Research Seminar — Using Signals and Scenarios to Drive Design Decisions

Seminar

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Date

29 Apr 2026
Organiser

PolyU Design
Time

16:00 - 18:00
Venue

Zoom

Speaker

Dr Alessio Franconi

Enquiry

PolyU Design 2766 6305 sd.phd@polyu.edu.hk

Summary

In a world that feels increasingly unpredictable, designers need to act as more than just problem-solvers, they need to be "sensors." This lecture explores how we can identify and interpret "signals," those small, early indicators of change that often go unnoticed until they become mainstream trends. I’ll break down the practical process of moving from the observation of these weak signals to the construction of robust future scenarios. We will discuss how to map different types of signals and, most importantly, how to use these projections to inform real-world design decisions today. Rather than just speculating about the future, the goal is to use scenario-building as a strategic tool to bridge the gap between abstract foresight and actionable, resilient design innovation.

This seminar is open to all PolyU PhD students and SD staff.
This Zoom meeting accommodates 100 participants at most.
Event registration is required and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Successful registrants will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom meeting details before the event.

Keynote Speaker

Dr Alessio Franconi

Tutor (Research), Design Futures Programme, School of Design, Royal College of Art

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Dr Alessio Franconi is a Tutor (Associate Professor) at the Royal College of Art, where he teaches Research Methodologies, Complex Systems, and Design Innovation. He holds a PhD in Design Sciences from the University Iuav of Venice and served as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Rochester Institute of Technology. With extensive international experience, Alessio has held academic positions at institutions including Brunel University London, TU Delft, and CalPoly. His professional background spans industrial design consultancy for major firms like Indesit Company and various startups. In 2016, he was recognized as one of the world's first Blue Economy experts by Professor Gunter Pauli at the University of Pécs. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Alessio is committed to excellence in teaching, specializing in bridging the gap between complex academic frameworks and practical design application to foster sustainable, future-oriented innovation across global industries.

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