Reading Week #2 – Design Fiction Satisfaction

Ward discusses the harsh truth about Designers contemporary products that have constantly been dismissed over and over again by corporations that don’t see the object fit for them due to a range of social and economic reasons. Sci-Fi writer Bruce Sterling defines design fiction as the ‘deliberate use of diegetic prototypes to suspend disbelief about change’. These products have come to be known as vapourware, which I think is a bit of a waste. Imagine the amount of people that have created something worth while only to be set aside until the world can catch up with the idea or design. It is quite mind boggling but also quite exciting in the sense that people are using fictitious concepts to create these things.

Ward also discusses a manifesto that he formulated that embraces and interrogates the role of fiction in design.

One important note I found from the 14th point was that the designee can’t let the fictional element of their work pull them away from the reality aspect of their design. I also found the reoccurring aspect of the object rather then the character. I think this makes sense, I can never really tell if my descriptions are ever close to what is actually being said.

Ah well I think I understood this and found it interesting, I personally love the idea of creating or inventing objects that are beyond any current technologies.