1. INTRODUCTION

In our everyday and specialist uses of language, as especially in designing, we make constant use of metaphors. In the LEXICON we see metaphors as a language device or (more technically from Rhetoric) it is a ‘figure of speech’. 

By this we mean that the word or phrase function as a marker that makes an analogy or links to a likeness to something else. For example, ‘the future is a roller coaster’. The metaphors we choose do also construct and communicate how we conceptualise and convey thoughts and views about the future and for design it matters that we look at this critically.

ACTIVITY # 1: FACING THE FUTURE

1. In what ways does your project ‘face the future’? By this we mean, is it a design project that does what design does, that is to shape.

2. Does it do something new, for a time that’s beyond today?

3. Or is it a project that explores, experiments with or even disrupts our hopes and expectations in the short or long term future? Of course this will depend on the course, domain or design discipline you are working within.

2. LANGUAGE METAPHOR AND STUDYING DESIGN

When we talk about the future, we refer to something that lies ahead of us in time. As designers, we’re invested in affecting, changing and shaping this ‘future’. However, ‘future’ is an ambiguous and intangible concept. Using a metaphor to describe the future allows us to make it tangible, making it interesting for us to experiment and play with it.

ACTIVITY #2: FOCUS ON YOUR PROJECT

When two people talk about an idea of ‘future’, they don’t necessarily mean the same thing. What do you mean when you talk about the future? What words do you use to describe it?

1. Think about your current project and its relation to the future.

2. Place it in time (near/ far off/ remote).

3. Write a 3 line description of the project.

4. What main futures design metaphor would you use to characterise your current project?

ACTIVITY #3: FEELING THE FUTURE

1. Read BALLUSION.

2. Take a moment to think about a balloon as a metaphor for future.

3. Inflate a long, sausage like balloon, one per person. Hold onto the balloon.

4. If this is the future, how might we shape, twist, deflate, go, squeeze, bounce, tap, stretch or release it?

3. WORKING WITH THE METAPHOR OF A BALLOON

Looking at ‘balloon’ as a metaphor for futures allows us to play with futures in a very tangible way. In this section, we’ll use this metaphor to articulate your futures positioning or what kind of futures you’re working towards.

ACTIVITY #4: DESIGN WORDS FOR THE FUTURE

Read the 50 FUTURES DESIGN WORDS (Words only).
Read BALLUSION.

1. Move into pairs.

2. Each pair will arrange or receive one balloon filled with words (20 words).

3. Place a sheet of A3 paper on the table.

4. Pop the balloon and collect the fallen words on the A3.

5. Each person selects 10 words that describe/are relevant for your project. If you don’t know what any of the words mean, refer to 50 FUTURES DESIGN WORDS (With definitions).

ACTIVITY #5: ‘INFLATING THE BALLOON’

1. Put your chosen 10 words into the balloon and inflate it. Tie a knot.

2. You’re now sending your words into the future. Use black marker to write the title of the project on the balloon.

3. Hold it in your hands and get ready to pop it

4. REFLECTING ON LANGUAGE AND METAPHOR

When we talk about the future, we refer to something that lies ahead of us in time. As designers, we’re invested in affecting, changing and shaping this ‘future’. However, ‘future’ is an ambiguous and intangible concept. Using a metaphor to describe the future allows us to make it tangible, making it interesting for us to experiment and play with it.

ACTIVITY #6: BACK FROM THE FUTURE 

The balloon is the metaphor for the future, and contained within it are words. The words inside the balloon represent words in the future. To be able to see/touch/have them you need to bring them down to the present.

1. Pop the future/balloon so the words (or materials you’ll use to articulate/shape your design) ‘fall’ to the present.

2. Which of these 5 words would you bring back from the future?

3. Relate them back to your project/course/discipline. How do these words work to prompt, project or even propel your project into the future?

ACTIVITY #7: WRITE THE FUTURE MORE CLEARLY

1. Take the three line description you wrote earlier.

2. Rewrite it including your 5 words from BALLUSION. (It can be a little longer than 3 lines)

ACTIVITY #8: DISCUSS AND WRAP UP

1. What is the difference between the two paragraphs?

2. Discuss in pairs or in groups.

3. Will you continue with the same futures design metaphor you identified earlier.

Selin, Cynthia, Lucy Kimbell, Rafael Ramirez and Yasser Bhatti. 2015. “Scenarios and design: Scoping the dialogue space.” Futures 74: 4-17.

Snaddon, Bruce, Andrew Morrison, Peter Hemmersam, Andrea Grant Broom, and Ola Erstad.2019. “Investigating design-based learning ecologies.” Artifact 6(1-2): 2.1-2.30.

Stappers, Pieter, and Elisa Giaccardi. 2017. “Research through design.” In The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd edition. Interaction Design Foundation.https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/book/the-encyclopedia-of-human-computerinteraction-2nd-ed/research-through-design.

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