In-person at MODA
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About The Four-Part Workshop Series:
How can design help us navigate change and shape a better tomorrow? Find out in this interactive four-part workshop series led by Atlanta educator Kevin Day, with special guest speakers.
Inspired by Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future by Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter (Stanford d.School), this series blends book discussion with hands-on design exercises. You’ll explore key ideas and apply futures-thinking tools through:
Storytelling – Craft compelling narratives about the future
Interactive Prototyping – Experiment and bring ideas to life
Speculative Design – Imagine and design possible futures
Perfect for designers, educators, futurists, and curious minds, this series invites you to think critically about the world ahead and design responses to emerging challenges.
How It Works
Each session introduces a concept from Assembling Tomorrow, explores real-world and speculative examples, and engages participants in creative design challenges.
📖 No reading required! You’re welcome to follow along with the book, but it’s not necessary.
✅ Flexible attendance! Join a single session or sign up for the full series.
About Session 1: Unintended Consequences—How Design Shapes the Future
Wednesday, April 16 | 6:00-8:30 PM
Every design choice has consequences—some planned, others completely unexpected.
This session introduces the concept of "runaway design", exploring how innovations like social media, artificial intelligence, and urban planning have shaped the world in ways their creators never anticipated.
Through discussion and hands-on exercises, participants will analyze real-world examples of runaway design and consider how unintended consequences shape our future.
Key Themes:
What is runaway design?
How have unintended consequences influenced society?
What might the future look like if these patterns continue?
📖 Optional Reading: Introduction & early chapters of Assembling Tomorrow
✅ No prior knowledge needed—just curiosity and a willingness to think critically about the world around us!
Interested in attending the rest of the workshop series?
Read about each session below
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Wednesday, May 14 | 6:00–8:30 PM
What if you could glimpse into the future?
In this session, we’ll explore the power of storytelling and speculative fiction in imagining what’s next. By crafting future headlines and designing fictional prototypes, participants will examine how today’s choices shape tomorrow’s realities—and how we can use these insights to build a better future.
Key Themes:
How storytelling shapes our vision of the future
The role of speculative fiction in anticipating design challenges
Exploring the ripple effects of today’s innovations
📖 Optional Reading: Histories of the Future sections of Assembling Tomorrow
✅ No prior experience needed—just creativity and curiosity!
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Wednesday, June 18 | 6:00-8:30 PM
How can we anticipate the future before it arrives?
In this session, we’ll explore design futures tools that help us map possibilities, understand long-term consequences, and imagine alternative futures. Through hands-on activities, participants will practice techniques for visualizing and preparing for change in design and society.
Key Themes:
How to use design futures tools to explore possibilities
The role of speculative design in shaping better outcomes
Visualizing the ripple effects of innovation
📖 Optional Reading: Case studies on speculative design from Assembling Tomorrow
✅ No prior experience needed—just an open mind and a willingness to think ahead!
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Wednesday, August 13 | 6:00–8:30 PM
How do we turn futures thinking into meaningful change?
In this final session, participants will apply everything they’ve learned to real-world challenges, using design as a tool for responsible, forward-thinking solutions. Through a hands-on hackathon, we’ll brainstorm innovative ideas and craft personal or professional commitments to shaping a more intentional future.
Key Themes:
Applying futures thinking to real-world challenges
How designers, businesses, and communities can create responsible change
Turning ideas into action
📖 Optional Reading: Final chapters of Assembling Tomorrow
✅ No prior experience needed—just a desire to design for a better future!
Registration: $25 | $15 for MODA Members per session
Become a MODA Member TODAY for savings on this event and more
Members must log in to Simple Tix at check out to receive their discount.
Workshop registrants can add on a copy of Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future at the reduced rate of $25 (regular price is $35)
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Kevin Day is the Impact Design Lab Coordinator at the Mount Vernon School. His course invites eighth graders to learn and lean into design thinking as a stance of generous curiosity, empathy-fueled problem-finding and problem-solving, and a purpose-full path by which learners of any age might participate in designing a better world. He is leaning into his eighteenth year of classroom teaching this year; his vocational journey has also wound through cross country and track coaching and hospital chaplaincy. When the school day ends, he fights traffic to get home to Duluth, GA, where he and his wife (Katie) do their best to keep up with their beloved son (Elijah, 7). Kevin loves running, aspires to write more, and means to live authentically - and today - towards the intersection of design thinking, spiritual practice, and creative courage.
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The Museum of Design Atlanta is conveniently located in the Midtown Arts District, right across the street from the Woodruff Arts Center at 1315 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309.
MODA is located on the ground floor of the 1315 Peachtree Building. The building is a mix use site and is shared by MODA, the Peachtree Public Library, and Perkins+Will.
MODA resides on the land of the Mvskoke (Muscogee / Creek) people.
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Parking
MODA does not offer designated parking. There are public parking lots located in the Midtown Arts district, as well as metered parking available along Peachtree St NE. The paid Lanier parking deck at 1337 Peachtree St NE is the closest deck within walking distance of the museum.
Bike Riders
For visitors traveling by bike, there are plenty of bike racks conveniently located around MODA! You can find them along Peachtree Street, including right outside of MODA, and at the Arts Center MARTA Station. Don’t forget to bring a lock!
MARTA
If visiting by train, take the North or South rail line to the Arts Center MARTA Station (N5), located directly behind the Woodruff Arts Center (accessible). Exit the Arts Center Station at the top level by the Peachtree Street exit. You will be behind the Woodruff Arts Center. MODA is located directly across the street from the Woodruff Arts Center. Use the cross-walk at the intersection of 16th and Peachtree to reach our building.
For more information on MARTA schedules, maps, and connections from other transit providers, please visit the MARTA website.
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Designers with different styles of learning or special needs are welcome in MODA public programs. We will be able to most effectively help everyone learn and enjoy this experience if we know about those needs in advance of the program. Please email miranda@museumofdesign.org with questions or information.
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MODA reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment requirements are not met, but don't worry: should MODA have to cancel, we will gladly issue a full refund to all registrants. If you need to cancel your plans for any reason, we kindly request that you notify us at least 7 days prior to the event start. By doing so, we can process a refund for the ticket cost (minus a small $10 processing fee per class). Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made less than 7 days before an event.
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Pictures and videos will be captured during MODA public programs and may be published on the official website, social media, and newsletters of the Museum of Design Atlanta. If you do not wish to appear on these platforms, please write to felicia@museumofdesign.org.
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Email Felicia at felicia@museumofdesign.org with any questions.
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