[Open for applications]
Mentor Scheme 2025
Foresight skills and futures literacy can empower us to navigate uncertainty, build a more resilient future and make better choices for ourselves, future generations and planet.
The Futures Archive mentor scheme, beginning July 2025, will guide four mentees through the best practices and tools for navigating and shaping tomorrow's world.
The 5 month program will include fortnightly sessions that mix: group activities, workshops, assignments and one-on-one coaching. This can be added to your CV as a specialised foresight learning period, or portfolio project.
Some topics of exploration:
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Overview of the origins, history and purpose of foresight
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How to effectively apply a spectrum of methodologies
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Examples of live projects and common industry challenges
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How to become an advocate for original ethnographic, qualitative and quantitative methodologies to strengthen the quality of insights
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Using speculative design as a key tool for problem-solving
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How to navigate chaos in a turbulent world, and the benefits and limitations of foresight approaches
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How to practice intersectional futures and amplify the voices of historically marginalised communities
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Coaching for job applications and career development
Are you a designer, scientist, innovator, or advocate? Whether you're aiming to expand your creative toolkit, or bridge the gap between present realities and future aspirations, you'll gain practical skills in both the art and science of foresight.
Who is your mentor?
This scheme is presented by Amy Sellers, a London-based cultural research and foresight director. Across the past decade, her work has helped a variety of FTSE100 and Fortune 500 companies, and clients include: Google, Nike, Microsoft, Instagram, Spotify, IKEA, DAZED, Nowness, Airbnb, Stella McCartney, the BBC and Youtube.
After graduating in design, she began her career at The Future Laboratory, researching, planning, and imagining the future of global brands. Following this, she was assigned Visual Editor for Martin Raymond's Trend Forecaster's Handbook; joined Samsung's in-house European innovation laboratory; and led futures work for multiple organisations, including DAZED, Art Review, and Squared Circles. She is also trained in human-centered design, sustainability concepts, and user experience research, and now consults on an independent freelance basis.
Scheme requirements:
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Location is: fully remote. People can apply from anywhere in the world, although you must be available to join live sessions between 12pm - 2pm BST fortnightly on Wednesdays.
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Education: no particular degree or education is needed as a requirement for applicant success. A demonstration of genuine interest in futures and foresight is the only required criteria.
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Disability first: My lived experience with chronic illness and disability gives me unique insight into the challenges and barriers this community encounters in the workplace. I pledge to give detailed written feedback to applicants with a chronic illness/disability to help with future career development.
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Application deadline: Friday 30th May 2025
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Selection: All applications will be reviewed mid June
Interested in joining? ☻
