Vision 2022

Expand your perspective

“We often assume that the future will be a continuation of the present, but as history reveals, the future can take a different route.”

Hello, welcome to the digital edition of Vision, edition 2022 and beyond. Just as so many other areas in our lives, the future we now envision is one that has profoundly changed. The future no longer shows itself gradually, but comes in sharp peaks. On the one hand, we live in a golden age with less poverty and a rising standard of living for people in upcoming economies; yet many of today’s developments can disrupt the future.

Having a vision for the future is both vital and urgent. Climate changes reveal the world’s economic, social and environmental imbalances and addressing these will require radical change. We can no longer wait for another decade to take action. Looking ahead to a future low-carbonised society, we have to expand our perspective and create a new normal. Low-carbon lifestyles will become the new modern.

To help navigate the future, we have to look at the bigger picture. Increasingly, global developments are woven together in a three-dimensional landscape, a layered world where everything connects and influences each other. The challenge will be to understand the whole and hear and understand the individual. Although global media and culture connect us, our perspectives are all unique. Algorithms will be able to make the connections, yet a vision is needed to inspire, delight and solve tomorrow’s diverse needs.

Four future directions

We are on a new path in a world that is more intertwined. Everything we are doing has become visible and traceable. Taking a step back can provide a much needed sense of perspective. Looking at humanity and the Earth from a distance can provide a sense of relativity.

Positivity, creativity and a future vision can be an antidote to the chaotic world we live in and can give us hope. The collective force for good and making positive changes for our global planet is the only way forward!

1/ The Speed of Change

The first chapter of Vision 2022 is The Speed of Change which examins the fast pace of developments in Asia. The Asian century has begun and will shape the next phase of globalisation. It is the largest regional economy and the region could account for forty percent of global consumption by 2040. The future now happens first in the East, a shift in perspective and global influence.

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2/ Laws of Nature

The second chapter, Laws of Nature examines the effects of climate change and our role as humans. Can we still design or engineer our way to solutions that will work for nature and humanity or is change inevitable and do we need to adapt to a new reality. When we live by nature’s rules and transform our value system, we will witness positive change in all aspects of life.

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3/ Future World History

Future World History examines today’s young generation and their demand for change at every level. Protests are global and include inequality, internet freedom, capitalism, climate change, decent wages, high rents, injustice and trust. Young people today are the most culturally diverse population to date; roots remain essential, but cultural identity moves beyond definitions of race and ethnicity. A sense of reality and authenticity is vital as no one can relate to a polished fantasy world.

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4/ Encoded Reality

The final chapter Encoded Reality expresses the increased time spend in virtual worlds and examines the effect AR, VR and gaming has on the physical world. Reality and identity, time and place were once pillars of our existence but now have become elements to play with. These notions challenge the limits of the human brain and how to make sense of what life is. Simultaneously we are also finding new ways to design machines that may go beyond these limits.

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A future vision is needed to inspire, delight and solve tomorrow’s diverse needs.

The layers of our research into the technological, cultural, natural and social domains have never been as overlapping as they were this year. Every story is influenced by the four elements making the issues we face complex and interconnected.

The four directions of Vision 2022 come right from the centre of the overlapping area’s. We chose the title expand your perspective because it is necessary to gain knowledge, have an open mind and approach issues from all angles.

We choose to work together with creatives and forecasters that have a different perspective on the world coming from India and China. This challenged and enriched our research and made us realise that a global vision is important but local knowledge is crucial to highlight the differences and nuances.