Both Bosch and Ward present the idea that design is about forward looking; about changing what is, to what can be. It holds a futuristic purpose, emphasised clearly in Matthew Ward’s reading, which affirms,
“Design as a practice never exists in the here and now. Whether a week, month, year, or decade away, designers produce propositions for a world that is yet to exist” I thought this was a particularly interesting notion- that our current day and age designs not for the purposes of right now, but for a time that is not yet known; a futuristic time. Possibilities are therefore endless. There mustn’t be a limit or cap to imagination in relation to design.
So, what is this coined term known as “Design Fiction”?
According to Bruce Sterling, it is a method using in design research and practice; a contemporary form of forward-thinking intervention. Interestingly, he mentions that its purpose is to seize public attention and to affect future thinking of viewers.
I guess in today’s day and age, we are surrounded by innovation and forward-thinking. Just look at how far the Apple iPhone has come in terms of technology and design, compared to the Nokia brick phones that are only memorable for the game of ‘snake’. We are living in a world where aesthetic originality is difficult to comprehend. We are constantly building upon our past, bettering upon it, creating, designing and innovating, remixing. We reference, borrow and quote from the past to create change for the future.
What’s next?