The ideology of the future in design fictions

Abstract

The production of fictions within the design field are not disinterested speculations about distant futures, but intentional political actions in the present time. Fictions can entertain as much as cause social friction. This article discusses three sources of design fictions: a global information technology company; an art school in the UK; and a design institute in Brazil. By contrasting the three cases in light of the philosophical work of Á lvaro Vieira Pinto, this article deconstructs the ideology of the future-futurology-and proposes acting in the present-handiness-to sketch an ideology of liberation. Instead of supporting the status quo, such ideology could inspire collective action for change. The practices from the three aforementioned sources are discussed to lay the foundations for such ideology of liberation in design fictions.

Speculative method in digital education research

“…Auger (2013) is optimistic that thinking through these issues can lead to generative approaches: 'contemplation on speculative design is not only to encourage the technological future but can also provide a system for analysing, critiquing and re-thinking contemporary technology' (12). The politics of 'futurology', however, come under scrutiny by Gonzatto et al (2013), who describe design fictions as 'not just an uncommitted exercise of creativity; they come from the interest of someone who acts on the present social order' (40). Design fictions are not 'mere speculation' (Gonzatto et al 2013) because visions of the future generate effects in the present.…”

“…The politics of 'futurology', however, come under scrutiny by Gonzatto et al (2013), who describe design fictions as 'not just an uncommitted exercise of creativity; they come from the interest of someone who acts on the present social order' (40). Design fictions are not 'mere speculation' (Gonzatto et al 2013) because visions of the future generate effects in the present. The temporalities of speculative method and design are therefore unstable and interwoven.…”

The future of computing and wisdom: Insights from Human–Computer Interaction

“…Time was a naturally recurring point of discussion. Fictional abstracts are artefacts unstuck in time, situated in diverse futures, hinting at different pasts to come (Lundgren & McCloud 2042, Geinhaust 2050, Picard & Xavier 2064 ), yet built out of the anxieties of the present 7 (Gonzatto et al 2013). In reflection of how wise we are today, Pargman (T) asks "how do people who live in 1968 perceive us?…”

Prototyping a Useless Design Practice: What, Why & How?

“…This is a story about how future tech fixes our problems of today. In essence it is a depiction of a future with no changes beyond new gadgets, a slightly better resolution and more RAM (Gonzatto et al, 2013). Similarly, in the construction of Songhdo International Business District in Seoul, South Korea, Cisco paints the following picture of the smart city of the future:…”

“…theoretical grounding (Bardzell & Bardzell, 2013), feminism (Prado de O. Martins, 2014) and Eurocentrism, orthodoxy and naïvity (Gonzatto et al, 2013). As we shall soon discover a similar kind of "discursive (de)construct(ion)" exists within the useless vs. useful.…”