How can we create the futures ?

I would like to make few steps back and 'dig out' few things. In the first lecture, we were talking about futures perspectivities. What is it? How we - as designers can shape it and respond to change. What is and what could be?

‘The future” cannot be “predicted,” but “preferred futures” can and should be envisioned, invented, so implemented, continuously evaluated, revised, and re-envisioned.’

- Jim Dator

How do we anticipate, envisage, visualize and assess possible futures and realize it? OMG, what's more? I had a feeling that I have just crashed into something. I've never considered before that there are such essential questions I have (as a designer) to face. We all know that feeling - there's something always comes around the corner and just gets you. I have been standing there for "some time." That's why I have just realized it is the time to find out my design values and areas I want to achieve. Ok, ok I flew too high let's back to the classroom where we were shown how to look into futures through (for example) the Future Cone! ​It helps to define (our own) why, how and what.....

What is it the Future Cone?

In other words, it is a concept (created by Joseph Voros) of 4xP: possible, plausible, probable, and preferred futures scenarios which are divided into four sections:

POSSIBLE FUTURES - could happen, but it's hard to define it precisely because it contains areas of knowledge that we haven't known yet.

PLAUSIBLE FUTURES - could even happen today. They come from our present understanding of environment (physical law, processes, systems, and interactions).

PROBABLE FUTURES - are likely to happen in response to current trends.

PREFERABLE FUTURES - here, we influence on shaping it. They are desirable and mostly based on emotional factors.

For sure it will keep my eyes open to discovering, defining, developing and delivering my futures (nod to the Double Diamond approach).

“The future depends on what you do today.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

First meeting with "GDF" pushed forward my way of thinking. I mean - it put together some ideas and showed new methodology (for me). I realized that I should try to build on it, not just on my ideas and dreams written on a sheet of white paper. Additionally, book "Design Research Through Practice - from the lab, field, and showroom" inspired me to keep in mind that research included planning, doing, reason and action shouldn't be separated. It gave my enthusiasm, and sympathy for social integration in urban projects, workshops and city initiatives a shot in the arm. I love taking part in such events, and I firmly believe that designers take great responsibility as well they play a significant role and have an influence on social changes. Combining all soon will be a time for: "make prototypes, products, and models to codify their own understanding of a particular situation and to provide a concrete framing of the problem and a description of a proposed, preferred state....". (Sounds like constructive design :)) Let's see what happen!

Have a great and sunny Sunday!