Futures Cone workshop for designers
In the last weekend of May 2024, in Lodz (Poland) me and my friends from @BigHatCollective will provide “Futures Cone” workshop.
How to register? Check the details HERE
The futures cone is a futures thinking / foresight method. While powerful, its traditional visualizations do not lend themselves easily for co-creative workshops. This is why we created this altered futures cone workshop template.
The Futures Cone framework is a visual tool used in futures studies and strategic foresight to explore the various types of futures that could unfold from the present moment. It helps in understanding and categorizing different potential futures, facilitating strategic planning and decision-making. The cone widens as it moves away from the present, representing the increasing uncertainty and range of possibilities over time. The framework typically distinguishes between five types of futures:
- Probable Futures: These are the futures that are most likely to occur based on current trends and trajectories. They are seen as logical extensions of the present.
- Plausible Futures: These futures are possible but not necessarily likely, considering what could happen based on known factors and extrapolations of current trends.
- Possible Futures: Encompassing a broader range of outcomes, these futures consider what might happen without being constrained by what is currently deemed likely or plausible.
- Preferable Futures: These represent the futures that stakeholders desire to create or achieve. They are shaped by values, goals, and aspirations, rather than just trends or extrapolations.
- Wildcard Futures: Sometimes referred to as “wildcard events,” these are highly unlikely but impactful events that could drastically change the course of the future, such as sudden technological breakthroughs or unexpected global crises.
The Futures Cone is used to map scenarios, guide strategic thinking, and stimulate discussion about how to navigate from the present to various envisioned futures, considering the actions, policies, and strategies that might lead to more desirable outcomes.
