Our Permissionless Consultant Accelerator and Futurist-in-50-Days Accelerator recently celebrated our inaugural BETA cohort, featuring five outstanding professionals who embarked on a transformational journey. An atypical program, the accelerator offers a unique opportunity for those daring to redefine their professional paths. And guess what? The BETA cohort just wrapped up, leaving behind a trail of transformative stories. One such inspiring tale is that of Derrick Fields. Derrick completed both our Permissionless Consultant and Futurist-in-50-Days training. Read Derrick’s story below.
Snapshot
Name: Derrick Fields (He/They)
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Purpose: To prepare the world for new ways to deliver entertainment
Niche: Foresight for the Game and Entertainment Industry
Wild Muse: Shiba Inu
Meet Derrick Fields, Founder, Game Director and Futurist
Derrick Fields' journey is a compelling blend of industry experience and academic insight. As a game director, founder of an indie gaming studio, and professor at Northwestern University, Derrick's unique perspective on game design is informed by his deep understanding of trends, technology, and their implications in the gaming arena. His passion for foresight has led him to offering Foresight, Strategy and Trends to the Gaming and Entertainment industry.
Derrick’s Career: A Visionary in Interactive Entertainment
Derrick's career is marked by significant achievements, including his role as President of the Japanese Arts Foundation and Advisor to Black Voices in Gaming. His lifelong dedication to illustration and design, coupled with his commitment to funding game ideas that combine unique representation with emergent game mechanics, has earned him the prestigious Future Class Award by The Game Awards.
The Calling
Hear Derrick’s Full Story in his Interview👆🏻
Derrick’s path to the Permissionless Consultant Accelerator and Futurist-in-50-Days was fueled by a deep-seated curiosity about the future of interactive entertainment and a desire to integrate his passion for gaming with foresight. He explains, "I spent an inordinate amount of time asking questions about the future of the games industry and stumbled upon the concept of Futurism as a career."
His discovery of the accelerator felt serendipitous. Derrick recalls, "It was pretty kismet to discover the accelerator at the same moment I was delving into Futurism."
Derrick's decision to join the accelerator was driven by a vision to influence the interactive entertainment landscape significantly. "I was drawn to the idea of using my background to help shape a more inclusive and innovative future in gaming," he shares, highlighting his motivation to embark on this transformative journey.
“I was drawn to the idea of using my background to help shape a more inclusive and innovative future in gaming.”
Envisioning the Future of Games
Derrick's vision for his consultancy is clear: to be a leading voice in the interactive entertainment industry, guiding studios and publishers towards innovative and culturally impactful gaming experiences. His foresight and consulting services are designed to awaken the world to new and exciting ways to deliver entertainment.
Derrick’s Permissionless Journey
Hear about Derrick’s Permissionless journey!
Derrick’s experience in the Accelerator was marked by some big early wins. Prior to even completing the program, Derrick landed two behemoth engagements with top tier clients - the first, a speaking engagement with Hollywood’s finest sound magicians and the second, an engagement that combines Derrick’s two power suits: strategic foresight and game design. "I was able to land a speaking engagement at Dolby - and a multi-year celebrity client engagement through the permissionless inbound funnel. It was surreal how quickly it unfolded” he remarks, highlighting the program's significant impact on his career trajectory.
Drawn by the allure of learning the fundamentals to practicing Futurism, Derrick also discovered a wealth of consultancy knowledge along the way. He reflects, "that was a box of tools that I didn't know was stacked with so many resources.”
“10 out of 10…would do it all over it again,” Derrick shares, emphasizing his thoughts on the program. For Derrick, permissionless signifies the freedom to foster influence and explore, create, and connect in unprecedented ways from anywhere in the world. “For a long time, I've looked forward to the possibility of digital nomad life — and having the luxury of being able to enact the things that I'm passionate about across different parts of the world,” he states.
“10 out of 10…would do it all over it again. I was able to land a speaking engagement - and a multi-year celebrity client engagement through the permissionless inbound funnel. It was surreal how quickly it unfolded.”
Working with Derrick: A journey into Interactive Entertainment
Collaborating with Derrick offers a glimpse into the future of entertainment. His approach to game design and foresight is not just about predicting trends but about actively shaping a more inclusive future. Amongst his sweet spots is an eye for what he affectionately describes as “lightning in a bottle” - just like a recruiter needs an eye for identifying good talent, studios and publishers need an eye for identifying a good idea. Clients working with Derrick can expect a partnership that is both visionary and grounded in practical, industry-relevant strategies. We can’t wait to see Derrick “light up” the consulting arena.
Curious to Learn More?
Want to follow Derrick’s Permissionless journey? Catch him on Linkedin!
Eager to carve your own path? Read other stories from our students here and learn more about the Permissionless Consultant Accelerator here.
About the author
Lindsay Angelo is the founder of Permissionless Consultant, supporting purpose-preneurs in launching their practices to create impact, freedom, and a life that they love. She's also a practicing and award-winning Strategist, Futurist, MBA and TEDx speaker. She launched her consultancy six years ago with the goal of helping purpose-driven brands drive growth and impact. Since then, she's more than tripled her prior earnings while advising entrepreneurs, think tanks, celebrities, and Fortune 500 companies while creating a nomadic lifestyle rooted in travel, family, and community. Named a Woman to Watch and Global Innovation Leader, Lindsay has delivered over 100+ keynotes and is the creator of a signature blueprint for driving brand growth and impact.
