Writing Design Fiction

"Written by leading design philosopher Tony Fry, Secord Order Design Fictions is both an introduction to the power of 'design fiction' in the design process, and a work of fiction in itself, telling the dramatic story of the relocation of the city of Urbana . Set in the near future, Urbana, a delta city, is facing environmental catastrophe due to climate change - and the decision is made to relocate the entire city inland. A diverse cast of voices - including an architect, a journalist, an economist, a construction worker, and residents - narrate the extraordinary challenges and complexities which follow. This work presents a real-world scenario which may soon face many of the world's cities, and the fictional format provides a novel way of exploring the very serious inherent technical, social, political, economic and cultural challenges. The story provides a rehearsal of the design challenges which are likely to face architects, planners, and designers in an uncertain global future. 'Design fiction' is a fast-growing area within design and architecture, increasingly deployed as a serious methodology by designers as a tool in scenario planning, and this book also provides a key, cr