Designing Intelligent Futures aims to broaden students’ understanding of design as a means of engaging with the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world. The module introduces students to different forms of intelligence that shape human environments and creative practices, from natural and human intelligence to collective and artificial intelligence. Through the exploration of contemporary and future design scenarios, students are encouraged to develop curiosity, critical awareness and an appreciation of the diverse roles that design disciplines play in shaping societies, cultures and the built environment. The module concentrates on four interconnected aspects: • Understanding intelligence: To explore different forms of intelligence and their influence on design, creativity and innovation. • Understanding futures: To investigate how environmental, social, cultural and technological transformations are reshaping the world and creating new opportunities for design. • Understanding relationships: To examine the interactions between people, environments, technologies and systems in the production of future realities. • Understanding impact: To encourage critical reflection on how design can contribute to positive change across different scales of society and the built environment. The module forms part of the Academic Horizons (AH) and LIFE-integrated Year 1 framework.
A Identify different forms of intelligence and their influence on human environments, creative practices and future development. B Describe how design engages environmental, social, cultural and technological transformations in shaping future possibilities. C Explore relationships between people, systems, environments and emerging forms of intelligence through contemporary design examples. D Discuss the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities associated with designing future societies and environments. E Reflect on personal interests, disciplinary perspectives and potential future pathways within the context of contemporary design challenges.
The module is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures introduce key concepts, theories and examples related to different forms of intelligence and their role in shaping human environments, creative practices and future societies. Drawing from a broad range of contemporary design disciplines and real-world case studies, lectures provide students with conceptual frameworks for understanding the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing world. Seminars promote active learning through discussions, workshops, collaborative activities and reflective exercises. Students are encouraged to investigate future scenarios, critically engage with contemporary issues, and explore the relationships between people, environments, systems and emerging forms of intelligence. Seminar activities support students in developing their coursework while fostering curiosity, critical thinking and informed disciplinary exploration. The module is delivered in collaboration with LIFE through a Research-Led Project-Based Learning (RLPBL) framework. Students investigate contemporary and future design challenges through inquiry, discussion, collaborative learning and reflection. LIFE-supported activities foster self-regulated learning, disciplinary exploration and informed pathway development, supporting students’ transition into university study and engagement with future design possibilities.