Speaking
Hanna Norlin is a design leader and speaker working at the intersection of futures, imagination, and action.
Who this is for
My speaking is a good fit for audiences who:
Work with shaping systems, products, or organizations
Feel the tension between urgency and overwhelm
Want inspiration that is intellectually honest and emotionally resonant
Believe the future can be better — but know it will take work
Formats include keynotes, conference talks, and facilitated sessions, tailored to the audience and context.
Get in touch.
I speak about the future — not as something abstract or distant, but as something we are already shaping through our choices, designs, and decisions.
My talks explore how we imagine what’s possible, why so many futures feel broken or inevitable, and how we can reclaim agency in times of uncertainty. I combine speculative design, systems thinking, and lived experience from product development, leadership, and teaching to help audiences think differently about what comes next — and their role in shaping it.
I’ve spoken at international conferences, design and product events, and educational settings, addressing audiences of designers, leaders, and future-curious practitioners. My talks are known for being both hopeful and grounded: optimistic without being naive, critical without being cynical.
What I speak about
My speaking often centers on themes such as:
Why better futures are possible — and why they don’t happen by accident
Utopia as a practical design exercise, not an unrealistic fantasy
How imagination shapes systems, products, and cultures
Acting with urgency and optimism in complex, uncertain times
The responsibility designers, technologists, and leaders carry — whether they claim it or not
The underlying message is simple but demanding:
A better future is not guaranteed — but it is available, if we choose to work for it.
From imagination to action
My talks are not about prediction or trend-spotting. They are about expanding what feels possible, creating shared language, and reconnecting people with their ability to act.
Audiences often describe leaving with:
A clearer sense of agency
New ways of framing challenges
Permission to imagine more ambitious futures
Motivation grounded in responsibility, not hype
I aim to inspire action — not by offering easy answers, but by helping people see their own influence more clearly and equipping them with tangible actions they can take right now.
Because the future is shaped by what we choose to pay attention to, what we design, and what we dare to believe is possible.
