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Method Kit

Module 8: User Experience Design

Future Scenario Planning

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Why should you use this method?

  • To understand uncertainty and develop a strategy
  • To look for design opportunities along the journey map
  • Spark new insights

What is future scenario planning?

Future scenario planning is changing/ designing your business, products, service by unpacking possible future scenarios or hypotheticals.

If we look to the future, it is a way to look for design opportunities along the customer journey map. It is important to expand the imagination to see a broader range of possible futures. Doing this will help take advantage of the unexpected opportunities that will come along.

How do you plan for future scenarios?

1. Decide the time frame

Decide on a time frame. While you are setting the time frame, you should consider various factors:

  • The life cycle of your product
  • The political conditions of your country
  • Competitors analysis
  • Technological advancement
2. Identify trends and driving forces

While identifying the trends and driving forces, focus on:

  • Who has an interest in these decisions?
  • Who will be affected by them?
  • Who could influence them?
3. Define the constraints

Identify two future constraints relevant to your project. This will be the basis for building the scenario and plot.

4. Define their extremes

Think about the extreme cases your constraining variables could take. E.g., when looking at transportation, a constraint could be the use of fossil fuels. The extremes being “Legislation does not change” and “fossil fuels are not allowed anymore.”

5. Develop a scenario

With the extremes of two variables, build one potential future scenario. In the template, this is displayed as one quadrant. While building a scenario, find the strength and weaknesses of the plan and work accordingly. Define touchpoints around which your story will revolve.

6. Brainstorm solutions around that scenario

With your team, brainstorm ideas around each scenario.

Resources

Materials Needed:

Pen, Paper / Table template

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Module Methods
  • Sparking Ideas
  • Customer Journey Mapping
  • Through User Insights
  • Studying Competitive Landscape
  • Explore Analogous Inspiration
  • Future Scenario Planning
  • Idea Mapping
  • Behavioral Principles
  • Multi-Sensory Design
  • Monitoring & Evaluating Framework
  • Survey Design
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