Exploring Alternative Futures

The Emergent Futures Festival

The Emergent Futures Festival was a not-for-profit event aimed at increasing futures literacy within the Barcelona community. It connected a global network of like-minded designers and community change-makers to raise awareness about the relationship between social and climate justice. Through exhibitions, workshops, panels, and discursive events, local community interventions explored four key research areas: spatial justice, empowering care, posthuman awakening, and planetary mutualism. Panels included: “Resilience through Responsibility,” “How to Bridge the Digital Gender Gap in the ‘New Normal,’” “A Conscious Humans Guide to Rural Life,” and “Nomadic Box.” Community events included: “Sister Loba Challenge,” “Phygital Awakenings,” “215: Art Build & Memorial,” “Aqui: Collaborative Placemaking,” and “Silent Playscape Game.” Workshops included: “OND Masks” and “Mycelium Board Workshop.” Exhibitions included: “Autonomous Tree” and “Sensing Matter.” Using design as a tool, the festival aimed to showcase that the futures we want to see tomorrow can be designed today. We invite you to discover these projects and engage and continue the conversation surrounding these urgent topics.