
Time machines for Problem Solvers: Futures thinking in action
Abstract
Time Machines for Problem Solvers: Futures Thinking in Action
This hands-on workshop introduces “Futures Thinking” as a practical toolkit for tackling complex problems through strategic foresight. Rather than predicting what will happen, participants will explore what could happen, expanding their solution space and building design resilience. The session offers techniques to uncover weak signals of change to define interventions today. Using a few live case studies – Brighton’s creative sector being one – attendees will work in groups to create speculative artefacts that make the future tangible.
Aligned with the conference theme of “Redesigning Place”, the workshop reframes place as both physical and conceptual, a space for designing ethical futures. Participants will leave with practical methods for developing inclusive, long-range strategies and a refreshed approach to problem solving that integrates futures thinking into everyday design work.
About
Sayani Mitra | User Experience Researcher and Design Strategist
Sayani Mitra is a user experience researcher and design strategist with a deep interest in how futures thinking can enhance creative problem-solving. With a background in technology ethics and a practice rooted in systems thinking, she helps teams navigate complex challenges through strategic research, speculative design, and foresight. Sayani combines rigorous research with imaginative exploration to uncover insights that inform more resilient, equitable, and forward-looking outcomes.
Her work spans public services, technology, and cultural sectors, often involving multidisciplinary collaboration. She is passionate about promoting an ethical and sustainable design mindset, empowering others to explore not only what is, but what could be. As a speaker and facilitator, she creates engaging learning experiences that demystify abstract concepts and translate them into actionable tools. Sayani’s practice is anchored in the belief that shaping better futures begins with designing more inclusive, ethical and imaginative presents.