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How to Act Today as a Future Ancestor
SIGNALS Creative Research No. 02 2026

The cover of SIGNALS Creative Research No.02 2026 The cover of SIGNALS Creative Research No.02 2026

The Creative Center published the English edition of SIGNALS Creative Research No. 02 2026 on December 21, 2025.

This trend report compiles the results of field research and interviews conducted by Sony designers and researchers from their unique perspectives, exploring the future of sustainability through creativity.

Recent research in the area of sustainability has shed light on the need to simultaneously pursue two seemingly contradictory approaches: taking a long-term perspective and acting immediately. To that end, we are investigating how to incorporate elements of sustainability in our daily activities in fun and effortless ways, and we thought the latest trends in creative activities might offer some valuable insights. For this report, we interviewed Brian Eno, a leading figure in the areas of ambient music and visual art and a long-time environmental activist, and Takeshi Yoro, an anatomist and a prolific author known for works such as Yui No Ron and Baka no Kabe, as well as other key persons. We also share various notable examples from around the world. Through our research, we arrived at one central perspective: "living 'today' as ancestors of future generations." With this as our underlying theme, we explore new viewpoints and creative practices related to sustainability.

As Sony's design team, the Creative Center is expanding our scope beyond products to cover entertainment, finance, mobility, and more. As a result, much of the design and branding work for Sony now falls within our domain. To provide sources of inspiration for these activities, every year, the Creative Center researches the latest societal trends, examining everything from the social landscape to public attitudes in order to develop insights and forecast future trends from a creative perspective, and distilling key insights that we share with the rest of the company.

SIGNALS Creative Research No. 01, which we published last year, presented for the first time the results and insights from our research to the general public, and attracted a lot of positive feedback. While the previous edition focused on transmedia entertainment, the latest edition delves into the topic of sustainability, exploring the role that design and creativity must play in an era of climate crisis and social division.

Working under Sony's Sustainability Vision to "inspire a world filled with emotion for this generation and beyond," Sony designers will continue to design a "narrative for a brighter future," together with everyone interested in creativity and sustainability.

Index

  • Introducing SIGNALS

  • A Long-Term Optimist
    Creativity Around the World Builds a Better Future

    Brian Eno × Daisuke Ishii

  • Feature
    How to Act Today as a Future Ancestor
    The Future of Sustainability through Creativity

  • Overview
    Think Like an Ancestor
    Three Paths to Acting as a Good "Future Ancestor"

  • Part 1: Whispers of the Invisible
    Recognizing Other Forms of Intelligence

    • Overview
      • Listening to the Silent Majority
    • Interview
      • Takeshi Yoro (Anatomist / Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo)
      • Marshmallow Laser Feast (Art Collective)
      • Lina Ghotmeh (Architect)
    • Case Studies
      • Superflux / Terreform ONE / Root for Nature / Inxects / Jiayu Liu's Still Garden #2 / Atelier LUMA / s.ap arkitektar / Sara Martinsen / Future Observatory / Miru Amami / Digital Art Zoo at Mahanakhon Oasis / Scarce City
    • Column
      • North America | Embracing Earth's Intelligence: Toward a Future of Multispecies Coexistence
         Simon Henning
      • Southeast Asia | Asian Cultures Offer Key to Sustainability
         Dave Lim

  • Part 2: Techno-logical Folklore
    Updating Folklore

    • Overview
      • Biodiversity Breeds Human Imagination
    • Interview
      • Melissa Weigel (Creative Director, Moment Factory Japan)
      • Mikio Tanaka (Mayor of Nanto, Toyama)
      • Terry Gunnell (Folklorist / Professor Emeritus, University of Iceland)
    • Case Studies
      • Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter / Kugali Media / Gagarín / Snowchange / Ling Cage / Woochi the Wayfarer / Never Alone 2 / Muddy Robots by Ronald Rael / The Wild Robot / Controlled Burn / ALAB Mountain and Sea Space
    • Column
      • Europe | Folklore Unlocks Wisdom for the Future
         Linda Lissola
      • China | The Young Generation Healed by Tech-Enhanced Mysticism
         Pop Zhang

  • Part 3: #FandomEarth
    Channeling the Power of Fandom

    • Overview
      • Fan Energy, Future Force
    • Interview
      • Dayeon Lee (Environmental Activist / Member, KPOP4PLANET)
      • Purpose (Creative Agency)
    • Case Studies
      • AIR CCCC / Wonderfruit Festival / Beijing Vertical Farm / Golden Goose’s Forward Store / Games for Change / Shaway Yeh / Shenzhen Sustainable Living Map / Good Energy / Algae × Hello Kitty / Saturnbird / Shanghai Greenhouse Garden
    • Column
      • Japan | A Future Driven by Oshikatsu
         Miki Nagatani
      • North America | Fandom That Moves Society
         Chai Yee Lam

  • Comic + Short Novel
    A Long Afternoon with the Dendrohood

      • Kawajiro (Manga)
      • Itsuki Tsukui (Short Story)

Publication Details
SIGNALS Creative Research No. 02 2026

Author
Creative Center,
Sony Group Corporation
Editorial assistance
WIRED Japan
Publication
Condé Nast Japan
Price
1,800 yen (1,636 yen + 10% tax)
Amazon link
https://amzn.asia/d/e8P6xzz
Zinio link
https://www.zinio.com/jp/publications/english-version-signals-creative-research/44681
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