Electric feels: The role of visual methods in energy ‘futuring’

Abstract

Abstract ‘How would you feel about computers telling you how to save energy?’—was just one of many questions we asked our participants engaging with four artworks commissioned for the 'Electric Feels' project. In this paper, we tell our story of this unique art‐research collaboration, share our illustrations and reflect on the power of visual methods to galvanise a new type of public conversation related to emotions, energy and digital innovation. By bringing together the literature from design research, STS and human geography, we intend to lay a path towards further interdisciplinary conversations. This commentary paper makes a case for collective energy ‘futuring’—embracing the role of affect, speculation and imagination, while moving away from the deficit model of public engagement in science.

Keywords

• creative methods
• energy
• infrastructure
• speculative design