The world in which we design for is rapidly changing around us, design researchers need new methods to be able to make sense of the changing context of users, and to help inform decisions or de-risk uncertainties for organizations. Futures thinking offers a set of methods that may help design researchers inform strategic decisions about the possible futures of a product, service, industry, or experience.

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the growth of the design research practice by inquiring if and how futures thinking methods may benefit design researchers and/or design thinkers. This research project follows a design thinking approach to explore the area of focus, empathize with key users, and co-create how design researchers may apply futures thinking methods.

In this major research project, I will: compare the design research and futures thinking toolkits, develop an argument for what is driving design researchers towards integrating futures thinking methods, uncover how design researchers and design thinkers are currently encountering futures in their work, and co-create an expanded toolkit with futures thinkers.

The result of this research is an understanding of the potential value futures thinking may contribute to design research practice. As well as a framework for how design researchers (and/or designers who conduct research) may apply futures thinking methods as forms of research methods, throughout the design thinking process.