Imagine and Ideate

Introduction

'Provotyping' in futures design consists of creating provocative prototypes of future artifacts, experiences, situations. They should be provocative to evoke emotions and reactions from others, to stimulate constructive reflection and dialogue regarding the desirability (or undesirability of that future).

How it works

1. Based on the learnings of the futures wheel or worldbuilding exercise, produce a tangible provotype of a product, service, organisation or else that could exist in this future aimed at addressing the societal challenge you are dealing with.
2. Use LEGO, PlayMobil or tinkering material to make a tangible representation of that provotype (it can be 3D or 2D).
3. Place the provotype in context. Think about:

• Where is it used?
• Who is involved?
• Who would use it?
• How would people use it?
• How do people interact?
• How do people feel about it?

Output

A 'provotype' to engage in reflection and discussion on that future. What if that future existed? How would we feel it in?
How would it influence the actors you identified during Connect and Relate?

Material

• Prototyping materials: clay, paper, glue, cardboard, anything! Lego is a straighforward option to create 3D provotypes.
• To create 2D provotypes, participants can use collage-making materials like magazine cutout or pictures.
• In some instances, it is also possible to create a storyboard representing that future.

Reference(s)

The concept of 'provotyping' is very well known in the context of design research and education.
Some interesting publications are:

Next step(s)

Back to the future, part of 'Reflect and Reframe'.

Overview

Other methods and tools to 'Imagine and Ideate':