Riley McCullough

What Program did you graduate from and when?

M.Des - Strategic Foresight and Innovation (SFI), December 2019

What is your current title or role? (e.g. freelance designer, art practitioner, etc.)

Freelance Foresight and Service Design Consultant

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?

The SFI program at OCAD U is the only program of its kind in Canada and one of the only one of its kind in North America. I was attracted to the fact that it was housed in an art and design school rather than a business school. Being able to bring a sense of creativity and a purpose-driven focus to my work was something that was really important to me.

Please briefly describe your current job/practice.

I’m currently working as a freelance foresight strategist and service designer. I get to work on a variety of projects, ranging from collecting trends that will impact the future of work to helping a major automotive company understand what a future smart city will look like. I’m currently interested in working on projects that focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Planetary Boundaries, and how we view success and growth as a society.

How did you get started in your career?

I’ve always felt that I wanted to contribute to the world in a positive way, but I wasn’t sure what that might look like. Before attending OCAD U, I studied architecture and environmental studies and worked in urban planning and policy development for the City of Toronto. I had a sense of frustration when it came to solving what I saw as problems in our cities and in society, such as inequality, gentrification, and environmental degradation. I was attracted to the SFI program at OCAD U because it would allow me to look at these problems in a futures-focused and systemic way.

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?

It’s different for everyone, but I am really passionate about taking on volunteer work when I can and for causes that I support. Earlier this year, I reduced my workload so that I could spend four months volunteering full-time on bushfire relief efforts in Australia. That said, don’t take on volunteer work as a way to get ahead - your work is valuable and most companies and organizations have the resources to pay for it.

What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

I love diving deep into problems and really uncovering what the root causes at play are. Research is so important and it's a great feeling when you can develop meaningful insights by looking at information in different ways and through different frameworks. I also get to work alongside and connect with some amazing people.

The most challenging part is finding new clients and projects to work on. I’ve been very lucky to have a supportive network and reliable jobs, but there is always that risk associated with freelancing.

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?

The program really helped change how I view the world, and I think that will continue to hold a presence in all my work moving forward. The community in the SFI program was really special; I’ve made some long-lasting friendships and have gotten to work on some professional projects with my classmates since graduating.

I was really involved while in school and tried a lot of different opportunities. This was good because I got exposed to a lot of different things, but I felt very burned out. I would recommend being mindful of your extracurriculars or job opportunities while in school - definitely engage with opportunities outside the classroom, but make sure they fit your goals.

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?

I’m working on being increasingly aware of the intentions behind my work and questioning why it is being done, who it is serving, who it is leaving out, and how it impacts societal and environmental conditions.

Most of my time right now is spent on building my network and making new connections. Networking is a great way to find future work opportunities, but I think it’s also really important to engage with people working in different industries or with different perspectives on issues. I moved to Australia right after finishing my degree, so I’m starting from the ground up with connections here.

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?

I’m hoping to connect with more socially and environmentally minded designers in the coming years. It would be great to collaborate on projects with designers around the world who share these ideals. I’m also interested in learning more about sustainable agricultural practices, and I am looking to spend some time learning about these first-hand on farms in Australia.