Designing a Thriving Future with Carissa Carter & Scott Doorley

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How do we intentionally shape the future in a time when the pace of change often feels overwhelming? In this conversation, design leaders Carissa Carter and Scott Doorley from Stanford’s renowned d.school invite us to reimagine the role of design in our daily lives—not just as a means of creating products or services, but as a powerful tool for healing, clarity, and transformation. Drawing on insights from their book Assembling Tomorrow, they explore how “runaway design” technologies like AI and synthetic biology are reshaping our world, and why the values and emotions we embed in our creations matter more than ever. With thoughtful, accessible language, they guide us through mapping, metaphor, emotional intelligence, and even the importance of awkwardness in the creative process—all in service of a more harmonious and humane future. (Hosted by Travis Glen Sebera)

 Bio:

Carissa Carter is the academic director at Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (the d.school) and a former geologist. Her work focuses on systems thinking, climate innovation, and design futures.

Scott Doorley is the creative director at Stanford’s d.school. He has worked at the intersection of storytelling, physical space, and creative education, and has a background in film and media.

They are co-authors of:

• Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future

To learn more about their work visit: dschool.stanford.edu/shop/assembling-tomorrow

 Topics explored:

• What is “runaway design” and why is it urgent to address it

•  How our creations reflect our psyche and influence the future

•  Why emotion and ethics belong in the design process

•  The power of constraints in shaping meaningful outcomes

• What it means to “design for healing” in a fractured world

• Why awkwardness is a relative signal, not a failure

• How slowing down increases the chances of true insight

• What maps, metaphors, and fiction can teach us about possibility

• Practices to cultivate curiosity and intentional awareness

• The importance of humility, appreciation, and prototyping new futures
  

Host: Travis Glen Sebera  Interview Date: 4/4/2025  Program Number: 3840

Music Playlist

From Album: No Words

Artist: Jim Brickman

Opening Essay: Track 01 Rocket To The Moon

Music Break 1: Track 02 Shaker Lakes

Music Break 2: Track 04 I Said... You Said

Music Break 3: Track 07 Borders