Future Ways of Living (FWoL) is an ongoing collaborative design exploration developed by the Institute without Boundaries (IwB) at George Brown College (GBC). The initial project with MEET Digital Cultural Centre debuted at Expo 2015 in Milan. FWoL is focused on investigating and visualizing how emerging technologies will transform the way we live in the near future. As technology becomes more accessible and pervasive within our lives, our economy and the products, services and systems we interact with on a daily basis will evolve.
Future Ways of Living is both a research method and a call to action developed to foster anticipatory design. As a research method, it aims to investigate and visualize the past and present forces shaping society, which inform an understanding of potential futures. As a call to action, it challenges us to inspire, imagine and create what ought to be, rather than what exists. This approach encourages the development of tangible design outcomes that can contribute to more responsible, humane, sustainable, democratic, and resilient futures.
To date, two previous iterations of the series have successfully engaged over 1000 professionals, students, faculty and stakeholders in a wide range of investigative activities.
Jointly presented by The Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia University, George Brown College – Institute without Boundaries (IwB), MEET Digital Culture Center and WDO, the current project marks the third edition of FWoL. Future Ways of Living III: City Solutions Lab aims to offer a unique process of engagement and solutioning to empower cities and communities in their COVID-19 recovery and reinvention plans. Drawing on two decades worth of design research and international collaboration, the global initiative will leverage Transdisciplinary Systems and Design Thinking strategies to support the development of better, more livable and equitably integrated futures for all.
