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.
Tobias Revell: Design Futures in Infrastructure
- Date
- 26 February 2026
- Time
- 12:00-13:00 CET
About
Speakers
Tobias Revell
Associate & Design Futures Lead, Arup Foresight
Tobias Revell is an Associate and Design Futures Lead at Arup Foresight, where he develops design led futures practices to help organisations engage with uncertainty, challenge assumptions and make long-term change tangible. His work combines strategic foresight, speculative design and critical practice, supporting projects across the built environment, technology and public policy.
Prior to Arup, Tobias co-founded the design research consultancy Strange Telemetry and worked across academia, industry and cultural institutions as a designer and researcher. He continues to teach and lecture internationally, is completing a PhD at Goldsmiths on critical design and AI, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.