The Future Mundane: Nick Foster RDI on Process, AI and Designing What’s Next

On this episode of NeoConversations, host Nubia Henderson sits down with futures designer, author and Royal Designer of Industry Nick Foster RDI to explore how designers can navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI, automation and rapid technological change.Drawing from his book Could, Should, Might, Don’t: How We Think About the Future, Foster reflects on the cultural, ethical, and deeply human dimensions of design. From his work leading speculative projects at Google X to his belief in what he calls “the future mundane,” the conversation examines how design moves beyond artifacts and outputs to focus on process, responsibility, and the ways people experience technology in everyday life.Together, they discuss the evolving role of craft in the age of AI, the tension between what technology can do versus what it should do, and why the future must remain grounded in humanity, reflection, and care. The episode also explores mentorship, representation, and Foster’s perspective on using design to open pathways for the next generation of creative thinkers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.