IMAGINING BETTER FUTURES USING DESIGN FICTION

By Sunnet Pansare

Over the past year, I’ve come across several news reports about orcas mysteriously attacking boats (see image below). These incidents, which have been occurring with increasing frequency, have left scientists and sailors alike searching for explanations. Some speculate that the behavior is a form of retaliation – an organized uprising against human interference, while others suggest it could be playful or misdirected aggression. Whatever the reason, the pattern of these encounters has sparked widespread curiosity and concern.

During my visit to the COP28 hosted in the UAE, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by Mitch Carter from IDEO. The session focused on design fiction—specifically, building speculative objects of the future. We were given creative prompts that encouraged us to think beyond the present, to play with emerging technologies, and to explore their social, cultural, and ecological implications. Using materials that included everyday craft supplies, we were asked to construct artifacts of the future.

Intrigued by the orca attacks, I began to wonder: what if these incidents weren’t just random? What if the orcas were trying to send us a message? Could there be a future where humans and non-human species could communicate effectively, not just for curiosity, but for the sake of our collective survival?

With the orca attacks in mind, I created a speculative artifact called Voice of the Orcas—a futuristic speaker that collects underwater sounds and uses artificial intelligence to translate orca communication into human language in real time. It would serve not only as a listening device but also as a platform for interspecies dialogue. Imagine being able to hear orcas share their experiences of ocean degradation, overfishing, or even their perception of human technology. It repositions them not just as subjects of scientific observation but as co-inhabitants of the planet with agency and voice. 

The rapid prototype created is a result of a process can speculative design. The prototype itself is called Design Fiction. 

What is Speculative Design? 

Pioneers Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby have been instrumental in shaping the speculative design movement. They argue that design should not only solve problems but also raise new questions and spark dialogue.

Dunne and Raby propose that speculative design is a tool to explore alternate worlds—not for commercial viability, but for expanding our collective imagination. These alternate worlds may be utopian or dystopian, but their purpose is to open up debate and highlight the ethical, environmental, economic, and philosophical dimensions of design choices and human intervention.

What is Design Fiction? 

Design fiction is a speculative design practice that explores what could be, rather than what is. It uses storytelling, prototypes, and artifacts to create plausible futures—allowing us to critically examine the values, systems, and consequences embedded in human actions. Rather than predicting the future, design fiction constructs narratives that bring possible futures to life in ways that are relatable, immersive, and provocative.

Near Future Laboratory, a leading group in the field of speculative design, defines design fiction as:

“A way of using design to create tangible, legible, and graspable representations of possible near futures. It is not about predicting the future but making it experiential, helping us understand and discuss the implications of emerging technologies and trends before they become real.”

Their approach emphasizes creating artifacts from the future—such as prototypes, advertisements, or user manuals—that feel real enough to provoke thought and discussion. Instead of making abstract forecasts, design fiction makes the future feel like a lived-in space, allowing people to engage with it more critically and creatively. 

Through this lens, the future is not a fixed destination but a space of negotiation and possibility.

In this context, my Voice of the Orcas artifact isn’t a just a prototype—it’s a prompt. It asks: what if orcas had agency in climate negotiations? What if marine species could lobby for their own rights? How would that change international maritime law, ocean conservation, or even the way we think about personhood?

Speculative Design and Design Fiction allows us to play with such “what ifs” in a serious way—through the act of making.

Adding to the work of Near Future Laboratory and Dunne and Raby  is the remarkable work of Superflux, a boundary-pushing design and futures/foresight studio founded by Anab Jain and Jon Ardern. Superflux’s work is deeply rooted in the complexities of the climate crisis, systemic risk, geopolitical instability, and human intervention. What makes them stand out is their ability to merge poetic storytelling with rigorous research—creating emotionally resonant experiences that confront us with the implications of plausible futures.

While I admire every project Superflux has created, my favorite remains Uninvited Guests. In a world where the default response to any problem seems to be, “technology is the answer,” this project powerfully challenges that assumption—something I also emphasized in my first blog. Uninvited Guests highlights how such a techno-solutionist mindset can fail, particularly when it overlooks the complexity of human behavior. It serves as a reminder that solutions don’t exist in a vacuum—people are complex, messy, and unpredictable. If we ignore that, even the most sophisticated technology can end up ineffective or even counterproductive.

So, why should innovators embrace Design Fiction or Speculative Design? 

In a world driven by rapid innovation, it’s easy to get swept up in the momentum of technological progress without fully considering its impact. Design fiction offers a crucial pause—inviting innovators, policymakers, and citizens to reflect on why we are building something, who it serves, and what unintended consequences might follow.

Embracing Design Fiction or Speculative Design is ultimately an act of responsibility. It’s about more than inventing the future—it’s about imagining it wisely. Because if we can imagine better futures—more inclusive, regenerative, and just—we’re one step closer to building them.

© Suneet Pansare, 2025

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Suneet Pansare is a Design and Foresight Strategist who operates at the intersection of design strategy and futures, enabling organizations not only to imagine possible futures but also to co-design future-ready solutions, explore new opportunity areas, and navigate uncertainties. With approximately five years of experience, he has collaborated with organizations across multiple industries such as insurance, banking, airlines, hospitality, and energy. Suneet holds a Master’s degree in Design from the MIT Institute of Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Manchester.