I commonly hear the question, "what is a futurist?". In this blog post, we'll dive into what a futurist is, the types of futurists including consumer futurists - and where to find them.
So what is a Futurist?
A futurist is someone who looks at the future with an eye towards innovation and change. They observe and analyze data, science, art and technology to predict future trends and events. Futurists are often called “visionaries” because they see things that others don't or can't. They have an ability to look at the world around them and identify patterns that others might miss; patterns beyond the status quo. With a pulse on the evolution of humans, future technology and an uncanny ability to conduct trend analysis, Futurists are needed more than ever in today's dynamic world. Given our current trajectory, one might argue they are the most important profession of the 21st century.
Professional Futurists, or those that have spent years honing their craft, help organizations peer into a crystal ball and prepare for the future by looking at trends across a variety of industries and modalities.
Their insights can be helpful to businesses and organizations in the following ways:
Strategic Planning and Long-Range Planning: a futurist's insight can help to inform and strengthen your strategic plan
Business Development: a futurists's insight can inform how to optimally grow your business, which markets or customer segments to pursue, and how to fuel your pipeline
Innovation: a futurist’s insight can unearth new problem spaces and opportunities to help inform your innovation road map
Risks: a futurists’s insight can help to identify macro forces, tech trends and economic forces that will impact your brand
Sustainable Futures: a futurist’s insight can help you plan for a more sustainable and desirable future, paving the way future generations
Types of Futurists
Futurists come from all walks of life. Generally speaking, there are two types:
1) Entpreneur-ists – Those who use their foresight and skills to create new products and services that will solve a problem now and into the future. They may be engineers, developers, data scientists or other technologists.
2) Strategists – Those who use their business acumen to think about the impact of emerging trends and current trends on businesses and brands.
Another way to slice the universe of futurists is by focus area or niche. From science to education to technology to economics to consumer behaviour, almost any niche you can think of is a futurist.
Curious to know more about how to become a futurist? Check out this article for more.
What is a Consumer Futurist?
A consumer futurist is someone who studies the future of consumerism, including the future of retail. They look at trends, future developments and market data related to cultural shifts, consumer shifts and competitive shifts. How are the behaviours, attitudes and values of consumers changing? How are consumer shopping habits changing? How is retail morphing? All are important questions to consider as a business or brand. Consumer futurists deliver these insights to businesses, organizations and brands via a variety of formats - bespoke consulting, futurist keynotes and workshop sessions, whitepapers and blogs, media, etc. - all with the goal of helping the organization craft a playbook that will serve their future consumer and drive growth.
Where to Find Futurists
Some organizations have in-house futurists while others hire external Futurists as consultants, keynote speakers or advisors. You can find a list of some of the most prominent futurists here, and the world's most talented female futurists here.
Looking to hire a futurist? Contact Lindsay here to inquire.
FAQ
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Given the diversity in the futurist/foresight community, these experts exhibit a range of expertise and interests. Check them out here!
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The role of Futurists varies. Futurists can help shape long-term plans related to your business or organization. A futurist can assist with long-term planning by analyzing trends, identifying potential future scenarios, and providing strategic insights not just in the workplace, but in everyday life. They use data and foresight to help individuals and organizations make informed decisions, anticipate changes in their respective fields and craft alternative futures.
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Yes, you can attend or acquire a certificate or credentials in Future Studies. There are a wide range of Future Studies educational programs related to the field including the Futurist Institute. Interested in building a Futurist consulting business? Access our exclusive new training opportunity here.
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A wide variety of backgrounds can lead to futures studies - from Science to technology, to creative thinking fields, to cultural anthropology, to strategy and strategic planning. Because there are many tracks or niche specialties in the field of futurology, a variety of backgrounds can support your career path to becoming a futurist.
Check out our post here for an in depth answer to this. Or learn how you can enroll in our brand new training program here.
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To avoid "future shock" and to be able to navigate wild card events, it's essential for foresight professionals to develop creative thinking, strategic thinking, and proactive thinking—the magic treo. As experts in foresight or even someone at the beginner level, combining these three lenses is crucial and will allow you to form integrative visions for yourself, team, or organization. Futurism can be handy not just in work but in every aspect of life, as well.
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A wide variety of backgrounds can lend themselves to futures studies - from Science to technology, to creative thinking fields, to cultural anthropology, to strategy and strategic planning. Because there are many tracks or niche specialties in the field of futurology, a variety of backgrounds can support your career path. If you're looking to start-up your own Futurist consulting practice, learn more about our brand new training program here.
About the Author
Lindsay Angelo is the founder of Futurist-in-50-days, supporting impact-driven professionals, teams and organizations in learning to think and lead into the future. She's also a practicing and award-winning Futurist, Strategy consultant, MBA and TEDx speaker. She's advised Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, think tanks, and celebrities - all the while creating a nomadic lifestyle rooted in travel, family and community. Named a Woman to Watch and Global Innovation Leader, Lindsay's delivered over 100+ keynotes and has worked with organizations including lululemon, Unilever, the LEGO Group, Snapchat and the Human Potential Institute. Her experiences culminate in what she refers to as her sweet spot - where strategy, innovation and foresight intersect, where the rational meets the emotive, where facts meet insights and where logic meets creativity.
