Design storytelling with future scenario development; envisioning "the museum"

There are different ways to tell stories with design. This paper shows possibilities of telling stories by envisioning the future. Overall, design has the very ability to envision, visualize and express things that do not exist yet. We introduce the Future Scenario Development Design methodology as a process for research through design. This methodology consists of a six step scenario development approach, combined with a general conceptual design phase. The scenario of a (plausible and thinkable) future society provides the requirements, the opportunities and the constraints for the design. So, while the creative design process is free, an 'anything goes' and an 'anything will apply' approach will not 'work'. With a case study, based on the results of an Industrial Design Engineering Master course concerning the design of Future Museums, we show how this Design of the Future methodology is able to explain the present and future interplay between Society, Culture and Technology. Eventually, the linkage of future scenario development and design, provides a powerful tool to investigate society with a combination of knowing (future based on trend analysis and expert opinion) and making (design). In short, by envisioning the future we can reflect on its past and present structure.