FUTUREs ARCHAEOLOGY

Futures Archaeology is a methodological framework to gaining a deeper understanding of and actively shaping transformative futures.  By its distinct approach it enables the exploration of the forces driving change beyond an intellectual introspection and empowers to actively participate in shaping what lies ahead.

Futures Archaeology views the future as something welcoming and desirable. It lives at the intersection of humanity, imagination, art and design, viewing the future not as something inevitable, but as a canvas to draw upon. The primary focus is on imagining the futures we want to aspire to and identifying opportunities to bring them to life, rather than defending against risks or focusing on futures we hope to avoid. At its core is the belief that positive and aspirational futures have a powerful pull, inspiring us to work toward making them real.

WHAT IS FUTUREs ARCHAEOLOGY?

Futures Archaeology promotes a mindset of infinitude, where the only limits are those we impose on ourselves. Using our “sense of possibility” means tapping into our imagination rather than relying solely on our expert know-how. Acting as an inverted lens it allows us to create something that has not yet existed. Through it everything that currently is the way it is might just as easily be thought of differently.

“The future exists as a multitude of possibilities before it becomes reality.”

While our ingrained “sense of reality” grounds us in facts and expertise, it often stifles innovation by dismissing ideas that don’t fit our current understanding. When we activate our “sense of possibility” through imagination, wonder, curiosity and bold questioning, we unlock a “possibility space” that invites us to experiment, reflect on our values and explore new pathways into the future. When both senses are paired, this dynamic duo becomes a powerhouse for strategic foresight, empowering us to shape a desirable, inclusive and sustainable future.

Driven by “What if…” questions a Future Archaeologist speculates and invents, while maintaining a sense of awe and wonder. Always moving forward with curiosity to discover what lies around the next corner. There is no fear of crossing established thresholds or lines in this pursuit. This approach encourages thinking about futures in a creative, poetic, artistic and analytical way all at the same time. It's not just about understanding the future, but being able to imagine it as if you've already experienced it. 

Futures Archaeology offers a distinct way to engage with the future – unlike foresight approaches that either predict what's to come or build elaborate scenarios to identify problems and solutions. Imagine applying that logic to studying the past. It would be like fabricating an entire ancient world first just to invent an artifact to place within it, instead of uncovering the artifact first and then reconstructing its context and the world it came from. Much like traditional archaeology, the exploration in Futures Archaeology begins with an “unearthed” future artifact, making it the starting point, not the conclusion. This distinction is vital.

Future artifacts act as windows into potential futures, offering us a glimpse of what might be and how life might feel like there. Each artifact has the potential to shift our perspectives, challenge assumptions and highlight new routes into the future.

WHY FUTUREs ARCHAEOLOGY?

Drawing upon its unique methodology, Futures Archaeology serves to enhance traditional approaches to future studies and foresight, aiming to effectively navigate uncertainty and enables the development of a strong, robust view of the future. This approach promotes a strategic view where innovation is driven by a future-informed strategy, reversing the dynamic where strategy reacts to innovation and short term trends. It cultivates a synoptic perspective that integrates imagined futures into present realities, highlighting new pathways toward desired futures.

„One might say that human societies have two boundaries. One boundary is drawn by the requirements of the natural world and the other by the collective imagination.“ – Susan Griffin, To Love the Marigold

The advantage of this approach lies in not anchoring oneself to a predetermined scenario or a solution based on existing problems and trends within a given scenario. Instead, the focus is on determining the robustness of an underlying idea or concept, assessed by how well its associated future artifact performs across various scenarios. An idea demonstrating such resilience is likely to succeed in diverse future contexts.

This inherent robustness is precisely why this approach is crucial for building a future proof organization. 

It does not aim to declare that this or that will happen or must happen. Instead, it invites us to have a conversation about what might, could, or should happen.