The Futureproof Series.
Postcards
From the Future.
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Futureproof Series
Postcards From the Future
As part of designbivouac’s Futureproof Series, this collection offers a set of visual explorations and concise narratives designed to spark conversation, challenge assumptions, and inspire strategic thinking about what lies ahead.
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
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Methodology
Futurecasting is a creative process where designers explore various social, cultural, economic, political, and ecological factors to envision potential futures. Rather than predicting the future with certainty, futurecasting focuses on imagining possible and preferable scenarios that inform long-term strategies. It helps businesses understand the forces shaping the future, anticipate changes, and create proactive strategies. Preferable futures align technology with human needs while ensuring sustainability from a planetary perspective.
“The best way to predict the future is to design it.”
Frameworks
The Futureproof: Postcards From the Future series draws on frameworks, such as Joseph Voros’s Futures Cone and backcasting, to guide its exploration. By working backward from a desirable future state to our current reality, backcasting helps identify the necessary conditions to achieve a preferred vision. The aim is to encourage thoughtful consideration of our shared future and inspire active participation in shaping it.
Visual and Narrative Approach
The series' visual approach integrates AI tools into the creative process, blending visuals with written narratives that evolve organically as each postcard from the future takes form. The series is designed to inspire deeper reflection on the necessary actions to make our collective preferred future a reality.
Retro/Future Electrics
I was blown away last year when I discovered that a YM-RX10 body kit—the new design that references the iconic RX7 from the 1980s—was finally available in electric form. What once felt like a dream reserved for concept art and fan forums is now a reality, thanks to Yutani Mobility. Yutani Mobility has ushered in a new era of personalized transportation with its customizable retro body kits, which are mated seamlessly to the latest modular electric vehicle chassis.
Future Narrative
I was blown away last year when I discovered that a YM-RX10 body kit—the new design that references the iconic RX7 from the 1980s—was finally available in electric form. What once felt like a dream reserved for concept art and fan forums is now a reality, thanks to Yutani Mobility. Yutani Mobility has ushered in a new era of personalized transportation with its customizable retro body kits, which are mated seamlessly to the latest modular electric vehicle chassis. Want an ‘80s street racer look with 2030s tech under the hood? No problem. Prefer a sleek ‘70s touring coupe with modern-day range and autonomy? They’ve got you. The road ahead just got a lot cooler!
The on-demand service is impressive. Cost and turnaround times are surprisingly reasonable, especially considering the level of customization involved. This isn’t slow, bespoke coachbuilding—it’s high-tech, scalable design. Yutani’s assembly process leans heavily on the “unboxed” manufacturing revolution that started reshaping the industry in the mid-2020s, eliminating traditional production constraints in favor of modular, decentralized build systems.
The result? The best of both worlds. Timeless aesthetics. Cutting-edge performance. And a whole new way to connect with the car culture of the past—without sacrificing the clean, efficient mobility of the future.
Last month, I took my electric YM-RX10 to a local track day. This wasn’t just a nostalgia trip but a full-on, future-forward experience. The YM-RX10, with its classic lines and fully modern internals, handled the circuit like it was born for it. Crisp cornering, confident acceleration, and silent power—it felt like piloting the soul of an ‘80s icon with the brain of a 2035 supercar.
What stood out, though, was how many others were doing the same thing. I met a fellow enthusiast who had just taken delivery of a fully electrified Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta Model 2038, lovingly updated by Weyland Mobility Group. He was just as passionate about '80s GM designs as I am about early Mazdas. His Berlinetta 2038 kept all the right visual cues from the original—sleek, angular lines with a refreshed, aggressive stance. It was instantly recognizable but unmistakably next-gen.
We ran laps together all afternoon. My YM-RX10, equipped with advanced AI-assisted torque vectoring and adaptive traction control, held tight in the technical sections. His Berlinetta, sporting a larger battery pack and superior straight-line performance, passed me more than once on the back straight. Both vehicles featured Level 5 autonomous capabilities, though we left the driving to our reflexes that day—because some things, like a good corner, are best experienced the old-fashioned way.
By the end of the day, we both agreed: these made-to-order electric classics aren’t just a gimmick. They represent a new golden age of mobility, where past and future don’t compete; they collaborate. It’s a future where your dream car doesn’t have to stay in the past.
Futureproof: Next-Gen Jalopies
Improving the performance of that first car has been a time-honored tradition amongst auto enthusiasts. What does the future hold for weekend garage projects as we move into the new era of electric-powered automobility? Will the focus be on power, efficiency, torque, range extension, or perhaps all of the above? And with the right to repair access disputed by some electric vehicle manufacturers, will this even be possible? What does safe electric vehicle modification look like in the 21st century?
Future Narrative
It finally happened. I got my first car! Working with Dad on it last Saturday was great. We audited all the electronics and created an upgrade plan together. That was half the fun. The range is significantly lower now, considering this vehicle is a 2021 model with 274,000 miles on the odometer. Mechanically, it is sound. The body is in great shape and has a wrap on it, so the paint looks amazing. Still, we’ve got to do something about the range. While we are at it, I would love to boost the power.
Deak and Dan Jardigan are among a growing number of families worldwide who are learning how to maintain and modify electric vehicles at home safely.
The prior owner had planned to donate the battery pack to the Second Life Auxiliary Battery (SLAB) program, repurposing it as a home energy backup battery. Dad and I have some other ideas. I am looking forward to this project. It makes the things I learned in my electronics class much more relevant and tangible.
In March, we installed a Stage 1 Tesla Performance Enhancement Pack (PEP Pack), which restored the vehicle's original range.
We added the FLUX Performance Enhancement Pack (Grey Market PEP Pack) in August, dramatically enhancing acceleration.
A Tesla FLUX (Functional Line Upgrade-X) vehicle modification safety interface module is shown. This product has proven to be a gateway for next-generation electric vehicle modifiers.
Implications
Improving the performance of that first car has been a time-honored tradition amongst auto enthusiasts. What does the future hold for weekend garage projects as we move into the new era of electric-powered automobility? Will the focus be on power, efficiency, torque, range extension, or perhaps all of the above? And with the right to repair access disputed by some electric vehicle manufacturers, will this even be possible? What does safe electric vehicle modification look like in the 21st century? What do OEM and third-party aftermarkets for electric vehicles look like? Will it be a spin-off SEMA community or be more like a new “home-brew” type of group from the early days when Jobs and Wozniak worked together?
Related Links
www.unpluggedperformance.com/
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.