Jessi Baker – The Futures Interview

Apr 18, 2012

Jessie Baker

Jessi Baker is a Designer & Technologist. She conducts experiments to explore the relationship between people and emerging technologies. Her work explores a mix of hot topics including the Internet of Things, transparency of information, UX design and the future of branding.

Jessi creates working prototypes of innovative scenarios for the design and development of physical and digital experiences, products and services at brand behaviour agency BEING, London (part of the TBWA group) and also at her own studio in London.

A true blend of art and science, Jessi has a Masters in Engineering at Cambridge University and a Masters in Design at the Royal College of Art. She has worked for a range of brands and companies, including fashion labels in LA and Paris, large engineering firms and start-ups.

?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?

JB: A world in which no one’s choices of things to do or buy are blindly determined by others. A world where our decisions are open and the impacts transparent, so we can begin to really see how each of us effect people and planet. A world of empathy, not apathy.

?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?

JB: The open source movement and the rise of open data. The Internet is and will become an amazing source for learning about and changing our impact on the planet and helping us make better, fairer decisions as a global society.

?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose?

JB: Add data feed to Pachube. Look up things you’ve bought on SourceMap and try to help map the supply chain. Publicly (via social media perhaps) question advertising that could be greenwash, if it isn’t greenwash the company will soon reply with a verified report or certification. Monitor your energy usage. Get interested in data and the visualisation of it, this will be key to changing behaviour.

?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?

JB: Buy things that you know where they’ve come from. If you aren’t sure the dress you’re about to buy wasn’t made by a slave then don’t buy it.

?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future? 

JB: The Flower Duet – Lakme

?!X: What are your five all time favourite weblinks?

JB:

  1. Slavery Footprint
  2. SourceMap
  3. The Onion
  4. GOOD Infographics
  5. Pachube

Follow Jessi on Twitter @jessibaker

How can we Create the Future you Choose? Take part here.