Projektivne

Projektivne is a theoretical framework in design thinking and project management that emphasizes the integration of futures thinking into current project processes. It centers on projecting possible future states and values into present decisions to guide planning, design, and governance. The term, combining elements of “project” and a Slavic-rooted notion of “vision” or “projection,” has circulated in design studies and futures discourse since the 2010s, without a single authorship or formal standard.

Core concepts include a horizon of projection, participatory scenario-building, and iterative alignment. Projektivne invites stakeholders to articulate preferred futures and then backcast concrete milestones and actions that would realize those futures. It stresses ethical considerations and resilience, promoting flexibility to adapt as scenarios shift. Methods commonly associated with the approach include scenario workshops, backcasting exercises, futures probes, and iterative prototyping of processes rather than products alone.

Applications of Projektivne span product development, project governance, and urban planning. It is used to structure roadmaps that connect long-term impact with short-term decision making and to support inclusive design by involving users, communities, and sponsors in envisioning exercises and evaluating trade-offs.

Criticism has focused on its potential vagueness or diffusion into speculative discourse, which can challenge measurement and concrete accountability. Proponents argue that it is a planning orientation rather than a forecast, intended to complement rather than replace feasibility studies and traditional risk management.

See also: futures studies, scenario planning, backcasting, design thinking, futures literacy.