From defuturing to (re)futuring: designing in uncertainty to catalyse agency, resistance, and hope
AIM AND SCOPES I ARCHIVE I AUTHOR’S GUIDELINES I EDITORIAL BOARD I POLICIES I JOURNAL INFORMATION I INDEXING I JOURNAL METRICS I SUBMIT
Author(s): Bridgette Engeler
Abstract: This paper explores the transition from defuturing—design practices that undermine the viability of future life—to (re)futuring, a design orientation grounded in futures literacy, strategic foresight, and designer agency and responsibility. Design must evolve beyond short-term, solutionist thinking to engage with complex systems, long-term consequences, and the socioecological implications of its outputs. The integration of futures literacy and strategic foresight into design practice informs a proposed meta-theory of prospective design, which offers a pathway to more anticipatory, inclusive, just, and sustainable futures. The paper then examines the dual role of artificial intelligence (AI) in this context: as both a potential defuturing force when used uncritically and as a tool for expanding imagination and supporting futures literacy when applied reflexively. Practical implications include the need for design education and practice to embed futures literacy as a core competency, enabling designers to navigate uncertainty, anticipate unintended consequences, and make ethically informed decisions.
Practical Implications: The paper calls for a shift in design culture from “move fast and break things” to “move slow and nurture things” and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, critical reflection, and long-term thinking in shaping equitable and resilient futures.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence in Design; Design Ethics; Defuturing; Futures Literacy; Prospective Design; Strategic Foresight.
Cite as – Engeler, B. (2025). From Defuturing to (Re)Futuring: Designing in Uncertainty to Catalyze Agency, Resistance and Hope. International Journal of Design and Allied Sciences (IJDAS), 04(01), 43–51. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15776645
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