The future of the present has one imperative: less things, more thought. Sociologist, men of culture, the media are all saying it, and above all architects and designers, forced by the recent crisis to rethink modes of renewal and find new directions for research. This is what emerged from Interni Design Thinking (September 2009), and what is discussed in this issue entitled Think Tank, which picks up the concept of the event we produced at the Università degli Studi of Milan on the theme of the near future of design. Now that the Zeroes are over, with all their difficulties, a common need appears to share new values that will add some depth to our lives. To rediscover the essence of things, to become more selective and to focus only on stimulating, thought-provoking experiences. Because in the near future we will be less interesting in possessing, more interested in experiencing and reflecting. This is the shared meaning of the many different projects we present. The works of architecture make reference to precise models of interpretation of contemporary living: the theatrical spirit of Luigi Serafini, the rigorous model of Rodolfo Dordoni, the measured, sober luxury of Lazzarini Pickering, the pursuit of integration with nature of Michel Boucquillon. The design articles range from the latest inventions in the area of production technologies – the machine for ‘printing’ buildings with sand, and the ‘liquid wood’ that replaces plastic in traditional industrial processes – to the most recent projects of the best known international designers, like the domestic windmill by Philippe Starck and the recycled aluminium chair by Tokujin Yoshioka. What emerges is an interest in new everyday qualities, based on the use of all the senses, technology, respect for the environment and for life in general. Because respect can lead to beautiful things.