David Zach

Biography

David Zach is one of the few professionally trained futurists on this planet, having earned a master`s degree in Studies of the Future from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Of course that was back in 1981, which means it`s pretty much history by now...

As a futurist, he`s worked with over 1400 associations, corporations and colleges offering insights on the personal and professional impact of strategic trends. In other words, he gives funny, fascinating and thought-provoking talks and workshops about both trends and traditions with innovation, design, technology, business, education, demographics and society.

In his work, he studies history more than forecasts. He doesn`t want to tell people what to think about the future, his goal is helping them to understand how to think about the future. He thinks fascinating forecasts can be fun, but thoughtful, long-term choices between change and tradition are much better.

Dave previously worked at Johnson Controls and Northwestern Mutual Life in the roles of environmental scanning and strategic planning. He has also taught Future Studies in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. He is the author of Zachronyms: funny words for funny times and Worth Remembering: the future of old ideas.

Dave was recently elected to the American Institute of Architects national board of directors and is on the board of the American Chesterton Society. Past activities include: Wisconsin Small Business Development Center Advisory Council, Future Milwaukee Advisory Board, the Community Advisory Board for the local NPR station WUWM, Rotary Club of Milwaukee, chairman of the Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000 Education Committee and co-chair for Design Milwaukee.

Publications

Zachronyms:
funny words for funny times

In Zachronyms David Zach has compiled 200 humorous acronyms in this new illustrated book. These Zachronyms portray life at the millennium in all its glory and imperfection on subjects ranging from money and work to love and life.

Titles

An Owner`s Guide to the Future

Do we really want vacuum cleaners that can argue with us? Will the automation of health care lead to the automation of caring? And, how come teenagers can pay attention to ten things at once and still be, like, bored? David Zach asks some funny questions. In his thought-provoking tour of modern times he`ll offer some useful answers that will get people talking. With a friendly style and a little bit of midwestern charm, he`ll help you face the future with a solid sense of hope and inspiration.

As one of the very few professionally trained futurists on the planet, David Zach blends the funny with the profound in this surprisingly practical keynote to help you decide what really matters. You`ll rethink the balance between change and tradition -- and the need to hold on to that which shouldn`t change. At the end you`ll find yourself either thoughtfully quiet or engaged in some of the best conversations you`ve ever had at a meeting. Dave may not be the futurist you expected, but he is the one you`ll remember.

Innovative Futures: Trends with Innovation and Design

Internationally acclaimed futurist David Zach will offer insights on the art and science of innovation and design: the very lifeblood of 21st century economics. Today has been called the Age of Design, with innovation driving growth and change, but there`s also a danger that it`s the Age of the Technician where more and more people are not allowed to be creative. How we promote, discuss and embrace design, innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset will decide the sort of future we`ll really have.

Using the latest trends with nanotechnology, communications, information, logistics, architecture and even teenagers as a backdrop, Dave divides his talk into Innovation Pro and Innovation Con to examine what works to build the Age of Design and what doesn`t. This futurist will have a few ideas about an innovative future that will surprise, may upset and will probably even delight you.

Strategic Futures

Whether you`re an owner, a free agent, a manager or just somebody who likes to think a lot about the future, you need to pay attention to both the bottom line and the horizon. With a focus on the practical and the possible, this is a down-to-earth look at key strategic trends: from the rise of intelligent money to the fall of national borders, from virtual workplaces to virtually unlimited information, and even from the automation of healthcare to the automation of things you`ve never believed possible. If you need to do some deep thinking about choices, forecasts and how you`ll navigate tomorrow, let internationally renowned futurist David Zach be your guide.

Designs on the Future: Trends, Traditions & Choices

"If you want to survive, you`re going to change; if you don`t, you`re going to perish. It`s as simple as that." (Thom Mayne, FAIA, 2005 Pritzker Prize Winner, 2005 AIA National Convention)

Futurist David Zach disagrees. It`s not that simple. Survival means being able to hold on to the best of the past and making sure we learn from the lessons of history. Not all change is progress and not all tradition is outdated. Survival and progress depends on our ability to choose between change and tradition.

This presentation is a fascinating (and slightly irreverent) look at the trends and traditions affecting design and the roles that architects, designers and planners can have over the next ten years.