Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"Design Futures in Infrastructure" introduces Arup Foresight’s approach to helping organisations think and act more effectively in conditions of deep uncertainty. The talk frames futures thinking as a critical, designerly practice that goes beyond prediction, using scenarios, worldbuilding and speculative design to surface assumptions, stress test decisions and make long term change tangible today. Drawing on theory from critical design and science fiction, alongside practical tools such as the futures cone, scenario building and the 1-3-10-30 framework, the presentation shows how imagination, evidence and rigour can work together to inform strategy. Through case studies spanning regenerative design, flood resilience, future cities, health and major global events, it demonstrates how futures work can engage stakeholders, explore alternative pathways and support better decision making. Overall, the talk argues that futures are not about forecasting what will happen, but about expanding what feels possible, preferable and actionable in the present.
Government Foresight Community (GFC) Masterclass seminars are monthly virtual seminars, open to foresight practitioners across the world, invite foresight experts to present their experiences and practices followed by Q & A. Recordings of the speaker's presentations and related materials are made available online.
Learn more: oecd.org/en/networks/oecd-government-foresight-community.html
Tobias Revell | linkedin.com/in/tobias-revell
#oecd #masterclass #seminar #politicalfuture #publicpolicy
ABOUT THE OECD
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation established in 1960 that works collaboratively to build better policies for better lives. Our goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all. Together with governments, policy makers, policy shapers, and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.
To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to oecd.org/about/.
To keep up with the latest at the OECD, visit oecd.org/.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction by Tobias Revell
02:54 Arup Foresight: A Summary
06:57 The Arup Foresight Mission
08:03 The extended present fallacy in design-led futures
10:07 Regenerative Design
13:42 Regenerative Design: Abundance project
15:20 Design Agency Collaborators
16:05 Circular Futures: Future of Making
16:12 Building Performance Reimagined with CIBSE
19:17 Flood Resilience 2050 with the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
22:22 Mapping Uncertainty: 1-3-10-30
26:17 Case Studies: 1-3-10-30 framework in use
"Design Futures in Infrastructure" introduces Arup Foresight’s approach to helping organisations think and act more effectively in conditions of deep uncertainty. The talk frames futures thinking as a critical, designerly practice that goes beyond prediction, using scenarios, worldbuilding and speculative design to surface assumptions, stress test decisions and make long term change tangible today. Drawing on theory from critical design and science fiction, alongside practical tools such as the futures cone, scenario building and the 1-3-10-30 framework, the presentation shows how imagination, evidence and rigour can work together to inform strategy. Through case studies spanning regenerative design, flood resilience, future cities, health and major global events, it demonstrates how futures work can engage stakeholders, explore alternative pathways and support better decision making. Overall, the talk argues that futures are not about forecasting what will happen, but about expanding what feels possible, preferable and actionable in the present.
Government Foresight Community (GFC) Masterclass seminars are monthly virtual seminars, open to foresight practitioners across the world, invite foresight experts to present their experiences and practices followed by Q & A. Recordings of the speaker's presentations and related materials are made available online.
Learn more: oecd.org/en/networks/oecd-government-foresight-community.html
Tobias Revell | linkedin.com/in/tobias-revell
#oecd #masterclass #seminar #politicalfuture #publicpolicy
ABOUT THE OECD
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation established in 1960 that works collaboratively to build better policies for better lives. Our goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all. Together with governments, policy makers, policy shapers, and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.
To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to oecd.org/about/.
To keep up with the latest at the OECD, visit oecd.org/.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction by Tobias Revell
02:54 Arup Foresight: A Summary
06:57 The Arup Foresight Mission
08:03 The extended present fallacy in design-led futures
10:07 Regenerative Design
13:42 Regenerative Design: Abundance project
15:20 Design Agency Collaborators
16:05 Circular Futures: Future of Making
16:12 Building Performance Reimagined with CIBSE
19:17 Flood Resilience 2050 with the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
22:22 Mapping Uncertainty: 1-3-10-30
26:17 Case Studies: 1-3-10-30 framework in use
