Design-fiction approach as a support for creative design activities in prospective ergonomics: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics
• Design Studies
• Futures Studies

Background:

• Organizations increasingly use 'alternative futures' to improve anticipation strategies amidst rapid change.
• Prospective ergonomics can benefit from considering long-term, ill-defined future scenarios and training practitioners.
• This study explores two prospective approaches for future-oriented design and practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare 'prospective design' (continuity-based) with 'design-fiction' (science fiction-inspired) in prospective ergonomics.
• To evaluate how these methods foster creative idea development and critical thinking for future situations.
• To assess their utility in training ergonomists for prospective practice.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study comparing two prospective approaches: prospective design and design-fiction.
• Participants engaged with scenarios to envision probable/preferable futures (prospective design) versus alternative futures (design-fiction).
• Qualitative analysis of creative outputs and critical thinking stimulated by each method.

Main Results:

• Design-fiction significantly encouraged the development of well-argued creative ideas.
• Design-fiction stimulated critical thinking by prompting participants to envisage alternative futures.
• Both methods facilitated reflection on potential future issues, with design-fiction offering a more radical exploration.

Conclusions:

• Design-fiction is a valuable tool for enhancing creativity and critical thinking in prospective ergonomics.
• It effectively prepares ergonomists to address complex, ill-defined future design challenges.
• The approach fosters deeper reflection on diverse potential future scenarios and their implications.