Speculative design for hopepunk futures: Educational practices and frameworks for peace building

• In Event: Educating for Peaceful Futures: Storytelling, Hopepunk Futures, and Social Cohesion

Proposal

In the context of climate change, massive ecological destruction, conflict and social injustice, the world currently faces significant challenges. Addressing these issues and achieving sustainable and just urban futures requires transformative approaches that can challenge and reshape existing social- and educational systems. Perspectives on transitions to sustainability and transformations in socio-ecological systems are defined by interconnections, mutual dependencies and dynamic relationships between humans and the environment. These transformations involve not only technical and infrastructural changes, but also fundamental shifts in values, behaviors and relationships with the environment.The paper aims to explore the potential of critical- and speculative design, system-oriented design and play theory in envisioning alternative sustainable futures.It addresses critical global and local challenges, and highlights the transformative potential of education in fostering peace. By engaging with this theme, i aims to contribute to the ongoing The study seeks to challenge current educational paradigms, encouraging more holistic, ethical, playful and imaginative approaches to urban development and transformation. Creative and artistic methods are increasingly relevant in the study of piece building. Through a case study focusing on communication, collaboration, inclusion, and peace building, the research brings together citizens, students, and stakeholders in community and neighborhood change processes to design sustainable possible futures. The proposal outlines a framework that integrates speculative design, system-oriented design, educational science, and futures thinking to address contemporary sustainability challenges in urban spaces. The research will explore the application and development of critical- and speculative design in several domains. Firstly, the study will start from a supposition that participatory and speculative design approaches can enhance engagement and conversation among students, citizen- and stakeholders in peacebuilding in urban contexts. Secondly, it investigates how these artistic and conceptually approaches, can be expanded into a research methodology framework in education for peace. Finally, this framework and its tools, will be tested through speculative design and participatory design workshops, aiming both for sustainable urban design and product design education. Based on this, and the conducted case study and workshops the following research question has been formulated: How can speculative, participatory and play-based design methodologies create inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban futures in the context of peacebuilding?
The workshops are meant to open for critical reflection and future thinking based on themes engaging in education for peace and hopepunk futures. The paper concludes with a discussion on the influences and learning experiences speculative design can have on education, and on its contribution to socio-cultural critiques and futures education, providing educators and policymakers with actionable strategies to link education and peace effectly.

Keywords: Education for Peace, Speculative Design Tools, Hope Punk Futures, Democratic working methods, Inclusion

Author

• Sunniva Münster, OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet