If we only could predict the future. We as designers could solve problems, even before people knew they were problems. In this talk, I will argue that while we cannot predict the future, we do have a few superpowers that help: Empathy and Imagination. If we combine those with proven storytelling techniques, we can make better products and designs, which do not predict — but actually shape — the future.

1. Chiara Aliotta, Until Sunday
SmashingConf Antwerp
11 October 2023

2. D E S I G N I N G F O R T H E F U T U R E
I S C H A L L E N G I N G .

3. D E S I G N I N G T H E F U T U R E
MINDSET
PROCESS
PURPOSE
I S P O S S I B L E .

4. A
ft
e
B
ef
ore
PA N D E M I C

5. B
ef
ore S TO R Y T E L L I N G TO D E S I G N E X P E R I E N C E S
from Aristotle's Three-Act Structure to Donald Miller's Brand Story Framework.
S E T U P C O N F R O N TAT I O N R E S O LU T I O N
PROBLEM
GUIDE
PLAN
ACTION
SUCCESS
or failure
A C T 1
P LOT
A C T 2 A C T 3

6. A
ft
e
T H E F U T U R E N A R R AT I V E F R A M E W O R K
from traditional storytelling to future thinking.
Explore Envision Sh
ar
e
A C T 1
P LOT
A C T 2 A C T 3

7. Purpose
I N VA R I A B L E
M OT I VAT I O N A L
E N H A N C I N G

8. Purpose Stat
em
en
t
We exist to simplify the path to wealth.
by providing freedom
and control over legacies.
to enable individuals to chart their
course towards prosperity.
“Why do we exist beyond pro
fi
t?”
“How does your brand, product or service make an impact?”
“How does this impact on the society we serve?”

9. 24/7
ALWAYS OPEN

10. 24/7
ALWAYS OPEN

20. Purpose Stat
em
en
t
We exist to simplify the path to wealth.
by providing freedom
and control over legacies.
to enable individuals to chart their
course towards prosperity.
“Why do we exist beyond pro
fi
t?”
“How does your brand, product or service make an impact?”
“How does this impact on the society we serve?”

21. The Fu
tu
re N
ar
ra
ti
ve Fr
am
ework
Explore Envision Sh
ar
e
A C T 1
P LOT
A C T 2 A C T 3

22. Act 1
Explore
P R E S E N T
R E S E A R C H
S E N S E M A K I N G
E M PAT H Y
TO O L S
M I N D S E T
T H E F U T U R E N A R R AT I V E F R A M E W O R K
from traditional storytelling to future thinking.

23. Explore
P L A N E T T E C H P E O P L E
Sustainable
Responsible
Think
Feel
Say
Compatible
Accessible

24. Res
ea
r
ch
in 2020
P L A N E T T E C H P E O P L E
Fear of Mortality
Concern for Loved Ones
Financial Uncertainty
Anxiety
Isolation
Vulnerability
Verbalised Concerns
Seeking Information
Calls for Empathy
Blockchain Adoption
Cryptocurrency Boom
AI Advancements
Ethical and Regulatory Concerns
Future Pandemic
Concerns
Technology-Driven
Emissions
Remote Work Boom
Renewed Focus on
Sustainability

25. S
en
s
em
ak
i
ng
M
a
P L A N E T
T E C H N O LO GY
P E O P L E
Family Strain
Emotional
Impact
Financial
Consequences
Assets
Mishandled
Financial
Loss
Security Risks
Resource
Misallocation
Financial
Loss
Waste
Generation
Preserve
resources for the
bene
fi
t of future
generations
Limited
Resources
Missed
Sustainability
Opportunities
Seeking
Autonomy
Uncertainty
Lose
Control
Secure and
privacy-conscious
solutions
Loss of
Privacy
Trust
Erosion
PROBLEM
The challenge
of managing wealth
and legacies.

26. Te
ch
nology
Design Decisions
People Pl
an
et
Emerging Wealth
VUCA
(Volatile, Uncertain,
Complex, and Ambiguous)
Environment
Digital Natives
People
Smart Contract
Blockchain Technology
Te
ch
nology
Reduced Paper Waste
Lower Carbon Footprint
Pl
an
et
Enhanced Security
and Fraud Prevention
Ef
fi
cient Resource Allocation

27. Act 1
Explore
P R E S E N T
R E S E A R C H
S E N S E M A K I N G
E M PAT H Y
TO O L S
M I N D S E T
T H E F U T U R E N A R R AT I V E F R A M E W O R K
from traditional storytelling to future thinking.

28. Act 2
Envision
P OT E N T I A L F U T U R E
S C E N A R I O
C O N N E C T I O N
I M A G I N AT I O N
TO O L S
M I N D S E T
T H E F U T U R E N A R R AT I V E F R A M E W O R K
from traditional storytelling to future thinking.

29. P L A U S I B L E
P R O B A B L E
P O S S I B L E
PEOPLE
Widespread
Adoption
TECHNOLOGY
Blockchain
Innovation
PLANET
Education and
Advocacy
Cone of Plausibility
by Charles Taylor

30. P O S S I B L E
P L A U S I B L E
P R O B A B L E
W I L D C A R D S
PEOPLE
Celestial
Inheritance
TECHNOLOGY
Virtual Presence
PLANET
Interplanetary
Asset
Management
Cone of Plausibility
by Charles Taylor

31. P O S S I B L E
P L A U S I B L E
P R O B A B L E
P R E F E R R E D
W I L D C A R D S
PEOPLE
Community
Engagement
TECHNOLOGY
Enhanced Security
PLANET
Philanthropic
Initiatives
Cone of Plausibility
by Charles Taylor

32. Forced Connec
ti
on
THE PROBLEM
SERVICE/PRODUCT
ATTRIBUTES
UNRELATED
ATTRIBUTE

33. AFTER APP
BRAND IDENTITY
UNRELATED
ATTRIBUTE
AFTER APP
ATTRIBUTES
Secure
Public Key
and Private Key
Access
Immutability
Departure
Key of Pluto
Journey
Eternal
Passage
Secret
Forced Connec
ti
on
Orphic Hymn to Pluto
Ancient burial
ceremonies

34. A
ft
er
App Br
an
dm
ar
k
COIN
KEY
Ensure Passage
Power
Wealth
Pluto’s Key
Passage
Secret
Immutability

35. Reserves
12%
Team
13%
Treasury Fund
25%
Community Mining
15%
Token Sale
30%
Liquidity Fund
5%
A
ft
er
App #Obol T
ok
e

36. Act 2
Envision
P OT E N T I A L F U T U R E
S C E N A R I O
C O N N E C T I O N
I M A G I N AT I O N
TO O L S
M I N D S E T
T H E F U T U R E N A R R AT I V E F R A M E W O R K
from traditional storytelling to future thinking.

37. Act 3
Sh
ar
e
D E S I R A B L E F U T U R E
I M PA C T
I M P L E M E N TAT I O N
C O L L A B O R AT I O N
TO O L S
M I N D S E T
T H E F U T U R E N A R R AT I V E F R A M E W O R K
from traditional storytelling to future thinking.

38. A
ss
ump
ti
on Mat
ri
x
IMPORTANT
UNIMPORTANT
Develop
and thoroughly test it
Develop and test it
as soon as possible
Known,
but not completely
necessary
It’s not worth
your time to focus
on this
KNOWN UNKNOWN

39. IMPORTANT
KNOWN UNKNOWN
UNIMPORTANT
Veri
fi
cation
Process
Secure
Traditional
Assets
Secure
Digital
Assets
Bene
fi
ciary
Assignment
Vault
Encryption
Quantum
Resistant
Cryptography
Secure
Digital Art
Assets
Distribution
Release
NFT
Collection
A
ss
ump
ti
on Mat
ri
x
for A
ft
er
App

40. A
ft
er
App Prototype

41. A
ft
er
App Prototype

42. Impact Factors
BUILD TRUST
HOLISTIC
APPROACH
COLLECTIVE
INTELLIGENCE

43. Pit
c

44. A
ft
er
Thoughts Blog

45. Elysium NFT Collec
ti
on

46. The Fu
tu
re N
ar
ra
ti
ve Fr
am
ework
Explore Envision Sh
ar
e
A C T 1
P LOT
A C T 2 A C T 3

47. Pa
s
Fu
tu
re
D E S I G N T H I N K I N G F U T U R E T H I N K I N G
P R E D I C T I N G T H E F U T U R E C R E AT I N G T H E F U T U R E
M I S S I O N A N D V I S I O N
D E S I R A B L E F U T U R E S
A N D P U R P O S E
P R O F I TA B I L I T Y O P T I O N A L I T Y
U S E R - C E N T E R P L A N E T- C E N T E R
DESIGN

48. We c
a
’t predict the fu
tu
re.
But if we cr
ea
te it,
we c
an
own it.
CHIARA ALIOTTA
Brand designer and digital storyteller

49. Chiara Aliotta, Until Sunday
www.untilsunday.it
@untilsundayagency @ChiaraAliotta
THANK
YOU

50. The N
ar
ra
ti
ve W
e
st
orytelli
ng
ap
plied
to UX/UI
de
sign
You can enroll in my course on
domestika.org