Favorite Future -
captured in pictures

How detailed can you imagine your favorite future? Difficult? Do you always come up with the same images? The old familiar or, even worse, doomsday images? Perhaps we need a 'change of scenery' to steer our imaginations towards a BETTER future. This is exactly what scientists and graphic designers have now tried to do together.

Isn't that the case? We all have enough doomsday scenarios in our heads. We almost long for an alternative, but lack the imagination. What does the future we are heading for look like? The good news is that there is no shortage of answers. The bad news is that they are not always easy to find.

As a result, much of what could constitute a good future is still slipping under the radar of public perception. The "Future Wallpaper" project aims to change this. It sees itself as a magnifying glass and amplifier of these 'unheard-of' future solutions and translates them into images and stories. Because, unlike abstract monster figures (such as tens of tons of_CO2), images and stories are easy fare for our brains: we grasp them quickly and remember them.

Images from visionary minds

In order to get good answers, we approached prominent Austrian climate scientists (such as Karl Steininger, Gottfried Kirchengast and Helga Kromp-Kolb). But also experienced future makers were interviewed. For example, Philipp Wildberger from the compost toilet company Öklo, whose heartfelt concern is a circular economy including a sanitary turnaround. Or Matthias Katt, who is currently shaking up the green energy market with his company E-friends. Or Margit Mayr-Lamm, who has a crystal-clear vision of a sovereign, sustainable agriculture. Or Hildegard Kurt, who invites us to celebrate earth festivals. Or, or, or... because there are now many pioneers.

In these conversations, open questions became answers. Answers became stories. Stories became pictures. And the "future wallpaper" is made up of these images.

Wow, this could be the future!

What has changed in this future landscape? A lot, if you delve deeper. Everything that makes us happy, feeds us or keeps us warm and dry has been disconnected from the fossil fuel industry. The future is 100 percent renewable or compostable. If not both, then recyclable. And it is waste-free, whether food or raw materials.

Green instead of gray

In many places, gray has been turned into green, for example on roofs and facades or by unsealing former parking areas. The transport and energy systems have been converted to be climate-friendly. Behind modern facades, wood, straw and clay provide the living comfort of the future.

There is much more cycling, strolling and hiking. Those who used to suffer from aircraft and traffic noise enjoy the fact that it has become quieter.

Forests, gardens and parks have become more colorful, often even edible. People are chirping, crawling and croaking again. Flocks of birds are soaring. Large-scale "land revitalization" campaigns have brought hedges, trees, moors, rough pastures and wet meadows back into the landscape. Rivers have been freed from their corsets in many places.

Regenerative agriculture

Agriculture is now regenerative, soil-friendly and ecological. Farmers build up humus and thus offset greenhouse gas emissions caused by animal husbandry. Fewer animals are kept overall, but they are kept better. Most of what ends up on our plates comes from the surrounding area.

Welcome to the new humanism

It is not only politics that has undergone a sharp turnaround towards sustainability. There has also been a broad rethink in society, which has brought new values to light. In the "new humanism", people now feel that they are not only part of the global community, but also part of the natural cycle. Without overexploiting the planet, people here live more consciously, in solidarity, carefree and much healthier. Overconsumption is a thing of the past: "Time over money" is the new motto.

The deceleration can be felt everywhere. Stress and a hectic pace have made way for a "new slowness". Everyday life is characterized by serenity, mindfulness and enjoyment. We are looking at a world full of sustainable solutions and healthy ideas. And you feel you have arrived in the world as a human being.

Zooming into the future

The 'future wallpaper' casts bubbles. If you zoom in, you can discover detailed scenes of the future, such as the vertical factory, the lively village square or (heart) education.

The text accompanying the wallpaper explains what it's all about with bus stops, compostable, 3D-printed sneaker soles, grandmother's councils and frog festivals. Or why you can now hear geese chattering, skateboards clattering and concerts on former airfieldsinstead of aircraft noise. In this text you will also find all the links to the specific initiatives, projects, pioneers etc. that are already living these future solutions today.

A remedy for a lack of vision

Lino Zeddies puts it this way: we live in a time without vision. The "Future Wallpaper" invites us to turn the tables. It wants to encourage people to imagine a desirable future in colorful detail and to talk about it with others.

The stronger our feeling for this future is, the more vivid it becomes in our minds, the easier it is for us to inspire other people to rethink the future. The future wallpaper is intended as a tool. It can be used as a "hook" for conversations and discussions and help to lure people with a "weak vision" out of their shell. It can be hung up as an inspirational background to accompany political talks, conferences and other events. Or it can be used for future workshops, workshops and school classes. All avenues are open to it: because as Creative Commons it is free to use. The files can be downloaded here. If you would like to delve deeper into the polyphony of story creation, you can watch the making-of video of the wallpaper here.