The magic of imagination: a visit to the possibility room
Every further development begins with the imagination of how things could be. If we want to shape the future and not just react to changes, we must first think about where we want to go and how something could and should be. The human imagination is an inexhaustible pool of ideas for innovation. Instead of pessimism in the face of challenges, we need creative energy. Only in this way, for example, can we as humanity, create the necessary paradigm shift toward a more sustainable society. Beyond securing our livelihoods, this offers the prospect of a more humane coexistence with a better quality of life. So it is about “getting a picture” of the realization of our wishes for a better life as individuals and as a society. And this brings us back to photography: the power of visions has a great dynamic that can be staged in expressive images.
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The ideas for tomorrow’s world are created today
A core area of industrial societies is the economy. Industry produces a large proportion of harmful greenhouse gases, but it is also the cornerstone of our prosperity. Therefore, a change of direction is necessary here if we want to end ecological overexploitation. Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs will, thus, need good ideas when it comes to developing new products and profitable business models; they will also be called upon to make sustainability the basis of their business activities. They can and must lead the way to a more environmentally conscious society. This requires a willingness to take responsibility for their own company and the community at large. A pioneering spirit, a wealth of ideas, and entrepreneurial courage are prerequisites for this. There are now many examples of how sustainability and profitability can undoubtedly be reconciled and how completely new areas of business can even be created in this way. This picture of an entrepreneur in his company by Kniel Synnatzschke expresses this essential attitude well: Here, you don’t see a predatory capitalist but a likable type who radiates confidence, competence, and openness for new paths.
Dare to dream
There is a growing realization that “business as usual” cannot be an option for a successful future. If we want to lay the foundations for a change in values, we must start with our children. We must encourage them to go their own way, personally and as the society of tomorrow. Education and upbringing play a central role in this. This gives them the tools they need not only to survive in an increasingly complex world but also to develop it positively. We must give children the freedom they need to dream because dreams are the breeding ground for new ideas. Less than ever before, the sole aim of education must be to prepare young people for a specific, particular task in the industrial society of the digital age based on the division of labor. It must also be about awareness of the consequences of their actions (or omissions) and educating them to become critical people who think in larger contexts. But this also means they must first be allowed to be what they are: Children who want to play. After all, playful engagement with the world is a good prerequisite for creatively meeting the challenges of the future later on. The girl dreaming away in a spacesuit with closed eyes in this picture by Eva Blanco expresses this lightness and openness and conveys the message, “Dare to dream!”
New Work as innovation and mindfulness driver
We have already addressed the industry above. But the future of work also affects all other sectors of the economy, not only in terms of their organization and efficiency but also in terms of the place that people occupy in them. The keyword “New Work” refers to a new work culture that has been moving into offices and factory floors for years. This is happening faster in some areas, especially in the creative industries, than elsewhere, but the general trend is unmistakably there. Digitization, with all its possibilities, has profoundly reshaped the world of work, and this process is far from over. At the same time, work intensification and acceleration have led to new stresses for employees; the rising number of mental illnesses due to occupational overload speaks a clear language. So it is also a question of how our working lives can be structured in such a way that we can develop our abilities in our jobs without burning out. Companies need to give their employees more freedom so that inventiveness, innovative spirit, and creativity can flourish on the executive floors and at the lower levels of the hierarchy. We need a work culture that ideally allows working people to pursue their professional tasks as happily and relaxed as this young lady is. This picture also comes from Kniel Synnatzschke, and it sends the message: “Work can, may, and should even be fun!”
Images of visions whet the appetite for the future
We create the future in our minds. New things can only come into being if we can and want to imagine what they might look like. There are hardly any limits to the human urge to innovate and invent. The willingness to set sail and set off for new shores is a primordial human urge and an existential ability without which we would still be sitting in caves today (and without fire). It has to do with curiosity, the joy of discovery, a thirst for adventure, and the willingness to leave the comfort zone of the familiar. That makes pictures of visions so exciting because they make you want to see a positive tomorrow!
