⁂ STRATEGIC FORESIGHT PRACTITIONER, FUTURES DESIGNER
✐ INDUSTRIAL, PRODUCT, GRAPHIC, SERVICE, CONCEPT
♖ DESIGN FUTURIST, DESIGN STRATEGIST
❅ AVAILABLE GLOBALLY
ALLÔ! I’M RACHELLE, A ⁂ FUTURIST, ✐ DESIGNER, AND ♖ INNOVATION CONSULTANT WORKING FROM ❅ CALGARY.
What do i do?
I SPECIALIZE IN futures research & product DESIGN, framing INNOVATIVE PERSPECTIVES, AND DEVELOPING THESE INTO TANGIBLE PRODUCTS.
Short & Sweet
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I primarily operate at the intersection of physical industrial (product) design and research (foresight and design research) though you’ll also find me dabbling in digital design. I’m a futurist that brings rigour and imagination to the exploration of future possibilities, then identifies and develops new products, services, or businesses that could exist in those futures.
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I completed by Bachelor’s of Design at the University of Alberta, with a year abroad spent at the Fachhochschule Münster and at the Köln International School of Design (both in Germany). I later completed my Master’s of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation at OCAD University in Toronto. I’m always augmenting my knowledge through online courses too.
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I’d say my “je ne sais quoi” is my ability to seamlessly blend design principles and a strong art direction/aesthetic with detailed research and strong insights. I’m a highly critical thinker that thinks through many details at once, bringing speed, perspective, and novelty to projects.
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Well that’s an easy one — I cycle! I like to spend time on two wheels, taking in the scenery and pushing my body to the extremes. Besides that I’m always creating something or more often than not, exploring the world through digital mediums (hello GeoGuessr).
THE LONG HAUL
Rachelle Bugeaud is a foresight strategist and designer. She has a depth of experience directing and completing futures work, coming up with imaginative product and business concepts, and prototyping them into reality. She has collaborated with clients across the private and public sector including venture studios in Silicon Valley, Stanford University, federal departments, and large scale furniture manufacturers. She has exhibited her artworks and designs locally and internationally.
Her work is motivated by creativity and imagination — and you’ll often find her letting her curiosity investigate pockets of opportunities and speculations. Her design philosophy is informed by a mindful use of resources, minimal fabrication processes, and a sophistication of form and aesthetics. Finally, as a critical thinker, she simply can’t bring herself to waste time and materials creating something that won’t bring significant value to the world.
She has completed a Bachelor’s of Design and a Master’s of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation, with both degrees enabling her to merge design processes and manufacturing techniques with those of foresight, futures, and systems in order to uncover and develop disruptive, unusual, and/or imaginative innovation pathways.
Take for example her award winning Master Research Project entitled Re:Remote Work which outlined the possible futures of remote work two years before the pandemic and spawned a unique business proposition which was developed as a (since paused) startup.
When not engaging in design, futures, or innovation work, you can likely find Rachelle pedalling around on two wheels. As a competitive cyclist and year-round commuter, she simply can’t get enough of the fresh air, scenic vistas, and deep burn in her quads. She’s always more than happy to nerd out on history, urban spaces, design, and borderline useless facts - try it out.
