projecteddesign

Projecteddesign is a design approach that integrates projection-based visualization and future-oriented thinking to shape artefacts, spaces, and services. The term is used by design studios and educators to describe a workflow that foregrounds projected scenarios—physical or digital—before committing to final form.

It draws on projection mapping, augmented reality, and immersive modeling to simulate how a design will function in context. By visualizing interactions, trajectories, and environmental effects ahead of fabrication, designers can test assumptions, communicate concepts, and align stakeholders early in the process.

Key principles include contextuality, foresight, testability, inclusivity, and sustainability. The approach emphasizes understanding how a design sits within its surroundings, anticipating user needs, enabling iterative learning, ensuring accessibility, and minimizing negative environmental impact.

Common methods encompass 3D models, projection mapping in physical spaces, digital twins, scenario planning, design fiction, and rapid prototyping in situ. Tools often combine visual simulations with physical or virtual environments to explore different futures and configurations.

Applications of projecteddesign span architecture, retail, museums, product design, urban planning, and event design. It is used to communicate complex ideas, test spatial and interactive dynamics, and explore how services unfold over time within real environments.

Critique notes that projecteddesign can be resource-intensive and may overemphasize visual impressions if not integrated with broader evaluations. When applied alongside human-centered testing and quantitative assessment, it can enhance understanding of how designs perform in real contexts.

Related concepts include projection mapping, speculative design, design fiction, scenario planning, and digital twin.