SideShow: Where Side Projects Take Center Stage
Futurespaces and Near Future Laboratory bring you SideShow!
One night. A room full of artists, designers, filmmakers, and creative people sharing the work they’re making outside the brief. Sound experiments. Illegible interfaces. Broken narratives. Tools bent into new shapes. Ideas with no client, no deadline, no plan—just the need to try something no one asked for. A rare glimpse into experimental ventures headed straight into unknown territory.
Sideshow is a space for work that’s personal, unruly, and unfinished—kept alive in spite of economic pressure and the pull of everything more urgent. It’s a chance to share what’s taking shape, spark something new, and help each other keep going. Not by scaling up. Just by showing up. To keep alive the side that keeps us going.
Your Hosts
This first edition is anchored by a presentation from Kirby Ferguson (Everything is a Remix) and Karin Fyhrie (Collins, IDEO), debuting selections from Dream Logic—a collaborative video series tracing their process of wrestling with, shaping, and occasionally surrendering to the possibilities of generative AI in creative work.
Run of Show
5:30 PM - Mingling & Intro
A brief introduction to Sideshow, setting the tone for the evening and the importance of making space for creative explorations.
6:00 PM - Feature Presentation: Dream Logic
6:30 PM - Flash Rounds: Spotlight on Makers
Three surprise makers will each present a 5-10m lightning talk on their side projects.
7:00 PM - Breakout Groups
Participants will join one of four breakout groups for deeper conversations on key themes.
7:30 PM - Closing & Networking
A brief closing to share-out and summarize the discussions and encourage continued connections, followed by an open networking session.
Sideshow is a Futurespaces event, co-produced with Near Future Laboratory.
About Futurespaces
Futurespaces delves into contemporary experience design, with a specific focus on how innovations in design and technology can meaningfully enhance human connection.
Founded and led by Josh Goldblum (Bluecadet) Futurespaces offers live webinars and in-person tours that provide valuable insights into the creative process of creating contemporary experiences.
About Near Future Laboratory
Near Future Laboratory is the creative design, innovation, technology and strategy studio that pioneered the grounded futures practice known as Design Fiction.
It was founded by Julian Bleecker, BSEE, MSEng, Ph.D. Near Future Laboratory has empowered some of the world's largest and most forward-thinking organizations to make sense of and respond to the chaotic dynamics of the uncertain emerging technology environments in which they operate.
About Dream Logic
Dream Logic is a slow video series exploring the shifting horizons of creative work, beginning with generative AI.
It was created by Kirby Ferguson and Karin Fyhrie. Ferguson is a filmmaker and consultant who has worked with Google, The New York Times, and Bloomberg. Fyhrie is a Brand and Innovation Consultant previously at IDEO, Collins, and Google Creative Lab.