In science fiction, we might encounter future technologies—say, a ‘smart crib’ that teaches baby all the essential skills, from sleeping to personal branding. But those are usually mere ornaments in a larger story.

In design fiction, we envision only the technological artifact—e.g. the smart crib—as a prototype, a blueprint, a sales pitch. Without a plot, there’s open space for the viewer to fill in.

This design fiction workshop invites you to become ‘laboratorians’ that invent the future of parenthood and childhood: How might technology raise the next generation?

Paired with a partner, you’re prompted with an everyday challenge of raising a child. Provided with our creative ideation kit, you draw the blueprints for an invention to resolve your problem.

As you ideate, go ahead and twist the knob beyond what’s marketable, feasible, or even desirable, today. Explore those deeper questions about our relationships with technology. How far do we outsource? How deep do we integrate? Let’s investigate the broadest possible spectrum, to understand where we draw the line.

At the end of your ideation session, we discuss our inventions as a group and reflect on the futures we’ve envisioned.

Welcome to a world of problems, solved.

• FACILITATOR
• Ernesto Morales, Owner and Creative Director, Studio Malagón
• Ernesto D. Morales is a designer and artist based in Austin, with roots in Mexico City. By day, he is the creative director of Studio Malagón, a design agency that cultivates ideas, stories and experiences. By night, he runs Object Solutions, a laboratory of 'design fiction' that explores alternative futures.