Study
Innovation & DesignRecentModerate effect

Evasion Design: A Framework for Future Scenario Exploration

Evasion design, when combined with speculative design methodologies, provides a structured approach for teams to explore, visualize, and foster public discourse around potential future scenarios.

Springer series in design and innovation · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01Evasion design can be a valuable tool for shaping future understanding and public discussion.
  • 02A hybrid approach combining evasion design and speculative design offers a robust framework for RTD.
  • 03Visual-based imagery and conceptual approaches are key to rethinking future narratives.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate principles of evasion design into speculative design processes to not only imagine futures but also to actively shape the values and narratives associated with them.

How to apply

When exploring future product concepts, consider how your design choices might subtly 'evade' certain undesirable futures and 'guide' towards preferred ones, and how to communicate these values.

Project actions

  • 01When developing future concepts, consider the ethical implications and the values your design promotes.
  • 02Use visual models and narratives to communicate your vision of a desired future.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop and test a framework combining evasion design and speculative design for future scenario exploration and public engagement.
MethodResearch Through Design (RTD) and Workshop-based implementation
ProcedureThe paper introduces evasion design, differentiates it from speculative design, and proposes a hybrid methodology. This hybrid process was then implemented in workshops conducted at institutions and universities.
ContextEducational and business environments focused on future exploration and public discussion of values.

Variables

IVIntegration of evasion design principles into speculative design process
DVPublic engagement and understanding of future scenarios; perceived desirability of future scenarios
CVWorkshop structure, participant demographics, specific future scenario being explored
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides a novel conceptual tool for future-oriented design.
  • +Emphasizes the role of design in shaping public discourse and values.

Limitations

It can be challenging to definitively 'prove' that a design has 'evaded' a negative future or 'guided' towards a positive one within the scope of a school project.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the framework's application may vary depending on the facilitator and the specific context of the workshop. Validity is supported by its RTD methodology, aiming to generate practical insights into design processes.

Think critically

How can designers balance the commercial pressures of innovation with the ethical responsibility to 'evade' potentially harmful futures?

05

Design Principles

"Future scenarios should be explored not just for their plausibility, but for their desirability and the values they promote."

This approach is crucial for design students as it moves beyond simply identifying problems to actively shaping desirable futures. It encourages critical thinking about the values embedded in design and the narratives we construct about technology and society.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Think about the future you want to create, not just the future that might happen. Use your designs to show people what that better future looks like and why it's important.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use 'evasion design' as a lens to justify your design choices when aiming for a specific future outcome or avoiding negative societal impacts.
  • 2.In your user research, explore how users perceive different future scenarios and what values they associate with them.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2023). Evasion Design for the Novacene Era Design and Production of Cultural Imaginaries. Springer series in design and innovation. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-49811-4_31 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/a24d89e2-ee84-41bb-affd-f343a3784e75/evasion-design-a-framework-for-future-scenario-exploration

Paragraph starter

The concept of 'evasion design' offers a valuable framework for exploring future possibilities by focusing not only on what might happen but also on actively shaping desirable futures and the values they embody. By integrating this approach with speculative design, designers can move beyond mere prediction to proactive creation, fostering public discourse and guiding innovation towards ethically sound and beneficial outcomes.

09

Source

Springer series in design and innovation

Evasion Design for the Novacene Era Design and Production of Cultural Imaginaries

journal · 2023

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about evasion design: a framework for future scenario exploration?
Incorporate principles of evasion design into speculative design processes to not only imagine futures but also to actively shape the values and narratives associated with them. Evidence: Springer series in design and innovation (2023).
Why does "Evasion Design: A Framework for Future Scenario Exploration" matter for design?
This approach is crucial for IB DT students as it moves beyond simply identifying problems to actively shaping desirable futures. It encourages critical thinking about the values embedded in design and the narratives we construct about technology and society.
How can designers apply this research?
Incorporate principles of evasion design into speculative design processes to not only imagine futures but also to actively shape the values and narratives associated with them.
What were the main findings?
Evasion design can be a valuable tool for shaping future understanding and public discussion.. A hybrid approach combining evasion design and speculative design offers a robust framework for RTD.. Visual-based imagery and conceptual approaches are key to rethinking future narratives.
What research method was used?
Research Through Design (RTD) and Workshop-based implementation.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Springer series in design and innovation.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When exploring future product concepts, consider how your design choices might subtly 'evade' certain undesirable futures and 'guide' towards preferred ones, and how to communicate these values.
What are the limitations?
The paper does not deeply quantify the 'success' of public discussion generated, and the specific outcomes of the workshops are not detailed in terms of public engagement metrics.
Is there evidence that evasion design affects design outcomes?
By merging the proactive, value-shaping nature of evasion design with the explorative visualization of speculative design, a powerful method emerges for understanding and influencing future possibilities, particularly in educational and business settings. This approach is crucial for IB DT students as it moves beyond s Source: Springer series in design and innovation (2023).
Where does this speculative design research apply?
Educational and business environments focused on future exploration and public discussion of values. It sits within innovation & design research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

evasion design design research · evidence on evasion design · does evasion design improve design outcomes · speculative design studies for designers · evasion design and speculative design findings · innovation & design research evidence