Playmaking: Giochi pervasivi e futuri (im)possibili

Speculative and critical design constitutes a lens through which researchers and futurists interrogate (im)possible scenarios. Artifacts produced in this way may provide insights by providing a provocative contrast with our own present society. However, speculative design struggles to reach and engage a broad audience. A transdisciplinary dialogue with narrative and ludic approaches may bring speculative practices to wider publics. To argue for this connection, I examine the contributions of narration and pervasiveness in constructing speculative visions of alternative realities. I propose that a playful approach may elicit curiosity, free exploration and engagement with speculative design, thus supporting more distributed and effective experiences.