Futurelessness describes the feeling that the future is no longer open, desirable or imaginable. In the times of ongoing instability, crises and uncertainty, it can become difficult to believe not only in better futures, but in the very idea of futures that can still be shaped. But engaging with the futures is not about predicting what will happen or finding certainty. It is more about learning how to work with uncertainty and challenge assumptions that shape how we perceive what is possible. By approaching futurelessnes more closely, not as a dead end but as something to examine and unpack, we can try to uncover how alternative futures might become imaginable again.

Course description:

In this expertise we will explore futurelessness through design, futuring and systems-oriented approaches. We will examine the factors and conditions that contribute to the feeling that futures are closed, uncertain and unimaginable, and map how these are connected. Building on that, we will identify areas for design interventions that respond to futurelessness by opening up new ways of imagining. The course will combine critical reflection, collaborative work and hands-on design activities, with a focus on understanding interventions as experiences.

Learning goals:

• Develop a basic understanding of futures studies and design futures.

• Develop an understanding of futurelessness as a systemic condition.

• Learn to use systems- and futures-oriented methods to explore complex issues.

• Critically examine the factors that shape how futures are imagined and foreclosed.

• Understand interventions through the lens of experiences and develop them collaboratively.

• Understand how speculative and design-oriented approaches can be used to engage with future challenges.