Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter Talk About Designing the Future and Navigating Uncertainty

A Productive Conversation

In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter to explore the themes of their book, Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide for Designing a Thriving Future. As leaders at Stanford's d.school—Scott as Creative Director and Carissa as Academic Director—they've spent years shaping design education and innovation.

Our discussion goes beyond traditional design thinking and into the complexities of decision-making, efficiency, and the balance between logic and emotion. We also explore the concept of Runaway Design, how the speed of technological change is shaping our world, and why embracing imperfection is essential for building a better future.

Key Discussion Points

• What Runaway Design is and why we need to "unmake" it to build a better future.
• The importance of balancing emotion and logic when making decisions.
• Why uncertainty is inevitable—and how to design with it rather than against it.
• The role of pausing and curiosity in responding to challenges rather than reacting.
• How to find harmony in work, life, and productivity instead of seeking rigid balance.
• Why meaningful work should be measured by quality rather than quantity.
• The impact of AI, synthetic biology, and other evolving technologies on how we design the future.

Scott and Carissa’s insights offer a thought-provoking look at how we navigate complexity, make better decisions, and create a world that is both innovative and intentional.

Links Worth Exploring

• Connect with Scott: Website | LinkedIn
• Connect with Carissa: Website | LinkedIn
• Get the book we discussed: Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future
• Get Scott's book: Make Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration
• Get Carissa's book: The Secret Language of Maps: How to Tell Visual Stories with Data
• Related Conversation: Episode 191: Designing Your Mindset with Andy Murphy
• Related Blog Post: Designs on Life

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Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

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