Writing Design Fiction: Relocating a City in Crisis

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Written by leading design philosopher Tony Fry, Writing Design Fiction: Relocating a City in Crisis is both an introduction to the power of design fiction in the design process, and a novella-length work of fiction in itselftelling the dramatic story of the relocation of the City of Harshon. Set in the near future, Harshon, a delta city, is facing environmental catastrophe due to rising sea levelsconsequently, a decision is made to relocate the entire city inland. A diverse cast of voicesincluding an architect, a journalist, an economist, a construction worker, and residentsnarrate the extraordinary challenges and complexities which follow. This work presents a real-world scenario which, in coming decades, will face many of the worlds cities. 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. Writing Design Fiction takes the practice to a higher level conceptually and theoretically, but also practically. The book is divided into four parts, with the fictional narrative bookended by further critical analysis. Part One shows how a critique of existing modes of design fiction can lead to more grounded and critical thinking and practice. Part Three critically reflects on the narrative, while Part Four presents the practical application of the second order design fiction approach. This book demonstrates the value of a more developed mode of design fiction to students, professional designers and architects across the breadth of design practices, as well as to other disciplines interested in the future of cities.

Reviews

Twisting times arrow into a knot, Tony Fry loops together a fictional citys future collapse with our own crises of the present. Urgent and unsettling, his penetrating reflections reveal unexpected opportunities for turning design fiction into design action. * Jamer Hunt, Parsons School of Design, The New School, USA *
Tony Fry's second order design fiction approach pulverizes the entanglements of the past and current design intelligentsia. Comprehending the essence of design through the fictional story of Harshon, powerfully moves us to a threshold of awareness of the existential significance of design, from which one is disclosed as engaged design. * Philippe dAnjou, Florida Atlantic University, USA *

Author Bio

Tony Fry is Principal of The Studio at the Edge of the World, Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania, Australia and Visiting Professor at Universidad de Ibagu, Colombia. Tony has held academic positions in Australia and internationally and is the author of fourteen books, including Design Futuring (Bloomsbury, 2009); Design as Politics (Bloomsbury, 2011), Becoming Human By Design (Bloomsbury, 2012), Remaking Cities (Bloomsbury, 2017), and Unstaging War (2019).