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GD 332 — DESIGN FUTURES (CUR-278)

GD 332 — DESIGN FUTURES is a DePaul University catalog course in College of Communication. This course will provide an introduction to Design Futures (also called Design Fiction, Speculative Design and Critical Design): including history, theory and methods for speculation, design fiction, business strategy and appropriate elements of visual narrative and storytelling to showcase ideas, strategy, and foresight.

Summary 🟡 ✓

  • Resource type: course
  • College / school: Graphic Design
  • College/School: College of Communication
  • Curriculum section: Art, Media, and Design
  • Catalog: GD 332
  • Last Verified: 2026-07-01

Access (availability): 🟢 Green — open or routine · 🟡 Yellow — appointment or affiliation · 🔴 Red — restricted · ⚪/⚫ White/Black — not yet classified

Verification: ✓ confirmed · ~ likely · ? needs review · ✕ archived

Course access

  • Access: 🟡 Yellow — Needs an appointment or affiliation
  • Rationale: Catalog lists formal prerequisites, co-requisites, or program-status requirements.
  • Prerequisites:
  • GD 200 AND GD 230 are prerequisite

Verification

Catalog description

This course will provide an introduction to Design Futures (also called Design Fiction, Speculative Design and Critical Design): including history, theory and methods for speculation, design fiction, business strategy and appropriate elements of visual narrative and storytelling to showcase ideas, strategy, and foresight. How are futures imagined, prototyped and created over time? Where, how and for whom are futures being considered? Who is included and excluded? Where are opportunities to create alternative futures, and how might a designer engage and contribute? How can a designer consider and engage in future ethics in various phases of the design creation and product lifecycle? This course includes lectures, discussions, critiques/presentations, hands on activities, and lab (computer work) time and weekly assignments. Students will be expected to research, write, design and document their work. Hands-on making (studio work) will engage a range of approaches from business, art, tech, and design as a means to bring possible futures narratives to life, while the weekly readings and discussions will provide background for analysis of the studio work. Students will engage with emerging technology and future ethics including AR, digital fabrication, sensory design, and AI, among others through the lens of Graphic Design. GD 200 AND GD 230 are prerequisites for this class.

Resource relevance

Relevant applied coursework per catalog description review (labs, studios, instrumentation, media production, or similar).

Notes

Catalog course key: GD 332.

Catalog context

  • Themes: fabrication
  • Recent schedule: Not offered in the queried registrar terms