NEW INTERVIEW SERIES

_DRAW YOUR FUTURE_

_What's Your Story ? _

A series of interviews and visual workshops to help us chart our post-pandemic lives.

“We are all in the same storm -

but on different boats.”

Damian Barr

The Great Depression permanently altered society and people's behavior - and so will COVID19.

We are all part of the biggest societal experiment that none of us has signed up for.

While there are undeniable challenges, it might also be an unprecedented chance for reinvention.

But the divide between those who thrive and those who dive might be significant.

What do we want our personal 'New State of Normal' to be?
After being crisis-tested - is our current personal and professional life future-proof?
What (new) options do we have and what choices will we have to make?
And above all: who do we want to be with if crisis strikes again?

For many of us it is back to the drawing board .... that's why we are creating

'The DRAW YOUR FUTURE LAB.'

What?

1. WHAT IS 'DRAW YOUR FUTURE'?

Part 'Dr. Phil', part 'Shark Tank' - DRAW YOUR FUTURE is a series of interviews and virtual workshops, and ultimately a book, to help people literally draw their post-pandemic life story.

We ask musicians, researchers, doctors, chefs, teachers, journalists, producers, actors, politicians, psychologists ... how this moment of global pause (and pain) has changed their personal and professional lives. While a lot of what you see on TV is politics, we want to dive into the personal side of the pandemic. What we are looking for are the local stories of compassion around the world that sit underneath all the madness.

We ask young and old, across countries, cultures and careers and assemble their memories into a collective puzzle of our bizarre 'New States of Normal'. What and who matters most for us now ? How, where and with whom do we want to live and work in the future?

Ultimately, we compile all the lessons learned into an illustrated book full of anecdotes and exercises to draw your future. Think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure style colouring book for young and old.

'DRAW YOUR FUTURE' is the brainchild of friends Heather (Visual Artist & Leadership Coach from Brooklyn) & Romy (Journalist & Producer from Berlin) who met 10 years ago in an old castle on the outskirts of Berlin. When the pandemic hit they took to ZOOM (and a lot of post-it notes) to collect lock-down stories happening around them in Brooklyn & Berlin and anywhere between and beyond. Ultimately, they decided to make it into a book with the help of many friends. Thank You All!

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2. WHY ARE we DOING IT?

Why?

"We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep."

William James

-> 1. OUR PERSONAL FUTURE

(The 'Dr. Phil' Part ...)

Relationship inventory. If the pandemic has proven one thing amidst all uncertainty it is the importance of community and compassion. The innate human desire for meaningful connections is ever more important - yet more difficult.

While the entire world seems just a ZOOM call away - how can we be truly socially connected while physically apart?
Who are the people that matter to us most now, personally and professionally?
Who do we want in our inner circle? Who would we want to 'shelter in place with' - and where?

Multi-generational and multi-cultural learning. There is much we can learn about resilience from our grandparents and those who have lived through wars or natural disasters and overcome personal hardship or setbacks. The worldwide feeling of discomfort and loss of normalcy has actually been compared to a state of collective grief.

What life lessons can we adapt from those who have lived through loss?
What advice can we give to the young who might have been robbed of their Plan-A-Career-Path and are faced with an uncharted career future?
How can we keep the less tech-affin elderly connected who are partly confined to isolation - and what can we learn from their decades of life experience?

Crisis reveals character. Almost all medals and recognition are based on how we respond in crisis and under fire. We may have been tested ourselves and gotten to know new sides on others that would have never been revealed under normal circumstances.

What did we learn about ourselves?
What did we miss, what did we fear, what did we enjoy?
What is our (new) value system?
Does our code of character need to be re-framed?

"Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and buildING the plane on the way down."

Reid Hoffman

-> 2. OUR PROFESSIONAL FUTURE

(The 'Shark-Tank' Part ...)

The ripple effects of the pandemic will be felt long after the lock-downs have been lifted.

Artists, event planners, restaurateurs, hoteliers, cinema & theater owners, travel guides, athletes and architects ... most small business owners or self-employed professionals have to rethink and reshape their business. Large scale music, sports and business events will not return for a long time and have to move to some degree online. It is anticipated that up to 80% of our work life will remain remote. People are moving out of the cities and are creating their new work-and-live-from-home cocoons.

What do these fundamental changes mean for us professionally and personally?
How and where do we want to work and live?
Is our current job sustainable?
How will we make money in the future?

Speed matters. Readiness is imperative. Some jobs might be wiped out forever, while some industries will be accelerated by a decade in a number of weeks. "It may seem like a terrible moment now to be an entrepreneur - but in 12-15 months it will be an ideal time to partner with people and take advantage of the surge in the economy," predicts Scott Galloway. He suggests that while others are paralyzed by fear and uncertainty the time is now to leap ahead.

Are we prepared to size that moment when opportunity strikes?

How?

3. HOW DOES IT WORK?

"DIALOGUE IS MORE THAN TALK,

IT IS THE ART OF THINKING TOGETHER"

Walter Isaacson

STEP 1: INTERVIEWS

Step 1: The Workshops

Starting with expert interviews to get a lay of the land, we follow up with themed workshops from food to music, film/tv, art, politics, education, travel, sports and relationships in times of the pandemic.

We take a deep dive into the personal stories of changes and challenges people worldwide have been confronted with - and what they hope for the future.

Mixing generations, cultures and career backgrounds we deliberately take people out of their bubble

and match-make participants around topics.

With interactive exercises and visual storytelling and live graphic recording we take ZOOM calls to the next level and bring structure, fun and play to digital conversations.

What do you do with an idea

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THE CHAPTERS

CHAPTER 1:

ART

With galleries and museums shuttered and exhibitions from Art Basel to Frieze and entire auction weeks canceled, the art market went into a state of paralysis. However, auctions started to move online and art fairs got experimental with viewing rooms and a never before seen transparency for prices.

Artist got back to work and very creative with series of #lockdownart. Galerists like Johann König in Berlin hosted daily 10am artists interviews on Instagram to keep artists and their audiences connected. When the lockdown lifted in June he hosted a pop-up art market in his Bauhaus church gallery to exhibit works that would have otherwise been shown at Art Basel.

The repercussions are felt around the world and the crisis may upend old business models - will it also jolt the art market further into the virtual realm?

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CHAPTER 2:

FOOD

For many local restaurants and cafe's COVID had a devastating effect, some family businesses and institutions that had been around for decades did not survive. At the same time delivery services have surged.

We speak with chefs, restaurateurs and food entrepreneurs how they have dealt with the pandemic, where they believe we are heading and how this might strengten trends like 'Eat Local' and sustainable farming.

Food is not only life essential but the connective tissue for community and connection. We also source family recipes and food stories around the world and assemble them into our FOOD STORY COLLECTION.

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CHAPTER 3:

MUSIC

With tours canceled, clubs shut down and concert halls closed - we have seen many creative online scenarios for musicians around the world to get together and perform out of their living room, barns, sheds and rooftops.

While more music is consumed than ever and streaming on the up - what is the future of live concerts which has been a significant income for many musicians.

Some musicians have discovered new creative ways in lockdown-concerts to play directly for their audience on social media. Are these gigs here to stay - and how will musicians make money ?

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CHAPTER 4:

FILM, TV & THEATER

What do performers do when productions are shut down and theaters closed? From bedtime story readings to 'act together' Instagram sessions and ZOOM dance classes - big and small stars have been inventive with lock-down performances.

While for many writers being confined to your desk is just another Monday, an entire industry of production personal has been hit hard by the shutdown. At the same time, Netflix subscribers have rocketed and never before have people binged so many shows.

How will the film and tv industry return to shoot under new regulations? Will theatres and cinemas have to undergo a social distance remodeling?

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CHAPTER 5:

SPORTS

Large scale sports events will not return to normal for a long time. The sports industry lives off live events with fan interaction. The roar inside a packed stadium is felt more than heard, a kind of whole-body buzz.

With everything canceled from Premiere Football Leagues to Formula One, Wimbledon and the Sommer Olympics athletes where confined to home workouts and ZOOM hangouts. The ripple effects throughout the entire industry will be felt - from ticket revenues to broadcast rights that make up a significant part of the sports value to the exorbitant pay of some athletes and merchandising income. Will we have to get used to a video-game like feeling of e-sports with audience-free arenas?

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CHAPTER 6:

CHARITIES

COVID-19 has put charities at risk - just when they are needed most. Almost half of UK charities for the world's poorest are set to close in a year. Many have been unable to carry out their face-to-face work, fundraising events are canceled, donations and volunteering have plummeted.

As COVID-19 cases have risen, precious blood and plasma donations are lagging. The American Red Cross saw its CCP reserve fall more than 70% in July. Cancer treatments and prevention have been partially postponed. The mental health ramifications of the pandemic from young people to isolated elderly have been significant. What are best practices around the world to help charities survive? What digital solutions are available to increase donations?

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CHAPTER 7:

EDUCATION

The pandemic has affected educational systems worldwide, leading to the near-total closures of schools, universities and colleges.

School closures impact not only students, teachers, and families but have far-reaching economic and societal consequences. Personally, kids and teenagers have been apart from their friends putting additional mental strain on them.

Graduations happened on ZOOM and some recent graduates will have to make a choice whether to spend their first year in college online - and/or if they need a new career path all together.