I’ve been hunting around for examples of future maps and graphics, hoping to be inspired by designs combining great content and form. Thanks to your responses on twitter and facebook, here are a handful of images to stimulate your thinking about where we’re headed next!
1 . A Multiverse of Exploration: The Future of Science 2021
A map by the Institute for the Future (IFTF) focused on six big stories of science that will play out over the next decade: Decrypting the Brain, Hacking Space, Massively Multiplayer Data, Sea the Future, Strange Matter, and Engineered Evolution.
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Collaborative project between Jane McGonigal of IFTF and DensityDesign, based off of ideas and insights harvested from Superstruct, a six week massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG).
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Design and the Elastic Mind was an exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) back in 2008. “It focuses on designers’ ability to grasp momentous changes in technology, science, and social mores, changes that will demand or reflect major adjustments in human behavior, and convert them into objects and systems that people understand and use.”
interaction exhibition here
4. Envisioning the future of health technology
Visualization by Michell Zappa of technological trend forecasting firm Envisioning Technology.
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Poster by information design consultancy XPlane, based on Jay Cross’s book about the future workplace, Informal Learning: Rediscovering the Natural Pathways that Inspire Innovation and Performance
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6. Sustainability Outlook 2020
A joint project between Business for Social Responsibility and IFTF, providing a visual framework for thinking about trends and how to integrate sustainability into business strategies.
7. Envisioning the future of education technology
Visualization by Michell Zappa of technological trend forecasting firm Envisioning Technology.
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8. Trends & Technology Timeline 2010+
A trends map from 2010 – 2050, compiled by Richard Watson of What’s Next.
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9. 2020 Forecast: The Future of Science, Technology, and Well-being – (IFTF)
Forecast by IFTF exploring how science and technology will transform human well-being.
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10. Envisioning emerging technology for 2012 and beyond
Visualization by Michell Zappa of technological trend forecasting firm Envisioning Technology.
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11. Technologies of Cooperation
Forecast by IFTF exploring opportunities digital technologies present for developing cooperative strategies for solving problems and generating wealth.
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By Future Exploration Network’s Richard Watson.
13. Map of the Decade 2008 – 2018
10-Year Forecast by IFTF.
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others to check out:
The World of 2020 – Ten-Year Forecast Map of the Decade
The Future of Cities, Information, and Inclusion – Ten-Year Forecast Map
not futures maps, but pretty visualizations by Information Architects:
other sources for data vizualisation:
Information is Beautiful
Information is Beautiful: The Information Atlas
Data Flow
Data Flow 2
Visual Complexity: Mapping Patterns of Information
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List compiled with the help of:
Scott Smith – @changeist
Christer Hellberg
Daniel Mezick – @DanMezick
Jan Schlag
Peter Vander Auwera – @petervan
Frank Spencer – @frankspencer
Ross Dawson – @rossdawson
emergent by design 
