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BUS 132 — How to Think Like a Futurist

Quarter: Fall
Instructor(s): Mike Milley
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: Online
Date(s): Oct 13—Nov 17
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Tuesdays
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 6:00—7:30 pm (PT)
Tuition: $500
   
Refund Deadline: Oct 15
 
Unit(s): 0
   
Enrollment Limit: 45
  
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
 
Quarter: Fall
Day: Tuesdays
Duration: 6 weeks
Time: 6:00—7:30 pm (PT)
Date(s): Oct 13—Nov 17
Unit(s): 0
Location: Online
 
Tuition: $500
 
Refund Deadline: Oct 15
 
Instructor(s): Mike Milley
 
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
 
Enrollment Limit: 45
 
Recording Available: Yes
 
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
 
In a rapidly shifting world, anticipating change—rather than simply reacting—offers a creative and strategic edge. Whether you’re designing products, shaping strategy, or driving innovation, thinking beyond the present helps you make smarter decisions by understanding what might shape tomorrow. This course introduces creative professionals to tools used by futurists and forward-thinking organizations to spot early signals, analyze trends, and imagine new possibilities. You’ll practice techniques used by companies like Nike to stay ahead of the curve and by the United Nations to plan ahead despite global uncertainty. You’ll learn to:
  • Use horizon scanning methodologies to track emerging trends
  • Build future scenarios and speculative narratives that challenge assumptions
  • Apply systems thinking to future-proof creative and strategic decisions
Each week, hands-on exercises are blended with foresight techniques to expand your perspective. Two prominent futurists will join as guest lecturers to give a broader industry perspective. You’ll leave with a personalized foresight toolkit and the confidence to lead future-ready strategies in your organization or creative work.

MIKE MILLEY
Head of Foresight and Strategy, The New Next

Mike Milley is a forward-thinking research and strategy leader who helps top global brands anticipate the needs of tomorrow’s consumers. He blends strategic foresight, consumer research, and design thinking to drive human-centric innovation. He was a principal futurist at Mercedes-Benz and director of research and strategy at BMW Designworks. He also founded Samsung’s Lifestyle Research Lab and uncovered emerging cultural and aesthetic trends at Nike. He has been teaching in ArtCenter College of Design’s Media Design Practices Program since 2010.

Textbooks for this course:

There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.