Navigating the Future of Sex and Intimacy: A Transition Design Approach

Abstract

This academic paper presents a case study exploring the significance and utility of an experiential futures scenario in addressing wicked problems and taboo topics. By illustrating both the “how” and “why,” this study demonstrates the effectiveness of experiential futures methods in tackling complex issues. It also provides insights into experiential futures’ potential for fostering understanding and dialogue around emotionally charged subjects that are often deeply ingrained in trauma and shaped by beliefs and assumptions. Set in 2052, this experiential workshop presents a futures scenario centered on Clear River Universal High School’s Social-Emotional Xcellence (S.E.X) curriculum, designed to show a long-term narrative of what a sex education curriculum 30 years from now might look like. It investigates a future world in which shame associated with sex, intimacy, and relationships has been eradicated, ushering in an era of openness and acceptance. The purpose of this case study, informed by multiple workshop iterations since 2022, is to leverage futures design methodologies as a platform for facilitating difficult conversations. In the domain of sex and intimacy, the experiential futures method displayed its potential to identify present-day strategies for addressing and discussing traditionally taboo topics. It suggests that by using transition design as a tool, other challenging domains could also be discussed, moving toward more equitable and open dialogues on other sensitive subjects, and enabling in-depth exploration of complex issues while ensuring discussions remain accessible and comfortable for all involved. To explore the topic of sex and intimacy, the authors mapped the wicked problem - delineating the intricate web of societal challenges related to the topic, and then articulated the social relations, diverse perspectives, and interests shaping the discourse on sex education. As it is set in a relatable “high school” environment, the workshop serves as a tangible example of envisioning a future where shame is eradicated and provocative topics are surfaced. Methods and frameworks experimented with in this workshop include: Systematic Inventive Thinking, Transition Design process, Sci-Fi Prototyping, Systems Prototyping, Ethnographic Experiential Futures, and others. This case study bridges the gap between speculative futures and current societal constraints, paving the way for more inclusive and constructive conversations about sensitive themes, and contributing significantly to the discourse on futures thinking, design, and futures-making.