Speculative and Critical Design – Special Programs Think Tank

About

We invite you to take part in a rare opportunity to serve in the Special Programs Think Tank to envision and create hypothetical “special programs” that Estonia’s government might instate, either in the future or in parallel realities.
This five-day event will provide you with the chance to design preferable paths for government, guided by future-visioning strategists from the Extrapolation Factory. Over the course of the workshop, participants will be introduced to the essential principles of futures studies and will learn to identify signals, extrapolate implications and create future artefacts.
Each program will be announced through physical, print or digital artefacts to be shared with local citizens.

LEARNING OUTCOMES. The student is able to:

• understand the basics of speculative critical design;
• use design methodologies for a positive impact within one’s own community.

ASSESSMENT

The course ends with an evaluative assessment (pass-fail) and is based on:
• participation;
• Think Tank deliverables;
• individual reflections;
• final (semi-)public presentation of service/product prototypes.

Course leader

Chris Woebken, MA Design Interactions (Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby), 2008, Royal College of Art, London, UK. Elliott P. Montgomery, MA Design Interactions (Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby), 2011, Royal College of Art, London, UK. The Extrapolation Factory

Target group

2nd and 3rd year BA students and MA students in Design, Architecture and related fields.
Please note that this course is meant for higher education students only.

Course aim

To design preferable paths for government, guided by future-visioning strategists.