A Survey on the Speculative Design Techniques in Future Studies and Potential for AI

PhD Qualifying Examination


Title: "A Survey on the Speculative Design Techniques in Future Studies and
Potential for AI"

by

Miss Assem ZHUNIS


Abstract:

Speculative design has become a prominent method for studying possible futures,
particularly in examining emerging societal issues and encouraging preemptive
action in the development of technologies and related policies. While the approach
is well established and widely adopted, the methods and practices of designing and
deploying speculative artifacts have diverged considerably across disciplines. This
interdisciplinary landscape of future studies poses challenges for systematically
structuring key terminology, methodological approaches, and evaluation criteria
used by researchers. Although recent efforts have sought to consolidate related
work under shared conceptual frameworks, there remains a need for clearer
accounts of how speculative designs are created, used, and assessed in research
practice.

In this survey, I review the role of speculative design with a particular focus on
applications in Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) from three perspectives. First, I
examine terminological nuances and provide an accessible guide to key concepts
for newcomers to the field. Second, I present common research practices in
speculative design and offer a systematic analysis of how speculative artifacts
function within study designs and research processes. Third, I discuss emerging
efforts to advance speculative design methodologies through the incorporation of
artificial intelligence, and outline potential directions for future research.
Together, this survey aims to clarify the current landscape of speculative design
in HCI and to support more coherent and reflective use of speculation in future-
oriented research.


Date:                   Friday, 20 March 2026

Time:                   10:00am - 12:00noon

Venue:                  Room 2132A
                        Lift 22

Committee Members:      Dr. Xiaojuan Ma (Supervisor/Chairperson)
                        Dr. Arpit Narechania
                        Prof. Huamin Qu