Design Fiction

“When something is “designed” it suggests that there is some thoughtful exploration going on. Assuming design is about linking the imagination to its material form, when design is attached to something, like business or finance, we can take that to mean that there is some ambition to move beyond the existing ways of doing things, toward something that adheres to different principles and practices.”

Julian Bleecker. (2009). Design Fiction: A Short Essay on Design, Science, Fact, and Fiction. Near Future Laboratory.

Definition

Design fiction takes inspiration from fictional stories to spark novel ideas and imagine how those ideas would play out in the real world.

Context

Futuring

Procedure

1. A great method to think about a design fiction is to collect and analyze design exemplars. I have another profile which covers design exemplars, but the idea is to find inspiration in current technologies.

2. I also find it helpful to think about other types of design fiction in pop culture. TV shows like Black Mirror or movies like Back to the Future are great examples of what design fiction looks like.

3. Coming up with a future scenario can be difficult when starting from scratch. Drafting out the different elements to explore in the design fiction can give structure to the story. Creating a diegetic prototype and developing a relatable protagonist are two of the most important elements needed to imagine a narrative.

4. With plot elements decided, the best way to create design fiction is to just give it a try. Use whatever helps you express your story and bring it to life (sketching, writing, photography, etc.).

Use Case and Analysis

I tried to write a design fiction about a made up product called NewBand. NewBand is a fictional concept for a wearable wristband which communicates recommendations (where to eat, shop, hike, etc.) based on places the user has been.

An important trait of design fiction is to balance fact and fiction. In my story, I explore tensions that may arise from NewBand, such as how to address our fears over privacy. My story elements were inspired by current exemplars in smart and connected technologies. By grounding my story in reality, I allow the reader to relate to and accurately imagine this possible future product.