Sleem, A. (2025). Speculative design as a key practice of life center design. International Design Journal, 15(1), 33-45. doi: 10.21608/idj.2025.395714
Amany Waheed Sleem. "Speculative design as a key practice of life center design". International Design Journal, 15, 1, 2025, 33-45. doi: 10.21608/idj.2025.395714
Sleem, A. (2025). 'Speculative design as a key practice of life center design', International Design Journal, 15(1), pp. 33-45. doi: 10.21608/idj.2025.395714
Sleem, A. Speculative design as a key practice of life center design. International Design Journal, 2025; 15(1): 33-45. doi: 10.21608/idj.2025.395714
Speculative design as a key practice of life center design
Applied arts, Helwan university , product design department
Abstract
Life center design is one of the updated terms in Industrial design field it’s an evolution of the term User center design after the negative environmental effects which world faced such as the epidemics and climate changes. So it was necessary for life to be a center of design process instead of user, and one of its practices is speculative design. In this work we studied methodologies and techniques of speculative design and how by its practice and linking it with (LCD) concept, the design can faces many expected environmental conditions, also studying the positive and negative which may product design faces, to realize the negative environmental changes that the world faces putting Life in the center of design process. He found that by expanding the study of critical design and science fiction through speculative design and linking it to environmental expected scenarios by a different technique whether educational or apply its methodology in design thinking and process it can contribute to solve long- term future challenges by innovative way, to create products that Don’t exist or developing products that actually exist in future, because we can’t work to improve what we can’t imagine. Finally, (LCD) has become a necessity, and awareness of it and its application through innovative practices of design in education and industry has become a goal in design, the development of the designer's thinking style and future vision of the product with an environmental perspective and product impact will help to avoid negative environmental impacts. Incorporating an environmental orientation into design is a crucial directive, requiring transformation and unwavering commitment. This imperative is essential for proactively responding to environmental dynamics, drawing from historical design practices, and fostering a nuanced understanding of design's inherent interconnectedness. This study focuses on investigating the symbiotic relationship between the environment and design, emphasizing practical applications. Through contemplative design, the orientation aims to anticipate future design implications, comprehend their ramifications, and integrate these considerations into the current design process. As a result, designers gain the ability to envision a product's prospective impact, scrutinize its effects, and actively mitigate any adverse environmental consequences. The Problem : The study aims to investigate the transformation of product design from a user-centered approach to a life-centered one, employing speculative design methodologies. The transition involves expanding the scope of design considerations beyond immediate user needs to encompass broader ecological, socio-economic, and happiness factors throughout the product's life cycle. Aims : By combining critical design and science fiction through speculative design, the researcher found that linking these approaches to anticipated environmental scenarios, whether through education or practical application in the design process, is crucial for addressing long-term challenges through innovation. Stressing the centrality of the environment in the design process is vital. Additionally, this approach not only tackles current issues but also stimulates the creation of new products or the evolution of existing ones into future iterations. The underlying principle is that improvements cannot be pursued without a clear vision. Methodology Collecting Data & analysis
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