There are more trend forecasters, futurists and TikTok oracles than ever. So why does our idea of the future still often feel so devoid of nuance, inspiration and possibility?

The limitation of our vision is not due to insufficient data. Instead, what I think we’re missing is a sense of imagination, creativity, and genuine curiosity. Without these elements, the act of research itself has lost its potency, our findings and interpretations reduced to a shallow performance, where the same ideas are recycled and repackaged in an endless feedback loop. In my latest issue of idle gaze I share how I approach research as a form of pattern disruption (with the help of Sublime), an intentional practice for breaking free from the hall of mirrors that traps so much of today’s cultural decoding:

Tuning into 'weird' signals.

Spotting non-obvious connections.

Machines for breadth, human intuition for depth.

Resisting immediacy.

Excavate your own perspective.