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Sci-fi as Foresight Methods: Science Fiction Prototyping, Future Personas, 6 Archetypes
You might have heard that science fiction can be used as a foresight method, or that foresight practice can draw from science fiction to imagine the futures. In fact, in the past decade the interest in using science fiction as a form of foresight has skyrocketed, and many organizations have been reported doing it, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, Visa, Ford, Pepsi, Samsung, Nike, Ford, Hershey’s, Lowe’s and Boeing, among others [1–4].
But what does it mean to use science fiction as a form of foresight? in this article I will try to explain how this is possible by sharing three “science fiction as foresight” methods: science fiction prototyping, future personas and the six archetypes framework. Along the way, I will also provide some guidance on when and how to use each method.
What are “Science Fiction as Foresight” Methods for?
First of all, “science fiction as foresight” methods can be used for four main objectives, and that is:
- Product innovation
- Reflection or inspiration
- Engagement with an audience, and
- Expanding the boundaries of scenarios imagination.
Having in mind these four objectives, which will be crucial when we’re going to determine what each method can do for us, let’s start to dig in each method separately.
Science Fiction Prototyping
Science fiction prototyping is arguably the most common and widely used “science fiction as foresight” method. It was developed by Brian David Johnson when he was working at Intel, and then popularized in his book “Science Fiction Prototyping” [5]. Science fiction prototyping allows us to create short pieces of fiction or, as the name says, science fiction prototypes. More specifically, science fiction prototypes are short stories, movies or comics about scientifically grounded present…
