Humans, Technology and Speculative Design Futures: Can We See the Invisible?

Recent technological developments have geared humans with profound opportunities to shape better futures. Although these advancements might seem astounding, they might also have serious ethical implications and societal consequences. The aim of this paper is to situate and connect design with the topical philosophical discussions about the future of humanity. In this paper, I problematize the relationship between humans and technological futures. I give a short account on the ethical implications of emerging technologies. I also discuss how humans are dealing with a post-anthropocentric future of multispecies, other critters and possibly other human species. Furthermore, I highlight the role of design practice as an aiding agent and catalyst in shaping better futures. The paper attempts to position critical, discursive and speculative design practices as fundamental tools in designing technological futures.