Speculative design positions on future liveable cities

Authors

Leigh-Anne Hepburn, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Emrah Baki Ulas, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Densil Cabrera, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Clare Cooper, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Phillip Gough, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Kazjon Grace, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Luke Hespanhol, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Marius Hoggenmueller, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Wenye Hu, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Kiran Ijaz, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Yaron Meron, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Andres Pinilla, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Callum Parker, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Ricardo Sosa, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Yasemin Tekmen Araci, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Jody Watts, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Bow Wu, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Mariana Zafeirakopoulos, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow
Rohan Lulham, University of Sydney, AustraliaFollow

Abstract

Designing for future liveable cities demands a spectrum of perspectives, each responding in some way to global and local challenges, from climate change to safe housing. However, enabling spaces for often juxtaposed, contradictory and cooperative voices, both hopeful and cautionary, can be challenging. This paper is a first step in harnessing pluralistic expression through design fiction as an approach to speculating on design’s role in future liveable cities. In presenting individual speculative positions, authors attempt to reconcile their personal experiences, disciplinary expertise, and vision. This collective voice represents disciplinary diversity including – but not limited to – artificial intelligence, co-design, interaction design, strategic design, life-centred design, and industrial and graphic design. In presenting each position and a subsequent discussion of emerging themes, we seek to invite conversations on future design practice, education, and research, and encourage the design community to consider new approaches to for collaboratively imagining future liveable cities.

Keywords

liveable cities; pluriverse; design; speculative design

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.833

Citation

Hepburn, L., Baki Ulas, E., Cabrera, D., Cooper, C., Gough, P., Grace, K., Hespanhol, L., Hoggenmueller, M., Hu, W., Ijaz, K., Meron, Y., Pinilla, A., Parker, C., Sosa, R., Tekmen Araci, Y., Watts, J., Wu, B., Zafeirakopoulos, M., and Lulham, R. (2024) Speculative design positions on future liveable cities, in Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.833

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Conference Track

Research Paper