51-974 Design Futures

10 units, Carnegie Mellon University

Sustainable Design Futures (SDF) frames design in a temporally-extended, systemic context . We explore futures through the lens of relationality. Design Futures offers essential perspectives, practices, and competencies that are increasingly called for as designers progress in their work and careers, and as the design field evolves to acknowledge its significant powers and responsibilities. You will explore numerous futures methods, which support designers through ideation and storytelling, problem-finding and framing, brief formulation, project coordination, and collaboration. Coursework includes engagement with readings and videos, hands-on creative workshops, and visual prototyping and sketching. The course explores futures methods through two lenses, Personal Design Futures and Community-centered sustainable futures. Design Futures knowledge and methods are foundational to Transition Design both at the individual level, and at the societal level.

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Spring 2027, Spring 2026

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