Keynote & Workshop Descriptions
A. An Owner’s Guide to the Future
Do we really want vacuum cleaners that can argue with us? Will the automation of health care lead to the automation of caring? And, how come teenagers can pay attention to ten things at once and still be, like, bored? David Zach asks some funny questions. In his thought-provoking tour of modern times he’ll offer some useful answers that will get people talking. With a friendly style and a little bit of midwestern charm, he’ll help you face the future with a solid sense of hope and inspiration.
As one of the very few professionally trained futurists on the planet, David Zach blends the funny with the profound in this surprisingly practical keynote to help you decide what really matters. You’ll rethink the balance between change and tradition – and the need to hold on to that which shouldn’t change. At the end you’ll find yourself either thoughtfully quiet or engaged in some of the best conversations you’ve ever had at a meeting. Dave may not be the futurist you expected, but he is the one you’ll remember.
B. Innovative Futures: Trends with Innovation and Design
Internationally acclaimed futurist David Zach will offer insights on the art and science of innovation and design: the very lifeblood of 21st century economics. Today has been called the Age of Design, with innovation driving growth and change, but there’s also a danger that it’s the Age of the Technician where more and more people are not allowed to be creative. How we promote, discuss and embrace design, innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset will decide the sort of future we’ll really have.
Using the latest trends with nanotechnology, communications, information, logistics, architecture and even teenagers as a backdrop, Dave divides his talk into Innovation Pro and Innovation Con to examine what works to build the Age of Design and what doesn’t. This futurist will have a few ideas about an innovative future that will surprise, may upset and will probably even delight you.
C. Strategic Futures
Whether you’re an owner, a free agent, a manager or just somebody who likes to think a lot about the future, you need to pay attention to both the bottom line and the horizon. With a focus on the practical and the possible, this is a down-to-earth look at key strategic trends: from the rise of intelligent money to the fall of national borders, from virtual workplaces to virtually unlimited information, and even from the automation of healthcare to the automation of things you’ve never believed possible. If you need to do some deep thinking about choices, forecasts and how you’ll navigate tomorrow, let internationally renowned futurist David Zach be your guide.
D. Designs on the Future: Trends, Traditions & Choices
"If you want to survive, you're going to change; if you don't, you're going to perish. It's as simple as that." (Thom Mayne, FAIA, 2005 Pritzker Prize Winner, 2005 AIA National Convention)
Futurist David Zach disagrees. It's not that simple. Survival means being able to hold on to the best of the past and making sure we learn from the lessons of history. Not all change is progress and not all tradition is outdated. Survival and progress depends on our ability to choose between change and tradition.
This presentation is a fascinating (and slightly irreverent) look at the trends and traditions affecting design and the roles that architects, designers and planners can have over the next ten years.
Workshop A. Taking the Future Home:
the Tools, Skills & Perspectives of a Futurist
Yes, you too can be a futurist! Join futurist David Zach in this follow-up session to learn the skills, tools and ideas that build a stronger sense of confidence for the coming days. Topics include:
1. So just what is a futurist?
2. Exploding the myths of futurism
3. The value of skepticism
4. Long-term vs. short-term thinking
5. The value of humor and play in strategic planning
6. The difference between fads and trends
7. The difference between the timely and the timeless
We’ll try some hands-on efforts with mindmapping, cross-impact analysis and scenario writing. Reading materials and future-related websites will be shared. (45 to 120 minutes)
Workshop B. Ask the Futurist!
This is a unique opportunity for you to join futurist David Zach in a lively conversation on the trends and traditions from his keynote. Join us as we talk about the practical and intriguing implications of these ideas and issues for your life and work. Please bring your notes, questions, ideas and imaginations to class. (This is more of a Q&A follow-up to the keynote so people can ask question and generate in-depth conversations. 45 to 120 minutes)
Workshop notes:
1. Workshops are only offered after a keynote, not as an independent presentation and never before a keynote.
2. Workshop materials and activities can be combined with a keynote into a single presentation for an interactive keynote - lasting up to three hours.
HOW THIS WORKS
Each talk is crafted to the needs and concerns of the client. Call or write to Dave to discuss how he can design a talk for your audience.
An Owner's Guide to the Future is entertaining and thought-provoking, and is typically positioned to launch the conference by getting people laughing, thinking and talking.
Innovative Futures has lots of ideas on entrepreneurism, innovation, creavity, design and planning.
Strategic Futures is packed with more pracitical content for those needing to think about the bottom line as well as the horizon.
Designs on the Future is specifically for design-related audiences: architects, interior designers, graphic designers, industrial designers.
The two workshops offer a choice between a session of lively give and take or hands-on learning of the skills and tools of a futurist.