The age of climate breakdown brings with it an uncertain future, even within our collective imagination we are presented with increasingly dystopian visions of the future. This tendency towards dystopian futures can also be seen in Speculative and Critical Design (SCD) process which emerged as a disciplinary response to challenge commercial design by envisioning radical futures scenarios and artefacts that so far has been limited to museum exhibits. This paper suggests a solution-driven SCD method exploring a ‘designerly' reimagining of existing solar technology as a “back-casted” design solution into the present—a 3D printed optical solar cell. The solar cell is proposed as a possible, speculative alternative for existing solar cells exploring the “what if” possibilities of technological forecasting in a futures-oriented practise, ways in which product design can contribute to climate action today while still looking towards visions of better, more thriving paradigms of futures beyond ‘business as usual’.

Authors: Jomy Joseph