Supported by
Horizon 2020: DESIGNSCAPES
(Building Capacity for Design enabled Innovation in Urban Environments)
Timeframe
2019-20
Partner
PUSH
Ilaria Fresa Visual
Thanks to Scienza Palermo
Key Elements
Future studies / Transformative research / Development of target knowledge / Conception and implementation of digital workshops / Storytelling / Event organization
CHALLENGES
What do climate-just and desirable futures look like? This is a question that cannot be answered in one single discipline or nationality. Scientists and practitioners must cooperate with each other and strive for transdisciplinary knowledge integration. New practices are sought to involve different stakeholders to generate knowledge in transformation processes. This is where the Future Booth project comes in – it is an international and interdisciplinary research project between Germany and Italy.
PROCESS
Future Booth is an innovative process prototype – a 3-part digital workshop format. The workshops build on each other in content and methodology, and are simultaneously accompanied by a graphic recording. While the first workshop creates a kind of inventory of the greatest challenges and criticisms with regard to climate-just futures, the second workshop develops desirable future scenarios (starting from the main points of criticism). In the third workshop, the desirable future scenarios are translated into stories and thus enabled to communicate and discuss about.
All workshops require active participation of the attendees. The workshops alternate between rational/analytical and intuitive/creative work phases, with targeted ‘media breaks’ and continuously changing working groups.
The workshops were held in parallel, in German and Italian. At times both groups met in the digital space to exchange their perspectives and insights.
PROCESS STEPS
1
Future Booth Intervention (analog) during the Friday demonstrations in 2019
2
Concept and planning of the digital Future Booth
3
Execution of the 3-part workshop in Italian and German language
4
Evaluation of the process prototype
5
Exploitation of the results
RESULTS
With the living lab project Future Booth, insights can be gained into what desirable visions of the future currently exist within cultures, and what consensus and dissent prevail within them.
By combining verbal exchange with graphic recording, the knowledge could be directly visualized, providing space for alternative interpretations, joint learning, debate and critical reflection. The drawings function as so-called ‘focal points’, i.e. ‘attractors of action’, as they attract attention and initiate conversations.
The creation and communication of target images can provide orientation, motivation and can call for action.