories shape our understanding of the world, especially in the digital age where patterns often blur the lines between fact and fiction. He has spoken at major conferences like SXSW, ad:tech Sydney, and the Film4 Innovation Summit, and his writing has appeared in?The New York Times,?Wired, and?Vanity Fair. Through his writing, speaking, and consulting, Frank examines how storytelling influences the narratives we create—and the ones that are created for us—in an increasingly complex world.

Navigating a world where the lines between fact and fiction blur is a complex challenge. In "The Art of Immersion," Frank Rose delves into how stories shape our understanding of reality, even as they sometimes distort it. Our brains naturally seek patterns, leading to apophenia—where we perceive connections that aren't there. In today's digital era, the rapid spread of narratives often outpaces facts, influencing our views on science, politics, and technology. What implications does this phenomenon hold for tomorrow? Explore these questions during "Pattern Recognition," a live discussion with Frank Rose—an acclaimed author, digital anthropologist, and storytelling expert. Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 20th, at 11 AM PDT: https://lnkd.in/gUhHzZzJ Frank Rose is the author of?The Sea We Swim In: How Stories Work in a Data-Driven World?and?The Art of Immersion: How the Digital Generation is Remaking Hollywood and Madison Avenue. He is a senior fellow at Columbia University’s School of the Arts and teaches strategic storytelling to global business executives. Frank's work explores how stories shape our understanding of the world, especially in the digital age where patterns often blur the lines between fact and fiction. He has spoken at major conferences like SXSW, ad:tech Sydney, and the Film4 Innovation Summit, and his writing has appeared in?The New York Times,?Wired, and?Vanity Fair. Through his writing, speaking, and consulting, Frank examines how storytelling influences the narratives we create—and the ones that are created for us—in an increasingly complex world.

?? What does it look like to embrace new technology at a 155-year-old museum? ?? Join us tomorrow for a deep dive into how The Metropolitan Museum of Art stays innovative and nimble in the face of rapid technological change. ?? Brett Renfer, Senior Project Manager of Emerging Technologies at The Met, will be discussing: The museum's emerging tech strategy The journey behind their latest project, Artlinks (a blockchain-powered casual game) ??? How large institutions can stay iterative and forward-thinking in the digital age About Brett Renfer: Brett is an experience designer and maker, with a focus on narrative-rich, novel uses of new technologies in the cultural sector. As Senior Project Manager in the Audience Engagement Group at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brett is helping the institution collaboratively explore and define the future of the museum experience, and technology’s role within it. ?? Date: Friday, March 14 ?? Time: 11:00 AM PST | 2:00 PM EST ?? Location: Zoom RSVP here: https://lu.ma/Brett_Renfer Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how cutting-edge tech is shaping the future of museum experiences! ??

Carla Diana, a Futurespaces speaker, shared with us a fantastic new organization in Yerevan, Armenia: HOSQ. They’re fostering creativity at the intersection of art and technology, offering residencies and other opportunities for innovative minds. Carla is in Armenia now, kicking things off! If you know creative folks who live in or travel to this part of the world, please share—there’s a lot happening here! More here: https://hosq.co/ #Creativity #Technology #Residency #Art #Innovation #Yerevan

?? Exploring Identity, Individuality, and Bias Through AI Excited to share Hassan Ragab’s latest talk from Web Summit Doha, where he showcased his most recent explorations in generative AI—pushing the boundaries of art, design, and technology. Hassan’s work dives deep into the intersections of identity, individuality, and bias, challenging how AI interprets and represents cultural narratives. His approach isn’t just about generating images; it’s about questioning the systems that shape them. We were lucky to have Hassan as a Futurespaces speaker, and it’s amazing to see his continued impact on the field. If you’re interested in how AI is redefining creative expression, this talk is a must-watch. ?? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gMhBiEwx #Futurespaces #AI #GenerativeDesign #WebSummitDoha #HassanRagab #CreativeTechnology

?? This Thursday on Futurespaces! ?? We’re excited to welcome Aramique Krauthamer, a director and creative visionary whose work combines a human-centered, lyrical approach to technology. Featured in The Guardian, Time Magazine, and more, Aramique’s installations and designs for brands, TV shows, and festivals have?inspired audiences worldwide. Aramique will dive deep into how mythology and technology have influenced his creative journey. He’ll explore how timeless archetypes and novel forms of expression intersect to create immersive, human-centered experiences. And, he’ll share how relocating to Costa Rica during the early days of Covid and embracing nature and permaculture has forever reshaped both his perspective and his work. ?? ?? A few words from Aramique himself: "As a kid, I grew up with the entire collection of Joseph Campbell’s Power of Myth VHS set under my television. Years later, when I wanted to write and direct movies, I rediscovered Campbell’s work in The Hero With A Thousand Faces and was surprised to learn my mom’s weird videos had shaped so much of Hollywood and modern storytelling. For the majority of my career as an artist, director, and creative director, my work has been shaped by the intersection of mythology and technology, looking at timeless archetypes and new modes of interaction to create universal experiences. But five years ago, I moved from France to Costa Rica and embraced nature and permaculture design. Since then, everything has changed." ?? Join us this Thursday for an inspiring conversation that bridges the past, present, and future of creative innovation. RSVP ??? https://lu.ma/fs-aramique

What makes an experience truly immersive? It’s not just technology or spectacle—it’s engagement, inclusivity, and connection. After years of research, Sarah DiLeo has uncovered a new framework for designing immersive experiences, shifting the focus from passive consumption to active participation. ? The Five-Stage Engagement Model for sustained audience connection ? The Three Core Design Elements every experience must have ? Why shared experiences are the key to engagement #ExperienceDesign #ImmersiveExperiences #Engagement #Storytelling #Innovation