Speculative Design
Upon googling “Speculative Design” we are quickly met with the debate of what defines something as speculative design, rather than abstract art making a societal comment. Just as philosophers and biologists explain how humans are composed, in my opinion speculative design involves explaining how humanity should compose itself on a variety of different subjects.
The subtle difference between artistic vision and speculative design is derived from the shock factor found in art, the manifestation of how someone perceives something or someone else, it’s a more personal process and may not be relevant to anyone else. In contrast speculative design is more applicable to more people, it more often than not offers an insight into a new way of doing something, it predominantly features a proposition, a question or solution to one of our problems.
Interestingly, speculative design often carries with it a degree of critique on contemporary styles of industry and design. It is something of a counter culture movement, it’s design for everybody and nobody all at once. Anthony Dunne encapsulates this theory stating “Critical design can never be truly popular, and that is the fundamental problem. Objects that are critical of industry’s agenda are unlikely to be funded by industry.” This effectively highlights the idea that speculative design is doomed to fail by its nature, its so full of commentary and critique of the industries required to back it which in turn gives it its’ strength; conveying a message.
Futurist Scott Smith gives an insight into this strength by highlighting that “… design fiction as a communication and social object creates interactions and dialogues around futures that were missing before. It helps make it real enough for people that you can have a meaningful conversation with”. Creating conversation and designing for discussion is where critical or speculative design excels. It’s not trying to sell a product but is instead trying to sell a message or a talking point. However designing critically isn’t without its limitations.
Critics of speculative design have highlighted its lack of the here and now, in regards to design fiction, these can often portray dystopian futures presenting the failure of technology, the mistakes of humanity catching up with themselves etc. Whilst these are provocative in the developed world as it shows a damning future, there is a lack of emphasis on what is happening right now in third world nations. Critics consider reach and application when discussing speculative design. What might be a profound, provoking piece of speculative design in Europe to a middle class audience might appear as shallow irrelevant nonsense to someone in the Middle East who’s country is torn by war.
With that said, critical and speculative design does have a place in the design world. It most certainly can be interpreted as shallow nonsense but it doesn’t have to be. Possessing a quality of making people think, discuss and critique how society operates is a exceptional tool to be used. Perhaps its what we choose to discuss that needs changed in an effort to get more people involved in the discussions of today.
