Futures Studies and Speculative Design Certificate

About This Certificate

Individuals, communities, governments, and businesses all face complex questions when making plans for the future. In this certificate program, you focus on building the skills necessary for future image making with compelling immersive sensory experiences. You learn to apply theory and methods to develop and employ projections of desirable and undesirable future scenarios and examine ways futures thinking can help shape the trajectory of a project or organization.

Have questions? Call us at 332.239.2292, email cpe.advisor@newschool.edu, or reach out to us via LiveChat.

scenario planning strategic foresight speculative design trend indication critical design

What You’ll Gain

• Knowledge of key principles of futures studies and design futures
• Techniques for identifying, researching, and critiquing signals of change as potential trend indicators
• The ability to apply design futures methods and approaches to concrete topics
• Experience using methods and frameworks for forecasting hypothetical conditions
• The ability to lead scenario planning exercises for community and corporate contexts
• The ability to create vivid, thought-provoking representations of hypothetical scenarios through diverse media
• An opportunity to develop futures scenarios that can shape your project or company’s path forward

What You’ll Earn

After completing the certificate requirements, you will be able to download and print a copy of your certificate and share it with your network. Your personal certificate will be accessible from your Student Portal.

Who Should Enroll

• Individuals who want to effect systems-level change in organizations and work toward long-term goals
• Professionals who already work within organizations and those wishing to find or create new opportunities
• Those who are new to futures studies or have a working knowledge of the field and wish to increase their proficiency and build their portfolio of practice

How You’ll Learn

• Engaging video lectures and interviews with industry experts
• Direct interaction with faculty practitioners at the top of their fields
• Online collaboration in small classes, supported by video conferencing
• Project-based learning focused on developing real-world skills and portfolio assets