Future Narratives Lab
On many of the major social challenges that we face, our ingrained conventional understandings and mental models, or ‘narratives’ limit the terms of debate, blocking the constructive consensus needed for effective action.
The Future Narratives Lab brings together experts from a range of backgrounds to analyse these existing narratives, design new alternatives, and create the strategies and partnerships to replace them.
Recent event
Escape from humanity: the narratives behind Big Tech
In April 2021 we held a session exploring the narratives that have shaped the technology platforms now playing a greater role than ever in our culture and society. We were joined by:
- Dr Kanta Dihal – Senior Research Fellow and project lead of the Global AI Narratives project at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge
- Jeannette Estruth, Assistant Professor of American History at Bard College, and a Faculty Associate at the Harvard University Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.
- Michael Sacasas, Editor The Convivial Society, Author of the ‘The Frailest Thing: 10 years of thinking about technology’
- Daniel Stanley, Founder & CEO – Future Narratives Lab
Our method
Listen & Understand
Analyse & assess the existing narrative, how and where it is embedded, its strengths & weaknesses, related values, and the gaps and opportunities it leaves.
Analyse & Create
Use this understanding, and a power analysis of who can be moved and their shared values and wider worldviews, to create the basis for a new narrative approach.
Test & Implement
Develop the strategy, partnerships and prototype materials to put the new narrative into practice, test its effectiveness, and update and improve it.
Recent work
Power in place: understanding our land narrative
We are working with Shared Assets and a range of other partners to develop a new narrative for land in the UK, which frames the issue as a matter of social, environmental and economic justice.
In our first progress report, published in November 2020, we outline our research and analysis on the current narrative around land in the UK, and the implications for land reform advocates and our future work.
