8 weeks
10 (Level 9 Award)
3 Aug 2026
IADT
10
€1,100 or €220*
What does the future hold for us all? Well, instead of wondering, why not design it?
The Certificate in Speculative Design Futures is a new course suitable for designers and creatives practitioners from all disciplines interested in designing a positive future for all (people and planet).
The course will equip you with futures thinking literacy and the practical speculative design skills needed to engage critically with the uncertainty and complexity of wicked problems that exist in our world today.
From the urgency of climate change, and pervasive new technologies, to the precarity of peace and the search for tolerance and inclusion, the need for creative and concrete alternative visions of our futures must be envisaged.
Our course will provide you with a set of critical thinking and making tools that will enable you to confront futures design challenges with confidence.
During the course, you will:
As part of your application, you will be required to provide a CV with details of:
Course content will include:
You will be assessed through class participation and two assignments:
(independent learning 50 hours approx.)
The course will be delivered on a blended format as follows:
| Dates | Time | Delivery |
| Saturday 12.09.26 | 9.30am – 4pm | On Campus |
| Wednesday 21.10.26 | 7pm – 9pm | Online |
| Saturday 14.11.26 | 9.30am – 4pm | On Campus |
| Wednesday 09.12.26 | 7pm – 9pm | Online |
| Saturday 16.01.27 | 9.30am – 4pm | On Campus |
| Wednesday 10.02.27 | 7pm – 9pm | Online |
| Wednesday 03.03.27 | 7pm – 9pm | Online |
| Wednesday 07.04.27 | 6.30pm – 9pm | Online |
Undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree level in design or a related discipline.
Applicants may also be considered provided that they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence, which can be verified through our RPL [recognition of prior learning] process.
You will need to have a laptop and Adobe Creative Suite.
Fees are either €1,100 or €220*
* This course offers a micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy (LFS). Applicants interested in the LFS must apply via: www.springboardcourses.ie
All fees for certificate programmes must be fully paid prior to commencement of course; students cannot attend classes or access course materials until then.
The course fee is non-refundable once the course has commenced.
“The Speculative Design Futures course at CFA at IADT offers a great balance of theory and practice. I gained a strong foundation in speculative design and the course project allowed me to put that knowledge into action. One of the most rewarding aspects was collaborating with the team from diverse backgrounds. I learned just as much from them as from the course itself. It was a very inspiring experience.”
Freddie Sukprasong
Senior Product Designer, DeepL