Speculative Everything: Design, Fiction, and Social Dreaming
Anthony Dunne, Fiona RabyOverview
The authors propose that design can serve as a medium for exploring societal implications and envisioning alternative futures. They categorize design into two contrasting approaches:
Affirmative Design: Focuses on problem-solving, production, and user-friendliness.
Critical Design: Emphasizes questioning, debate, and the exploration of "what could be" rather than "what is" .
Key Themes
Design as Critique: The book argues that design should provoke thought and discussion about social issues, rather than just provide solutions for industry needs.
Fictional Worlds: Dunne and Raby introduce the concept of using fictional scenarios to challenge existing norms and stimulate imagination about future possibilities.
Aesthetics of Unreality: They explore how speculative designs can create narratives that engage with the unreal, prompting users to consider alternative realities and futures .
Social Dreaming: The authors emphasize that design can catalyze social dreaming, encouraging communities to envision and strive for better futures through creative and critical design practices