Cultural Foresight Masterclass

December 2 - On site in Copenhagen
Join us for a Cultural Foresight Masterclass led by Matt Klein, cultural theorist, strategist and founder of ZINE, a sensemaking thinktank. Matt is Head of Foresight at Reddit and advises brands, non-profits, philanthropies, investors and the media on making sense of social change.

Trend reports have never been more abundant, yet reliable methods for understanding cultural change have rarely been more elusive. This masterclass introduces cultural foresight as a disciplined practice of interpreting changing meanings, values, behaviours and narratives to better understand emerging futures.

Rather than treating trends as predictions, this course approaches them as questions that help us explore emerging possibilities. Participants will learn how to distinguish genuine social change from passing attention, develop stronger cultural judgement, and understand how organisations can engage with culture responsibly rather than simply react to it.

Hundreds of trend reports are published every year, yet relatively few explain how their conclusions were reached. The result is often hype, disguised as insight. Participants will leave with practical frameworks for distinguishing 'trending' from trends and signal from noise. The course centres human and cultural understanding over technological hype and treats culture as something we actively shape as much as something we study.

Combine this course with our course in Applied Strategic Foresight (December 3-4) to extend your learning journey to 3 consecutive days.

We are happy to offer a 20% discount on the ASF-course if you choose to combine the two. Contact us at courses@cifs.dk to bundle the courses and unlock the discount.

Who is this for?

This masterclass is designed for foresight practitioners, strategists, communicators, researchers, brand and innovation leaders, and anyone whose work depends on interpreting social change. It is particularly suited to those who are sceptical of crystal-ball futurism and want a more rigorous approach to understanding culture as a strategic capability.

What will you learn on the course?

  • Develop a working definition of culture, trends and signals
  • Learn frameworks for distinguishing substantive shifts from 'junk-food change'
  • Evaluate trend reports through methodology, geographic representation, reflexivity and commercial bias
  • Develop the habits of observation and interpretation that underpin cultural foresight, including the discipline of productive ignorance
  • Apply the drivers-and-implications method to assess whether a cultural shift warrants strategic action
  • A POV on what is actually shifting in culture right now, drawn from Matt's own reporting
  • Understand how Preferred Futures thinking reframes the strategist's role from forecasting to actively shaping the future

Course modules

Defining the Terrain: What is culture? What is a trend? What is a signal? Explore why much of today's trend industry mistakes observation for insight, why foresight is less about prediction than about recognising opportunities, and why trends are better understood as questions than as answers.

Training the Eye: Develop practical habits of cultural noticing through immersion, observation and intentionally curating your information environment. Paired with its opposite: productive ignorance, and how to build tolerance for skipping material without losing your edge.

The META Method A walk-through of Matt's annual analysis of the trend industry itself - what's broken in how culture is currently studied. For each shift, participants will unpack drivers, implications, and the strategic question: respond, resist, or ignore?

Preferred Futures & Foresight as Stewardship The closing turn from observer to participant. How organizations seed the futures they want, responsibly. The blurry line between forecasting and trend laundering, why armchair oracles never score, and what it looks like to become a steward of culture rather than a steward of the KPI.

Participants will leave with practical methods for interpreting cultural change, greater confidence in distinguishing enduring shifts from passing noise, and a deeper understanding of how cultural foresight can inform better strategy and help shape preferred futures.

Seats are intentionally limited to encourage deeper discussion, candid critique of participants' own work, and direct engagement with Matt throughout the masterclass.

Where and how does the course take place?

The course takes place over one full day at our location in Copenhagen on December 2nd.

To create the best possible learning environment, places are limited. We therefore recommend registering early, as courses often reach capacity and additional participants are placed on a waiting list.

Price

EUR 1.350 (+ 25% VAT)

Dates Available

December 2, 2026
Sign Up

Location and Time

BLOXHUB · Bryghuspladsen 8 · Copenhagen
9.00-17.00 Local Time

Our Masterclass Series

This masterclass is part of our recurring CIFS Masterclass Series – a curated series of deep-dive sessions featuring some of the leading voices, thinkers and practitioners from across the futures & foresight field. Each masterclass offers an exclusive learning experience, bringing forward distinctive practices, perspectives, and frameworks that reflect the rich diversity of approaches within the futures field.

In case of cancellation or changes to your registration, please read our course cancellation and payment policy.

Please note that full payment must be received no later than 14 days prior to the course start date. CIFS reserves the right to cancel registrations in the event of non-payment.

Please note we charge Danish VAT
You may as a foreign organisation, however, subsequently claim refund of the VAT from the tax authorities.

For more details on our courses contact courses@cifs.dk

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which course is right for me?

Our courses are independent and can be combined or attended in any order. They dive into different aspects of futures thinking and foresight and are continually evolving to keep up with advances in foresight. You can find the learning outcomes listed under each course, which may help you compare their focus areas. If you are still in doubt, feel free to reach out to us.

Does course participation require specific prior knowledge?

No. The courses are designed to be accessible whether you are new to foresight or already familiar with it - as long as you are prepared to learn and actively engage. Each course provides the necessary theoretical foundation to support the workshop activities, ensuring that everyone can follow along.

For those new to the field, the courses provide a wholistic and solid foundation of the topic, which aim to cultivate a mindset that embraces uncertainty as a resource and challenge conventional thinking. Meanwhile participants already familiar with aspects of foresight and futures thinking may build upon and expand their existing skillsets through new tools, practical applications, and gain new perspectives through discussions.

How often will I receive communication from CIFS?  

You will hear from us three times:

1 - After signing up - You will receive a confirmation email from no-reply@event.it with further practical information about the course.

2 - One week before the course - You will receive course details and any preparatory materials. No additional preparation is required unless otherwise specified.

3 - After the course - You will receive the course slides and other relevant content.

When will I receive preparatory materials?  

One week prior to the course you will receive an email from us with preparatory materials. Please put aside approximately 1 hour to read and digest the information.  

How quickly can I expect a response to my inquiry?

Upon inquiry at courses@cifs.dk, you can expect to hear back from us within 3–5 working days. We aim to respond on a day-to-day basis outside peak periods.

Do you provide hotel recommendations?

We have agreements with selected nearby hotels that offer course participants a 10-15% discount. Details hereof are included in your order confirmation email.

Please note that the discounts are already embedded in the booking links provided. This means the reduced price is automatically applied when you book through these.

Do you still have available seats at the course?

When reaching the maximum capacity of course seats, the course will figure as 'Sold Out' at the website and it will no longer be possible to sign up. So if this is not the case, then there are still available seats.

Do you provide discounts?

Yes, you may be eligible for discounts if:

- You are a student or an NGO employee and the course is determined of significant relevance to your work or studies - please contact us to discuss your options.

- You are a Futures Partner, as this entitles you to two complimentary seats on one of our popular courses. Learn more about becoming a Futures Partner here.

- If the above categories do not apply to you, but you would like to hear more about discounts then please write to us at courses@cifs.dk

What should I do if my VAT number is not accepted during registration?

First, make sure you have selected the correct country. Then check that your VAT number contains only digits and does not include the country code.  

If this is not the issue, please reach out to us for assistance.

Example: If your VAT number is DK24983528, select Denmark as the country and enter only 24983528 in the VAT number field.

How do I register if my organisation is VAT excempt?

Please reach out to us with your company and participant information.  

What do I do if I am unable to attend the course?

If you are unable to attend due to unexpected circumstances, reach out to us and you may transfer your seat:

- More than one (1) month before the course: to a later course date (subject to availability).

- Less than one (1) month before the course: to another person within your organisation.

Is the course refundable?

Course registration is binding, and purchases are generally non-refundable due to limited seats in each course.  

However, we understand that unexpected circumstances can arise. Refunds can be granted only in exceptional circumstances at our discretion, but administrative fees are not refundable.

What other courses do we offer?

Applied Strategic Foresight
Copenhagen
Sep 24 - 25 (SOLD OUT) | Oct 22 - 23 | Nov 12 - 13 | Dec 3 - 4
Learn how to bring futures thinking and foresight into strategy with an intensive and hands-on course in an engaging on-site learning environment. A popular choice for decision-makers, innovation managers, strategic planners, and people who want to get a head-start working strategically with the future.

Applied Strategic Foresight
Paris (hosted by axa foresight)
Nov 9 - 10
This time we are coming to Paris!

Learn how to bring futures thinking and foresight into strategy with an intensive and hands-on course in an engaging on-site learning environment. A popular choice for decision-makers, innovation managers, strategic planners, and people who want to get a head-start working strategically with the future.
Strategize like a Futurist
online with hyper island
Oct. 28 - Dec. 2 (six weeks)
Learn how to bring futures thinking and foresight into strategy through a six-week online learning journey with weekly live sessions, asynchronous group work, and individual exercises.

In collaboration with our partners at Hyper Island.
Futures and Foresight with AI (On-site)
Copenhagen
October 8 - 9
Explore how AI is beginning to reshape the practice of futures and foresight. Rather than treating AI simply as a tool for efficiency, the course examines deeper questions about how we perceive, imagine, plan, and innovate in relation to the future. It is an exploratory and participatory learning journey into what foresight becomes in an AI-mediated reality.