Speculative Design for the Real World:
Purpose, Value, and Evaluation Today
Speculative design has long been a space for imagining alternative futures, but what role does it play in addressing real-world challenges today? This talk explores the purpose, value, and methods of evaluating speculative design, drawing from the influential work of Victor Papanek, Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby, and Bruce and Stephanie Tharp. By examining how speculation intersects with practice, we’ll consider how designers can harness it not just to provoke, but to meaningfully shape the world we live in now.
James Rudolph is assistant professor of industrial design at the University of Notre Dame, where his work bridges advanced technological breakthroughs, pivotal healthcare challenges, and the critical role of speculative design in shaping possible futures. His research-driven practice explores how speculative approaches can provoke new ways of thinking while also guiding the translation of emerging technologies into impactful healthcare and consumer solutions. In addition to his academic work, James leads design programs through Rudolph Design Studio, partnering with organizations to bring critical healthcare solutions to market.
Unless otherwise noted, seminars take place in 1100 Architecture and Design Studios, 845 West Harrison Street.
2025/26 Public Seminar Series
What does the future of design look like?
This semester’s public seminar series speakers invite attendees to join them in reflecting on how we might envision the future of design through critical design methodologies and practices. What does the future of design look like? How can we thoughtfully engage with emerging technologies to build the futures we want for our communities? Why is imagining possible futures important for design as well as society more broadly? And how can speculative design inspire curiosity and exploration through design practice?
The UIC School of Design public seminar series serves as a research platform for the school’s MDes program, stimulating broad intellectual inquiry about the values guiding the designer by promoting discourse across industrial and graphic design.
Prospective MDes students are invited to join us for a tour of the school at 5:30pm before the seminar begins. Please register for the tour in advance.
* Free and open to the public.
