Abstract

From "Why it can't be done" to "How could it be done?" Think about the present from the perspective of the future.

"Future design" involves tackling and implementing challenges from the perspective of people of the future. At its core is a simple yet powerful shift in thinking: "designing the present from the perspective of the future."

When confronting challenges, we tend to think from the constraints of "why it can't be done." However, with future design, we first establish an "ideal future" and then work backwards from there to consider the necessary measures. This shift in perspective qualitatively transforms our thinking, weaving a "story of hope" from a pessimistic current situation.

This book clearly explains the theory of future design, as well as practical examples from Toyota Central R&D Labs., the Ministry of Finance, Kyushu University, Miike Coal Mine, and local governments, all from leading experts.

Author’s Information

He is a specially appointed professor at Kyoto University of Advanced Science and director of the Future Design Research Center, a visiting professor at Taisho University's Institute for Regional Planning, and a visiting professor at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature. He completed his Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Minnesota Graduate School, and has held positions at Ohio State University, University of California, Santa Barbara, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Tsukuba, Osaka University, Kochi University of Technology, Hitotsubashi University, a member of the Science Council of Japan (23rd and 24th terms), and the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature before assuming his current position. His specialty is future design. His main publications include "Future Design" (Nikkei Publishing).