Portfolio of work under The Design Futures Initiative (2018-2021)

Background: Present in over 20 countries and 50 cities, The Design Futures Initiative is an international collective of creative professionals that facilitates programs and conversations on the ethical, environmental, political, and economic impact of future products, spaces, and services. In late 2018, I co-founded the Melbourne chapter to develop a participatory design research practice in the field of Urban Futures, and more specifically, to research the cultural and societal shifts needed to address the climate emergency through design and innovation. Contribution: Since 2018, I leveraged the collective’s international equity as well as my own network to bring together general audiences and world leading thinkers such as Asia-Pacific Arup Leader Bree Trevena, world-renowned performance artist Stelarc, and environmental designer David Holmgren, co-founder of the permaculture movement. In addition, I’ve also premiered work from artist duo PluginHUMAN, and provided a platform for academics such as futurist Dr Bridgette Engeler, international environmental artist Dr Debbie Symons, and the emerging societal movement Extinction Rebellion. Significance: This public series of participatory design research events attracted hundreds of people, and were curated, produced and presented in partnership with influential governmental and cultural organisations such as the National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne Design Week, The City of Melbourne Melbourne Knowledge Week, The Capitol Theatre, and SDNOW, an Asia-Pacific series of conferences and masterclasses about design, strategy, ethics, and futures—of which I am now an advisory panel member. The curation and production of events and works under The Design Futures Initiative has been pivotal in shaping my speculative design research practice in the field of Urban Futures. As a result of this work, I also have been invited to speak at the inaugural Future Life Conference at the Victorian Arts Centre in April 2021.