What might the ownership of things look like in the near future? – Swati Srivastava

Designer and researcher • Design & Storytelling • 2019

What might the ownership of things look like in the near future?

This project uses design fiction to explore plausible future scenarios for the ownership of everyday things. The future is described through a set of "what-if" scenarios told through stories of ownership of fictional products and services in Oslo, Norway.

Material futures is a design fiction narrative created as a part of my PhD that imagines a possible future based on current trends, practices and forecast. The narrative is set in the near future, exploring notions of the ownership of goods and services in the near future.

By analyzing future trend reports and drawing insights from my field study of current practices, I designed several diegetic prototypes that represent possible scenarios of ownership and lifestyles in the near future. Through news reporting and conversations between fictional characters, I constructed narratives that offer a tangible firsthand experience for the audience.

This project aims to stimulate creative thinking about the future. By imagining possible scenarios of ownership and lifestyles in the near future, it provides a glimpse into what our world could look like and invites us to consider how we might shape it. The hope is that by engaging with these speculative narratives, we can cultivate more invigorated imaginaries about our strategic futures and explore new possibilities for how we want to live, work, and play.

Various micro futures as one world view as reference

Magnus and Ingrid are fictional characters from the future. The story of how things are owned in the near future is told through snippets of their everyday conversations.

Normy is a revolutionary repair bot offered by Clas Ohlson that makes repair services more affordable and accessible. Equipped with the latest technology and tools, Normy can fix any electronic device quickly and efficiently. Normy provides cost-effective and high-quality repair services, making it the perfect choice for customers looking to save time and money.

"Ingrid are you home? Normy will arrive in an hour."
"Yes I am.. err Normy???"
"Yea. The Clas Olson rebot. Its Cheaper. Odin said"
"Should take 20 mins for your dryer."
"Umm, but I'm not sure... ok"

Greenside is an online market that has been launched by Nest, a company known for its smart home devices. With Greenside, people can now easily sell their non-working things, like the espresso machine. Although it's not open yet, it's set to launch in just a month, and it's already generating a lot of buzz.

"Hey, I want to sell our old espresso machine. Do you remember that Greenside online market I told you about?"

Magnus raised an eyebrow, "Greenside? The one from Nest? I thought it's not open yet."

"Yeah, but it's launching in a month. I already sent you the link. We can sell the machine there."

"Sure, sounds good to me. As long as we get some money for it."

The Pinwheel¹⁰ company
Pinwheel is a prestigious label awarded to companies committed to zero landfill waste.

Related news and article coverage about the services

Ikea Life vs Curate by Apartment therapy

Curate is a subscription-based interior design service offered by Apartment Therapy. Ikea offers a similar service call Life. Customers can choose from a variety of curated interior design styles and have their spaces furnished accordingly. Here is a blog comparing the two services.

"Lizzy said she will be using Curate."

"Why? She can use our subscription in London as well."

"No. She says she does not want everything Ikea. Also, she and her roommates are splitting the rent."