Young Designer’s Manifesto to Designing for the Future

What do future generations think about designing for the future? After taking part in a scientific seminar lead by Alicia Shao that focused on designing for the future, students at the Köln International School of Design were asked to reflect on what it means to them. For these students, the course was their first real encounter with the concept of the future, marking the beginning of their journey toward greater future literacy. Though their words may be unseasoned, they represent young designers' initial reflections on designing for the future, shedding light on their path to becoming more future-literate. I invite readers to be patient with the students' thoughts, viewing their manifestos not as absolute truths, but as inquiries driven by curiosity. See them as conversation starters and an opportunity for you to reflect on the topic. Designing for the future is inherently political, reflecting our personal beliefs and perspectives. There are varying opinions on how to approach this, and these discourse contribute to the evolving field of future studies. Ultimately, the goal of future studies is not about accuracy but fostering discussion and debate, as we aim to do with this collection of selected manifestos.