My first SDN New York Chapter event was Designing for Your Future Self. I arrived just in time to grab a slice of pizza and join the audience. Instead of rows facing the speaker, everyone sat in small groups of about five around tables with worksheets, markers, and sticky notes. Regine Gilbert opened by asking what age the audience thought of as being old. She then invited us to create a profile of ourselves for that age, including details like profession, motivation, and daily routine. To guide us, we were provided a list of bodily changes one might experience as one ages. Next, Regine invited us to imagine with others at our tables where technology and innovation could improve our future worlds in relation to themes like community. After 40 minutes was up, each group took turns to present their ideas to the rest of the room. Ideas considered the impact of using a service design lens — services that stretched across physical and various digital channels.

I stumbled through the futuring exercise more than I thought I would. I definitely embarrassed myself during the group discussion. My notions of aging and ability to empathize were challenged. But all this was a breath of fresh air after working in a non-creative environment for two years post college. I didn’t realize how much I missed the speculative thinking, creative problem solving, and different perspectives such discussions often brought with it. I left the event energized by the mapping, insights, and even the discomfort.

 

Since then, through the SDN NYC, I’ve used improv exercises to improve my communication skills, learned to identify whether public spaces are truly public, picked up tools to design a personally meaningful life, and much more. Along the way, I’ve also eaten a lot of pizza, started recognizing other volunteers, and even volunteered for the group as an event recap writer.

For me, the SDN New York Chapter events serve as a monthly reminder that anyone can cultivate a designer’s mindset and toolkit, and that I am enriched by seeking to deeply understand others’ world views especially when they challenge my own. These events open up my world to intersections others are deeply embedded in, which in turn have shown me how to embrace mine. Given all the uncertainty, trauma, and violence this year has dealt us, I’ve enjoyed dreaming and working for a better tomorrow with others also doing the same.