Why should you futurecast before you start ideating?

Futurecasting before starting the ideation process allows designers and innovators to anticipate future trends, technologies, and user needs. This foresight is crucial for creating solutions that remain relevant and effective over time. By understanding potential future scenarios, designers can develop products or services that align not just with today's context, but also with evolving consumer expectations and market dynamics. This approach helps in crafting innovations that stand the test of time, thereby increasing their longevity and impact, which is the essence of future-proofing in innovation work.

While considering potential problems that might become irrelevant or identifying new challenges is important, they do not primarily focus on ensuring that the ideas generated will endure and adapt in a changing landscape. Similarly, establishing credibility as thought-leaders is a beneficial outcome but not the main reason for futurecasting; it’s more about strategic planning and innovation foresight.