We all have an opportunity to shape our own future. Every single one of us Thinks, Acts and Votes, and every day we create a future that we choose.

Hi. My name's Amisha Ghadiali. In early 2010, as a way to initiate a new and creative conversation about politics and daily life, I set up Think Act Vote (?!X) a radical think tank that explores the new and creative ways we can and are shaping our future lives and communities.

Run by a powerhouse of volunteers and a vibrant community of collaborators and supporters, Think Act Vote (?!X) have spent the past two years asking thousands of individuals to think deeply about, and to believe in a future that they choose. Throughout this journey we have met some truly incredible people and heard thousands of dreams and fears about the future. And so, to capture some of this we're making a book all about the future and it's open to everyone to contribute thoughts and to get involved.

This is a collaborative book and we hope that the process of its creation will inform and inspire us, as it will others. So, please support us, talk to us and join in, in whatever way you can.

Thank you!

Amisha & the Think Act Vote team x
www.thinkactvote.org

The ?!X Story

It all started from a conversation with friends that presented a simple reality - when you flip an election on its head, it's really just about choosing a future. And with that Think Act Vote (?!X) was founded and immediately set out to playfully ask people that very question; What is the Future You Choose?

We started with a ballet box and asked hundreds of people to think about and vote for the future they choose. The most powerful of these futures have recently been visualised by over fifty amazing illustrators - we'll be revealing this incredible work in the new year. We ran a t-shirt design competition, judged by an esteemed creative panel, including Fashion Designer Katharine Hamnett, Social Entrepreneur Cyndi Rhoades and Stylish Illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve, and the winning design by Jesson Yip was lovingly made into t-shirts by ethical fashion superstars, Komodo. We then ran an event called ?!X Refashioned that saw leading ethical fashion designers Tara Starlet, Ada Zandtion, Beautiful Soul, Junky Styling and others design a one off piece and customisations for any one to do at home. And, with our travelling photobooth we've travelled to events and festivals across the country, including Vintage Goodwood and Latitude Festival and snapped hundreds of people in the ?!X t-shirts. 

In 2011 we launched our Futures Interviews series, asking people to share their chosen futures and some of the ways we can think, act and vote to create them. The Futures Interviews are continuing to fly into our inbox thick and fast, and we're publishing many interviews online every week. Whilst we're super excited about this we really don't want the older stories to be lost in a digital archive. We want to pause for a moment and capture some of the best responses we've had in a book, all about the future.

The Futures Book Project

In the book, insightful interview responses and stories will be presented alongside the work of visual artists, designers, illustrators and photographers, and will feature among some leading thought pieces.

We'll be challenging our design team to explore the most sustainable print methods and to add some equally exciting creative surprises too. And, with the help of our wonderfully inspiring printers we'll be researching some new eco-papers and making sure we're on track to produce something to inspire the future.

The final book will be published in Spring 2012 and will available to buy in limited edition. We're also planning to present both the project and book to the British Prime Minister and leading politicians, to raise awareness of a new collaborative and creative future.

The Funds

So, where's this money going? A large chunk of it will be sunk into production costs, and after that a smaller bit will be used to allow a small team to focus on it for a few months - writing, designing, producing and promoting it. The money will pay to print 1000 copies of a 200-page limited edition book, and cover some distribution costs. It will also cover a little brand refresh, to design and print some cool postcards, produce a DIY Futures toolkit, and will help toward a book launch event. And, there's a very small contingency to account for the crowd-funding fees and exchange rates.

Any additional money we raise will be going towards things like hiring a professional editor, invested in the launch events and marketing, and maybe a few surprises in the book as well. Anything significant will go toward paying a team to design and build a website for ?!X.

Exchange Rate
Please note that the $/£ exchange rate is based on 1.55, the average rate at time of campaign launch. Therefore the donation exchanges are estimations. ?!X are unable to do anything about the exchange rate conversions once donations are made.

The ?!X Impact & Press

In our first two years, Think Act Vote (?!X) has reached and empowered thousands of people, asking them to consider and to create their own futures. We've received some wonderful support from an array of high profile individuals too - check out what they've been saying about us, here. And, read some of our press coverage here too.

** January Donation SPECIAL! **  Win a chance to dine with TV Historian Dan & ?!X Friends

Everyone who backs us in December 2011 will be automatically entered into a special competition draw. In early January we will be selecting a winner at random to join us on 9th February 2012 for a wonderfully inspiring and unmissable ?!X Dinner in London, with some of our high profile supporters including TV Historian Dan Snow. Exciting stuff!

Other ways to help

There are countless other ways to get involved too, here's just a few ideas:

• Spread the word! Forward this page to friends, family and colleagues, post it on Facebook, Tweet it, Blog about your future and share our campaign video too. Send this to anyone who believes in a creative future!
• Share your future: Have you filled in your Futures Interview yet? Submit yours online at thinkactvote.org.
• Give time: Can you volunteer or donate your skills? We'd love that!
• Donate swag:  Does your company have something cool that we can give as perks for our funders?
• Get creative: On January 14th-15th 2012 we're holding Futures Project 36 - a 36hr event bringing together a community of artists, thinkers, actors, voters, poets, journalists and photographers to collaborate on a series of future related briefs. We're planning it now, but we promise - it's going to be creative and a lot of fun! Register on Eventbrite here if you'd like to take part, or email us at info@thinkactvote.org if you'd like to help us run it.
• Donate space: Do you have spare desk spaces, an empty corner in your office or a free studio where Think Act Vote's Futures Project team can work? We're on the look out for an inspiring London base :)
• Sponsor or partner with us: Do you work for or represent an organisation or project who are interested in partnering or sponsoring Think Act Vote? Please get in touch.

Get in touch

Want some more information, fancy a chat or want to discuss ways to get involved, email us at info@thinkactvote.org

Artwork Credits:

Campaign Image - Think Act Vote Paper Dolls, Holly Berry, www.hollyberryprojects.com

Photograph at Museum of Childhood/Dan Snow Quote - Maciej Groman, www.mgroman.co.uk

Photograph at Alternative Fashion Week/Chris Arnold Quote - Poulomi Basu, www.poulomibasu.com

Photograph at Vintage at Goodwood/Solitaire Townsend Quote - James Wick, www.jameswicksphoto.com

Photograph at Nozstock Festival/Kriss Akabussi Quote - Amisha Ghadiali, www.amisha.co.uk