Two Approaches to Foresight-driven Design

Anna Victoria Bredtved Mountford*, Bo Christensen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

As a response to rapid and uncertain environmental change, foresight has emerged as an approach offering a future-oriented framing to design practice. Using theory on foresight, design, and change management, this paper reports a case study on how companies engage with foresight combined with design at a strategic level to become more future-oriented in their process and better prepared for taking long term action in the present. Through observations and interviews, the study follows companies participating in the development program Future Now facilitated by the Danish Design Center. We identify two distinct company approaches to foresightdriven design, involving distinct types of reasoning about the future, and leading to different types of strategic directionality. Further, we explore strategic timing and resources as possible moderators for which of the two approaches companies adopt. Our findings illuminate the different ways foresight can be used in combination with
design at a strategic level.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of DRS2022 Bilbao : Design Research Society International
EditorsDan Lockton, Sara Lenzi, Paul Hekkert, Arlene Oak, Juan Sádaba, Peter Lloyd
Number of pages15
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherDesign Research Society
Publication date2022
Article number180
ISBN (Print)9781912294572
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
EventDesign Research Society 2022. Bilbao - Bilbao, Spain
Duration: 25 Jun 20223 Jul 2022
https://www.drs2022.org/

Conference

ConferenceDesign Research Society 2022. Bilbao
Country/TerritorySpain
CityBilbao
Period25/06/202203/07/2022
Internet address
SeriesDRS Biennial Conference Series
ISSN2398-3132

Keywords

  • Foresight
  • Strategic design
  • Change management
  • Innovation management

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