The
Indulgence
Agenda

Unpacking Indulgence

May 10, 2016

A History of Indulgence: Timeless Patterns & Principles

For millennia, humans have been denying themselves the pleasures of life, but then secretly indulging themselves after the fact. This is an attempt to understand how differences in social and cultural contexts throughout history have given rise to different kinds of indulgence and the guilt that comes with it.

Indulgence Today: Current Trends & Future Projections

Is indulgence worthy of scorn and judgement? Our propensity to recognize and legitimize our desires — and grant ourselves permission to fulfill them — is inherent. But will our modern hedonism have consequences on our future?

Why We Indulge: The Psychology & Neuroscience of Indulgence

Our drive to indulge is an artifact of our evolutionary history, buried deep into our brains. Does this mean that we are simply wired for indulgence, or are there steps we can take — both as individuals and as a society — to better control our desire to indulge?

The Ethics of Indulgence: Exploring The Limits of Human Compulsion

Indulgence, at its very core, is about excess. When we indulge, we skirt and then eventually cross the fine line between good and bad, between discipline and pleasure, and between being responsible and satisfying our desires. This raises the question: Can indulgence ever be ethical? More importantly, does it even need to be?

Designing for Indulgence: Formulas for Pleasure

No longer reserved for any subset of brands, heightened experiences are fast becoming the definitive delivery mode for brand encounters, both small and large. Using best-in-class examples, we will unpack the mindset, methods, and metrics that make these experiences appear effortless and irresistible.

Evening Event: Indulgence 2030

Future opportunities or challenges are better understood when they are consumed as experience. Participants will engage with a future of indulgence through an immersive dinner event set in 2030.

Prototyping Possibilities

May 11, 2016

From Signals to Scenarios of Change: Frameworks for Disruption and Transformation

Scenario development is an exercise in sensemaking, strategy, and speculative storytelling. We'll apply our learnings to generate possible, plausible, preferred, and alternative future worlds, after which we'll imagine the innovative products, services, and businesses that could inhabit them.

Prototyping Heightened Experiences: Applying Future Insights to Indulgence

The future is meant as an input for planning and taking action today. This two-day event will culminate in a business case activity. Participants will develop a future vision and near-term products or service strategies for a fictional organization, given a set of common business constraints.