“Don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots down there are riotous.”

– Muhammed Rumi

Foresight Friday

Following trends that shape our futures

Spring has arrived and I hope your own roots have been "riotous" this winter!

Mine certainly have–and as the season changes so must the direction of growth. My last update in October launched my inaugural TEDx Fall Cohort to guide participants through the process of seeking and applying to TEDx Talks around the globe. In December, the Institute for Economic Evolution (IEE) launched the Design Economics Podcast and this week we put out our fourth episode. Since last summer both the Institute, with the support of our board and advisors, and my own consulting practice have gone through significant overhauls.

The primary objective?

To separate me and the work I do from IEE and the work, as a charitable non-profit organization, that it is meant to do. For me, that is to help individuals, organizations, and companies navigate toward their preferred future. For the Institute, that is to find, cultivate, and share the three tenets of design economics–to cultivate rather than restrict our human potential.

I am confident in the work we have done and the differentiation we have achieved.

Branching communications

It is with that in mind that I'm excited to announce the evolution of our email communications. As the Institute for Economic Evolution continues to grow as an independent organization, we'll be launching a dedicated Design Economics Digest newsletter in the coming months.

For the next few editions of Foresight Friday, you'll see a special "Design Economics Digest" section featuring content from IEE. By summer, these will separate into two distinct newsletters: Foresight Friday focusing on futures and foresight consulting insights, and the Design Economics Digest covering innovative economic perspectives that acknowledge change, embrace creativity, and cultivate literacy

There is so much more to share but that is just my riotous roots excited for the growth of the spring season.

LaKesa takes the stage, a TEDx success story

Your words have power. Speak life. Speak possibility. Speak success.

LaKesa found me through Instagram and joined my TEDx Fall Cohort with enthusiasm and a vision to realize.

Today, I had the incredible honor of stepping onto the TEDxJesterCirED stage to share an idea that has shaped my career and transformed classrooms: “How to Activate Classroom Success with the Power of Words.”

Words are more than just communication—they are tools of activation. They can either limit or unleash potential. In my talk, I explored how the language we use in classrooms has the power to rewire students’ brains, shift mindsets, and ultimately recode classroom DNA for success. - LaKesa Bradford Mitchell

See what LaKesa had to say about the cohort experience and watch this newsletter for her talk when it is published.

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Could a sweet slowdown shift long-term trends?

Forty-two percent of US consumers are cutting back on snack purchases for price tag reasons

Morning Brew reported that "snacktime is becoming too expensive for a growing number of Americans, and General Mills is the latest munchies provider to recognize it. The food giant’s net sales dropped 5% globally last quarter and 7% in North America amid a 'slowdown in snacking,' CEO Jeff Harmening said this week."

While produce, poultry, and eggs are staples of a healthy diet, could sustained price increases in the sweets treat sector have a long-term positive impact on health?

While sugar cereals and candy are heavily subsidized, have inflated prices due to consolidation, and contribute to many chronic diseases, the fact remains: Sugar is addictive, and breaking the habit is difficult.

Could family budgetary restrictions help families to break the cycle of sugar addiction?

It might be wishful thinking but is certainly a trend to look for as time passes.

Read the full story via Morning Brew

Design Economics Digest

Acknowledging Change. Embracing Creativity. Cultivating Literacy.

Design Economics Digest offers thoughtfully curated insights from the evolving landscape of economic thought. We share innovative approaches challenging traditional frameworks, highlighting diverse thinkers and organizations whose work aligns with the three tenets of design economics. The Digest connects you with perspectives that acknowledge change, embrace creativity, and cultivate literacy—bringing together ideas from various fields that are reshaping our economic understanding. Join us as we explore accessible, thought-provoking content that expands economic imagination and inspires new possibilities.

Exploring Afrofuturism and The Dinkinesh Method with Ingrid LaFleur

Season 1 / Episode 3

Join host Vinny Tafuro for an engaging conversation with guest Ingrid LaFleur, a curator, Afrofuturist, and pleasure activist. Her groundbreaking work has been featured in prominent outlets such as The New York Times and Time magazine. Their conversation explores the roots of Afrofuturism, the impacts of nonlinear presence, and how Ingrid’s Dinkenish Method World Builds can guide us toward better futures.

Listen on the shoe website or wherever you prefer to listen to podcasts.

DesignEconomics.io Episode Page

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Follow the Design Economics Podcast

Give the show a follow on your favorite platform

Discover how design thinking can revolutionize economics for the 21st century. Learn about the Institute for Economic Evolution's three tenets of design economics and meet the pioneering thinkers who are shaping this approach. From challenging economic orthodoxy to creating human-centered solutions, explore how design economics is evolving economics to better serve humanity and the environment.

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | More Platforms

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evolveeconomics.org

Thank you for taking the time to read and please share with anyone you feel may find this interesting. Have a great weekend!

Gratefully,

Vinny Tafuro

?Visionary. Futurist. Economist.

"I see distant horizons clearly and work meticulously toward them."

Tafuro Research & Education Kollective, Consultant

Institute for Economic Evolution, Founder

813.240.0739