The capability for humans to perform mental time travel distinguishes us from almost all other beings; we’re able to look backwards and recollect specific past events as well as forward to imagine alternative, possible futures. Most of our futures are tangible and low stakes – What am I going to eat for dinner? What does my work day look like tomorrow? What am I going to buy Mum and Dad for Christmas? These personal futures are straightforward and usually unconsidered; a linear thought process so familiar as to render it almost invisible. 

Other futures, however, have much higher stakes and implications beyond the individual. What might future economies look like? What will happen when the natural resources we rely on become depleted? How will technology change how we receive and experience healthcare? Future studies experts from both academia and industry use sophisticated tools and models to attempt to map out the future, predict, pin it down and ‘conquer’ it. The reality is, however, that these kinds of futures cannot be so easily explored with these linear mental models.

These design fictions enable us to experience a glimpse of a possible future service experience through someone else’s eyes – through their individual ontology – and help us to begin to develop a shared understanding of what the future might be like. 

Click on each of the tiles below to download each edition of the design fictions.