Future as the Brief / Consumerism as theme
How do we use the future as a brief? The scenarios depicted in the Ecotopia are not forecasts for what may or may not happen to this disciplined economic situation but examples from an infinite number of possible scenarios. This thought exercise could be repeated many more times and produce very different outcomes. These created scenarios are, however, based on the same theme and set of criteria together with a toolset that functions as a brief to think.
Consumerism is set as the central theme to scenario-building activities, for its close relationship with our capitalist economy and our material lifestyle. Consumerism is widely regarded as the product of modern capitalism, with the Consumer goods market driven by the needs of accumulation and valorization.