artwork by Kiran Patel/Illustrating Rain - www.cargocollective.com/illustratingrain

Oliver Moody

Currently based in Newcastle, Oliver Moody went to school in Bristol, and then studied Classics with Oriental Studies (Arabic) at St Anne’s College, Oxford University. Now he is a trainee reporter for The Times, describing himself as a ‘part-time Arabist’. Late at night he has been known to dream of filing copy while rocket-propelled grenades whistle overhead in some Middle Eastern capital. Interests include diplomacy, Islam, TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex), distance running, data journalism and ‘rubbish electro’.

?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?

OM: This one, just seen more steadily and more wholly. People can get so wrapped up in possible futures and improbable pasts that they become a little ungrateful for the world they live in right now.

Life is quickening, the globe is shrinking, print is dying, the seas are rising and our attention spans are dwindling – but so what? We are alive in an age that can send neutrinos zipping off faster than light, and raise hundreds of millions of pounds on one side of the world to save lives on the other. Embrace it.

?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?

?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose?

OM: Do everything you always do, but be just that little bit more curious. And every time you feel an itch to condemn something, remind yourself that it’s probably there for a good reason. Follow that reason.

?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?

OM: Subscribe to the Times. Preferably in print AND online. Failing that, get a twitter account and follow the 25 people or institutions you resent most.

?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future? 

“What if Punk Never Happened?” by The King Blues

?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?

badscience.net (Ben Goldacre’s blog);

thealligatoronline.com (high-powered young journalism site);

blogs.ft.com/undercover (Tim Harford, one of the most exciting economics writers in the world today);

blogs.foreignpolicy.com/bhounshell (Blake Hounshell’s blog);

kitsune.fr (outstanding Anglo-French indie music and fashion)

Follow Oliver on Twitter @olivernmoody

Inspired to tell us The Future You Choose? You can here.

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artwork by Kiran Patel/Illustrating Rain - www.cargocollective.com/illustratingrain

Kiran Patel

Kiran Patel is a UK based illustrator working under the name of Illustrating Rain.  She uses the everyday as  inspiration where she visually documents her thoughts and feelings through traditional and contemporary techniques.  Beginning with an image that resonates with her and then forming it in a way through her own interpretation of it. A world where ducks speak and birds see beauty in high rise estates. Kiran begins with pencil and paper and somewhere along the way a computer crosses her path.

?!X: What’s the Future You Choose

KP: A future that is open, loving, receptive and free.

?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?

?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose?

KP: My ‘act’ would be for each person to keep a gratitude journal, to note at least 5 things at the end of each day that you were grateful for.

?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?

KP: My ‘vote’  is the  NSPCC

?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future? 

KP:  Generator by The Holloways

?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?

Follow Kiran on Twitter @IllustratingR

How can we Create the Future you Choose? Take part here.

Love the Futures Interviews? Help Create Our Collaborative Book – The Futures Project (donate or get involved!) 

artwork by Kiran Patel/Illustrating Rain - www.cargocollective.com/illustratingrain

June Chanpoomidole

June Chanpoomidole is a freelance Illustrator currently living in a quaint village in Cheam.  She studied Illustration at the University of Westminster, and found her love of acrylic paints and vibrant colour palette. Since then, her vibrant works is featured in numerous websites and publications such as the latest. Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration. She has illustrated Dan Crossley’s Future, ‘one where people realise what really matters (friends, family, community etc)… maybe like you would be forced to do if a meteorite was going to destroy earth in an hour’s time (like the blockbuster films) but without that really happening of course!’ and hopes her interpretation will make people think differently.

?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?

JC: The Future I choose is where one can safely express their opinions and strive to reach their goals in this life, without suppression, persecution nor fear. To finally accept each individuals has got a voice to communicate their views; whether it be verbally, written or visually. No one should ever suppress it.

?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?

?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose

JC: I will continue to create artwork that shows a window into these everyday stories and hopefully inspire someone. Also the simple act of listening and kindness is enough; and this story is an act of kindness I did, not long ago. I remember a woman sitting across me on the Metropolitan line on my way home during a night out. The woman had a phone call on her mobile. Slowly her brows pierced together as the telephone conversation continues. She quietly put the mobile away. I noticed she was crying, silently sobbing; her face was pained. I debated myself whether to do something; I looked around and no one noticed the woman’s distress. I took out a tissue packet out of my pocket and gave it to the woman. I asked her if she was all right. She nodded and said “Thanks.” I smiled at her, as she cushioned her head onto the seat of the Tube and dried her eyes. No words were exchanged until I got off at my stop. As I walked away from the Platform, glanced at her for a moment wondering if she’s all right. Then I smiled to myself hoping I had made her feel better. Being raised as a Buddhist household; the key principle is not only to be a good person but also be good onto others around us.

?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?

JC: Education is important, however I think more focus should be onto life skills in addition to academics. Such as learning to negotiate, debating using the English language (not with knives or guns) and also networking. Inspiring the others and realising their own potential must be a hardest task to do. I applaud the educators and teachers wholeheartedly. But I do think they do not have enough support. I think more investment should be made to Education with support structure of the community, parents, youth centres, local businesses and practices. With an open mind and time: provide hands on experience and advice readily available for everyone. Or at least give the opportunity to say their views and realise their potential. It is about working Smarter not Harder.

?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future? 

JC: Cherry Ghost – People Help The People

Tan Dun and Yo Yo Ma- Farewell

?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?

JC:

• Design spiration
• Red Lemon Club
• Typography Served
• Vi.sualize.us
• Book Cover Archive

How can we Create the Future you Choose? Take part here.

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Think Act Vote (?!X) Futures Interview Artwork by Vicky Fallon

Sarah Ditty

Sarah Ditty is a freelance ethical fashion writer and founder of popular ethical fashion blog Launderette. She regularly contributes to magazines such as Grit, Creem, Argon and SOURCE Intelligence. With a background working in the fashion industry and a master’s degree in Globalisation and International Development, Sarah manages to find the most stylish, cutting-edge brands and designers bringing together luxury fashion with environmental and social sustainability.

?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?

SD: The future I choose is one built on values of collaboration and altruism, a future where we respect people and planet in equal measures. The future I choose doesn’t ignore failures but honestly embraces them as important agents for positive change.  The future I choose places higher value over long-term sustainability rather than short-term gains. The future I choose to build is one that is more promising, more just and more beautiful than what came before.

?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?

?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose

SD: Standing up for what you believe in. It may sound cliché, but it is needed now more than ever. Over the last three decades, as employment and livelihoods have become increasingly “flexible” and evermore precarious, we have been made to believe that there’s little space for demanding our many of our rights. This is only a perception. We have to demand better from those in power.

?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?

SD: Since I work in ethical fashion, my “vote” is to support those in the fashion industry working towards a more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible future. This means buying their products and supporting their efforts in whatever ways possible.

?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future? 

SD: Otis Redding – A Change is Gonna Come

?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?

SD:

dismagazine.com

globalonenessproject.org

curatorsofculture.com

ethicalfashionforum.com

monocle.com

Follow Sarah on Twitter @Launderetteblog

How can we Create the Future you Choose? Take part here.

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Andy Gibson

Andy Gibson is an entrepreneur and consultant specialising in the social applications of new technologies. He helps businesses and the Government adapt to a more digitally connected age through his consultancy, Sociability, and also develops his own projects, most recently as Founder of the “5-a-day for your mind” campaign, Mindapples, and previously as Co-founder of the award-winning education start-up, School of Everything.

He is also an experienced speaker, and his written works include Social by Social, a practical guide to social media for social good, and Local by Social, an influential guide to digital innovation in local authorities.

Andy used to be a historian, but he drifted. After studying the Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment, he joined the digital revolution as a web producer, running the website for the national teacher recruitment campaign Those Who Can, Teach, and later winning a Web Marketing Association Award for his work at Skillset, including five acclaimed storyboard guides to the media industries. Alongside his current business interests, he is also an Associate at Futuregov, a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs, an ambassador for the Courvoisier Future 500 and a Fellowship Councillor at the RSA, as well as being an early advisor to Social Innovation Camp. In 2010, Wired Magazine named him the 78th most influential person in UK technology, although they sensibly changed their minds again the following year. He’s gradually realising that studying the history of periods of rapid social and technological change has been the ideal preparation for navigating the swirling waters of the information age.

?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?

AG: I believe that deep down we are each trying to get the tiny ugly-beautiful thing that is our true self out into the world in a way which doesn’t shame it or hurt it. We each want to be safe, and accepted. Some of us achieve this by trying to change ourselves, others by changing the world. But really, we need to build a world which accepts each of us as we are, appreciates our true nature and lets us be ourselves, without compromise or dilution. It’s easier said than done of course, but being accepted, and respected, can take many forms, we can accept others as we would wish to be accepted, and we can seek out little worlds in which to be ourselves and then try to nurture them and watch them grow. If every one of us feels happy to be ourselves and that we belong in this world, that will do me just fine thanks.

?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?

by David Shrigley

?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose

AG: An old friend once said to me that these days the most radical thing we can do is make our own fun. If we can rely on ourselves and each other to make life joyful, everything else feels a little more manageable.

?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?

AG: I’m going to give a plug to my own organisation, Mindapples. I’ve worked for years in mental health, education and democracy, because I believe if we are informed, in control of our faculties and have agency over our world, we will create the future we want. Mindapples promotes the simple things we need to be mentally well, and asks everyone what five things they do to look after their minds. We’ve collected over 50,000 suggestions of things people say are good for their minds, and when it comes to designing the world we want to live in, I think that’s a pretty good place to start.

?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future? 

AG: Melt with you – Nouvelle Vague. If I ever get married, this will be the first dance. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to really understand us and the world makes sense again.

?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?

AG:

• PopTech: Popcast – Benjamin Zander 
• TED Talk – Barry Schwartz: On Our Loss of Wisdom
• Poetry Foundation Philip Larkin: An Arundal Tomb 
• One Eskimo – One Time
• The Daily Mash
• XKCD comic  Grownups

Follow Andy on Twitter @gandy

How can we Create the Future you Choose? Take part here.

Love the Futures Interviews? Help Create Our Collaborative Book - The Futures Project (donate or get involved!)