UTOPIAN VISIONS OF THE FUTURE
What if everything goes… right?
An illustrated book of short stories and essays aimed at 7-14-year-olds looking for optimism in the face of the climate crisis.
Online, on TV and in books, we know what happens if we don’t solve the climate crisis. We know the melting ice caps, burning forests and dying polar bears of dystopia.
But Martin Luther King didn’t have a nightmare. No corporation has a negative Vision Statement. No car ad sells us what we avoid by buying their dream.
So what does the world look like once we’ve solved the climate crisis?
“What if everything goes right?" envisions an optimistic future, post-climate crisis, and is poised to captivate readers' minds aged 7-14. Departing from the typical narratives of environmental dystopias, this book offers a unique exploration into a world where climate solutions have triumphed.
Featuring a foreword by the influential Greta Thunberg*, this book stands as a beacon of hope. Adorned with 50 original artworks, renowned scientists, authors, and creatives contribute their unique perspectives, with stories on the future of schools, cities, homes, play, gender, energy and much more.
As a publishing opportunity, “What if everything goes right?" echoes the success of Rebel Girls in format, with beautiful illustrations drawing readers in to truly visualise what our and their generation can aim for.
This publication is not just a celebration of an idyllic tomorrow but a catalyst for inspiring dialogue and action among young minds.
‘What if everything goes right?’ are the stories we need – of what will happen once we save our little blue marble.
* We can dream!
In the spirit of innovation, see a prototype of the book below, ready for testing and iteration.
As a designer and an innovation consultant, I’ve always been fascinated by the future. As a dedicated parent, I’ve educated my kids about the futures that might unfold: from social media communities to VR and AI, exploring both the benefits and drawbacks.
No more dystopias
The media also talks to our young people about possible futures, but too often these are dystopian. Our children are bombarded with visions of fiction and reality that are all about how bad things will be: from ice caps melting and extreme weather events to the deadly competitiveness of the Hunger Games. The Last of Us, Divergent, Lorde’s ‘Team’.
So what do they have to aim for? What stories give them hope and reasons to build the future they deserve? Where’s the optimism of the 1960s space race or the utopias of the early days of the internet?
I’ve seen the dismay and disempowerment that result from this lack of hope. My children’s generation knows who is to blame and feels these hopeless futures are inevitable. I’d go so far as to suggest it contributes to the current mental health crisis in young people.
But…
Visions of a positive future
What if everything went right? What if we leave all fossil fuels in the ground and develop more forms of clean energy? What if we meet Net Zero targets and begin increasing biodiversity? What if we slow rampant inequality and truly level up?
And what does that actually look like? What could we show young people that they could aim for, to seek and construct themselves?
‘What if everything goes right?’ aims to start this conversation, and build hope and empowerment so young people have goals to aim for, visions to strive towards and optimism in a world that too often tells them a brighter future is not possible.
The format
Short essays will be written by commissioned experts on topics such as home, school, hobbies, technology, diversity, nature, sport, science, design, politics, travel and more: everything young people are interested in now. These could also be tied up into thematic chapters.
Crucially, each essay will then be given to an illustrator to interpret and create their vision of the future. Imagery is key to this book, the visions being as important to aim for as the writing, creating ideas in the young people’s minds.
Want to collaborate, partner or fund this?
A number of experts are keen to contribute already, so I’m now looking for:
More futurism writers with expertise in specific areas (e.g. housing, migration, consumerism, technology, farming/permaculture, science, transport/travel, medicine, business, etc)
Illustrators to contribute based on these writers’ essays
Collaborators in the climate space, and
Publishers or funders interested in collaboration to bring this to life – in this format or another!