Beyond Fiction | S1E1 | Jens Martin Skibsted | Designing the Future

What if the future of our cities isn't flying cars—but better bicycles?

In the very first episode of the Alternate Futures: Beyond Fiction series, I sit down with designer, entrepreneur, and future thinker Jens Martin Skibsted to explore how thoughtful design can reshape the way we live, move, and build tomorrow's world.

As founder of Biomega, former Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Design and Innovation, member of the Global Futures Council on Entrepreneurship, and a leading voice in sustainable mobility, Jens Martin has spent decades turning bold ideas into reality. From creating an entirely new category of designer bicycles to helping shape international conversations about innovation, entrepreneurship, and urban futures, his perspective bridges practical experience with long-term thinking.

Together we discuss what really happens inside the World Economic Forum's think tanks, why bicycles may have a far bigger role in the future than most people realise, how cities can become healthier and more liveable, why autonomous cars may not solve congestion after all, and how design thinking can help tackle some of society's biggest challenges. Along the way, Jens Martin also reflects on balancing career success with family, the surprising story behind Biomega, and why one of his few regrets is simply that he "didn't dance enough."

Yes there are still the Big Questions.

Books of his we discuss: Expand, Stretching the Future by Design

https://biomega.co/

alternatefutures.substack.com

alternatefutures.co.uk