Speculative Design Masterclass
Masterclass

Speculative Design Masterclass

A masterclass in the application of speculative design for organisational impact

5 live virtual sessions, 3 hrs each

£1,500Oct 19–23rd, 2026

Limited places — Oct 19–23rd, 2026

★★★★★96% of students rate our courses 5 Stars

Trusted by 100+ organizations

Overview

This applied speculative design masterclass allows for a deeper level of conversation and exploration. Our masterclasses are typically attended by individuals with some experience or expertise in the approach or subject already including graduates of our Speculative Design Basics course.

In these sessions participants actively apply methods to existing or future organisational challenges and engage in a deeper critique and reflection on previous or current work. Together we work through how we can use speculative design methods to impact strategy.

We also offer a 45 minute one-to-one session with participants as part of this class. Together we will explore thinking on future applications and next practice.

For more information on this course or to discuss a bespoke masterclass for your team please contact hello@critical.design

Details

5 live virtual sessions, 3 hrs each

Enroll Now

Oct 19–23rd, 202611am–2pm London timeVirtual

★★★★★

96% of students rate our courses 5 Stars

100% of our past participants would recommend this course to others. (Seriously, it's true!)

What People are Saying

"The course is interesting, creative, challenging and fun - and I assure that you'll walk away very convinced and excited about the methodology."

"A well-paced introduction to a valuable, clearly-structured, and pragmatic approach to design that I can already see value and application for. The core message of going out and exploring the future in an inclusive way and then, critically, bringing that back to today and connecting it to action, is just great. I'll admit that I had been slightly concerned that it might be much more about futurism and design fiction, when it fact the course was very grounded."

"A friendly, enthusiastic, stimulating foray into the future and back again."

"J. Paul and Gemma guide you on the methodology of speculative design specifically for practical application in organisations. In the fast changing, constantly adapting world of startups, they make a strong case for companies and product teams to think more in the future. The course guides you through a process with your own project of thinking beyond the box, mapping out probable scenarios and learning how to apply the learnings from speculative futures into practical and strategic decisions to make today."

You will leave with

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A new approach to product and service development & innovation

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An empathetic approach to systems thinking

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Frameworks for connecting  long term considerations and near term action

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Freshly ignited creativity and energy for change

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An approach to shaping organizational change, strategy and purpose

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Opportunities for networking around deep purpose with other alumni

This course is for

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Designers, Strategists, Product or Innovation Managers, Researchers, or anyone interested in using speculative design in their work

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Anyone interested in learning about speculative design ability to create organisational value

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Anyone interested in learning about the commercial applications of speculative design‍

Your Teachers

J. Paul Neeley

J. Paul Neeley - Designer & Researcher

Ted Hunt

Ted Hunt - Speculative Designer

Gemma Jones

Gemma Jones - Cultural Strategist

Which Speculative Design course should I take?

Many people ask whether to take Speculative Design Basics or the Speculative Design Masterclass. Basics is our self-paced online course. You work through the material whenever suits you, from any timezone, covering what speculative design is, the process, the tools and methods, and how the practice creates value inside an organisation. No prior experience is assumed.

The Masterclass is for people who already have some grounding. You may have read about or studied speculative design, be familiar with the basic methods, know example projects and practitioners, or have run speculative projects yourself. That familiarity lets us go much further into methods, tactics and meaning across five live sessions. We suggest taking Speculative Design Basics first, to get up to speed on the SOCD language and core approaches before the Masterclass.

For Companies

‍For more information on multiple spots on a program or to discuss a bespoke version of this course for your team please contact hello@critical.design for details.We are also happy to invoice your company for spots on the course if that is easier. Contact hello@critical.design for details.

Accessible Pricing

For young designers, those in emerging markets, new practices, or any other situation where our pricing is genuinely difficult, we hope you’ll apply for a scholarship. We respond to every application.

Apply for a scholarship →

Want to see how we run this work end to end? Read The Speculative Design Methodology: A Practitioner’s Workflow.

Speculative Design Masterclass

Five live sessions to move from understanding speculative design to leading it inside organizations.

£1,500Oct 19–23rd, 2026

Limited places

Bespoke Learning

Interested in bringing speculative design or other emerging innovation approaches into your wider organization?

Skill up your team

We can run any of our open enrollment courses or lectures as a dedicated session for your organization or in-house teams.

Custom Experience

We can develop custom topic and futures explorations for your organization.

Book a Consultation

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