Member Spotlight: Futurehaus

We caught up with Javier Otero, Founder of Futurehaus and a Workbox – West Loop Member, to learn more about his company’s mission, how Futurehaus is utilizing their private workspace at Workbox, and their plans for 2025. 

Tell us a little about your company!

Futurehaus is a creative studio where imagination meets strategy. We craft experiences that merge digital and physical worlds, transforming how people perceive and engage with brands. Every touchpoint – whether it’s a multi-platform digital campaign, interactive signage, an experiential installation, a strategic vision deck, or beyond – is a moment to provoke thought, inspire wonder, and connect people to brands in a profound way. We are a studio for those who dare to imagine a world transformed by design.

What is your company’s mission, and what problem are you working to solve?

Our mission is to create designs that inspire, connect, and elevate. ​​We see design as a tool for solving the most fundamental problem of all: how do we create meaning in an increasingly fragmented world?

In a landscape filled with noise, conventional creative studios often focus on making things look good or work better. At Futurehaus, we go further. By bridging the gaps between brands and their audiences, ideas and execution, technology and humanity, we tackle the problem of disconnection. Every project is an exploration into how we can build something that doesn’t just stand out but stands for something.

What do you love most about what you do?

The most rewarding part of our work is the journey from idea to reality. There’s a thrill in navigating complex concepts and finding that “aha!” moment where everything clicks.

I thrive on the challenge of creating work that transcends the ordinary and speaks to people on a visceral level. It’s in the intersection of creativity, technology, and the unknown where I feel most alive, where we find the magic to connect seemingly unrelated elements and amplify how technology can be used as a canvas for the artistic expression of a brand’s identity.

Do you have any recent company news, awards, or milestones you are proud of?

Futurehaus hosted our first Webby Talks series recently, right here at Workbox’s Fulton Market location, and this marks a significant milestone for us. We were invited by the Webby Awards team, and this invitation is a recognition of our role as a thought leader in our industry. This moment captures the studio’s evolution from a talented team of creators to a platform for bold ideas and new ways of thinking.

In addition, last month I was inducted as an Executive Member and Juror of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), the esteemed organization behind the Webby, Anthem, and Lovie Awards, guiding the future of the internet since 1998. This personal milestone is especially meaningful as it ties back to when I first designed, coded, and launched my own website as a teenager, just one year after the Academy’s founding.

We also won an Anthem Award, for the third consecutive year, for our 20,000 Acts of Service marketing campaign work with the Pat Tillman Foundation. Learn more about the project on the Anthem Awards website here.

What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Workbox Community?

Being part of the Workbox Community feels like we’re at the heart of innovation in Chicago. There’s a palpable sense of possibility here, where every conversation is an opportunity to exchange ideas and every interaction has the potential to spark something new.

The community is filled with creators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers who push us to explore what’s possible and inspires our own growth. I most enjoy being around these folks, where chance encounters lead to big ideas.

At Workbox, our mission has always been about Member Success. What does success mean to you?

For us, success is about impact. It means challenging ourselves to explore new territory, to innovate beyond what’s expected, and to leave a lasting impression through the experiences we create.

When our clients, collaborators, and community thrive because of what we’ve built together, we know we’ve succeeded. We focus on what changes after we’ve launched, and we instill the importance of working together to advance how people understand brands in a way that uniquely cuts through the noise.

What’s next for your company? Is there anything you’re currently working on that you’d like to share?

Futurehaus is continuing our journey of growth, and we’ve been thrilled to expand beyond the local and national stage, taking our work to an international level. Currently, we’re working with several clients in Barbados, the U.K., and Africa. There are a few projects launching in early 2025 that we can’t wait to share with the world. So stay tuned!

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about your company?

One thing people might not know about Futurehaus is that we approach every project with what we call a ‘multi-layered lens.’ While most studios operate with a primary goal of solving the immediate problem of isolating their services to a set of specialized offerings (think Dev Shop or Brand Agency), we dive deeper to uncover the external dynamics at play, and with cross-disciplinary expertise, we offer a one-stop shop for strategy, design, and technology. Our holistic approach was invented by us and exists nowhere else.

Our work starts with prioritizing your deeper goals. Beyond the “what,” we ask “why.” This approach allows us to design experiences that leave a lasting impression. Our process reveals the bigger picture, allowing us to craft messages and visuals that authentically connect with audiences across the globe.

It’s this deep level of exploration, expertise, and artistry that sets us apart. We want people to know that when they work with us, they’re partnering with a studio that becomes a thought partner so their brand thrives well into the future.

To learn more about Futurehaus and all the great things they’re up to, visit www.futurehaus.studio