‘Design fiction’ was a new concept to me prior to reading Matthew Ward’s ‘Design Fiction as Pedagogic Practice.’ Ward discusses design fiction as a useful teaching device. This term is increasingly bandied about but, Ward contends that is has not been historically contextualized or properly scrutinized.

Cleverly and usefully, Ward unpacks the relationship between fiction and design. He writes that “designers produce propositions for a world that is yet to exist.” Ward importantly notes that “we always design for a world that sits, sometimes just slightly, out of sight.” This is because designers design for our future needs, in a fictitious future. Fictitious, because we don’t have the ability to foresee every detail of tomorrow. Designers use “fiction as a testing ground for reality” thus are not limited by today.  

Ward highlights how the use of fiction enables us to think through possible consequences, whether they be intended or unintended. He advises “prototype them in the stories you tell.” By ‘them’ he means designs, and by ‘stories’ he means the way in which we persuade others our designs our necessary. Like many other educators, Ward recognizes and praises the power of imagination.

For the full reading follow this link: http://vogmae.dropmark.com/133224/2153370