Speculative design offers an important lens for designers to reimagine economies, politics, and social systems beyond the constraints of current commercial fabrics. Prominent institutions like Parsons School of Design actively explore this forward-looking approach in their teaching, enabling designers to question moral and hypothetical scenarios while envisioning futures that prioritize social equity, environmental sustainability, and human well-being.

Design’s relevance to humanity as a whole can be understood through its deep integration with the systems that shape our modern world. In its current state, design largely operates within a capitalist framework, focusing on creating mass-produced goods that prioritise efficiency, accessibility, and consumerism.