The readings for the coming class are all about design fiction.  Everything you create is designed to participate in a potential future, so logically it stands that being able to anticipate potentialities will inform your approach to both creative and professional practice.  The process of envisioning imagined futures and responding to them preemptively is a key concern of design fiction and may be something that our symposium participants may consider looking into before next class.

Essential Readings

Bosch, Torie. “Sci-Fi Writer Bruce Sterling Explains the Intriguing New Concept of Design Fiction.” Slate. Web. 29 July 2013. (PDF)

Ward,, Matthew. “Design Fiction as Pedagogic Practice.” Medium. Web. 29 July 2013. (PDF)

Bonus Readings

Grand, Simon, and Martin Wiedmer. “Design Fiction: A Method Toolbox for Design Research in a Complex World.” Proceedings of the Design Research Society Conference. 2010. (PDF)

EVA KNUTZ, THOMAS MARKUSSEN, and POUL RIND CHRISTENSEN. “The Role of Fiction in Experiments Within Design, Art & Architecture.” (PDF)

These are both very dense readings, so for your participation requirement (I know it says both) but you can check the box if you read only one.  If you do go for this option I’d like you to have a look at an extra reading that should be completed before class 2.2 a bit earlier.  It’s an extraordinarily influential mediation on the role of science both at the time when it was written and speculating on into the future.  Written in 1945 by Vannevar Bush (one of the key administrators of the Manhattan project, hence the somewhat melancholic tone) it should give you some indication of the value of design fiction.

Optional Reading (from 2.2)

Bush, Vannevar. “As We May Think.” The Atlantic July 1945. The Atlantic. Web. 19 July 2013. (PDF)