A speculative design & foresight project by Abril Chimal & Lena Tünkers
Speculative Futures of Humanitarian Aid: Introduction
In 2024, the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent was held to address pressing global humanitarian challenges. As part of this important event, Lena Tünkers and Abril Chimal were honoured to be among the four winners of the IFRC Solferino Academy Speculative Competition. The challenge was to imagine the products and services humans might create in a world increasingly impacted by digital risks and autonomous weapons. Through a foresight process combined with a speculative futures exercise, we unfolded scenarios of possible futures for humanitarian aid, exploring key issues that might emerge in the future and providing valuable insights to inform and guide decisions today.
Speculative Futures of Humanitarian Aid
Why Speculative Design Matters?
The humanitarian sector’s growing crises demand a shift from reactive triage to proactive transformation—a journey from “What If?” to “What Now?”. Traditional models, strained by climate disasters, systemic inequity, and technological disruption, need tools that turn foresight into action. Speculative design bridges this gap by making alternative futures tangible and experienceable: imagine a world where aid prioritises non-human rights, or where communities co-design resilience systems. Our Tiniest Soul—an experiential futures prototype—did exactly this, immersing audiences in a possible reality to spark visceral debate. But speculation’s power lies in its ability to catalyse present-day decisions. By pairing speculative design with experiential futures, we move beyond theoretical “what ifs” to pressure-test concrete “what nows.” This isn’t about predicting; it’s about **preparing—**using creative provocation to redesign aid systems that are as adaptive as the crises they address.
The “Tiniest Souls”
What if a nation’s cultural survival relied on tiny artefacts held by its citizens – what happens if one is lost?
Welcome to the year 2087. You carry a fragment of your digital nation with you, safely stored in the “Tiniest Soul” ring worn on your finger.
Over the past decades, much of Earth’s land was heavily reshaped by changing climates and mass displacement. Our countries and cultural identities could no longer survive solely by claiming physical land and building borders. Climate-induced displacements left citizens vulnerable to the loss of their identities, histories, and cultures—treasures that could be lost forever.
To safeguard our nation’s essence, we began capturing and storing it digitally as we sought refuge in safer lands, leaving our homelands behind.
But, the growing reliance on centralised digital storage systems that held our identities, nation and cultures revealed a critical flaw: they were fragile and easily compromised by technical failures, cyber-attacks, or systemic changes. History could be easily manipulated by simply erasing or editing data. As data leaks, loss, and misuse escalated, a new era emerged—the era of Digital Refugees.
In response, “Tiniest Soul” rings were created as a decentralised solution to preserve and protect a nation’s cultural essence across its citizens. When brought into proximity with one another, these rings could restore lost data within safeguarded spaces, ensuring the survival of shared heritage.
These rings symbolise the fragility of the digital age, where the preservation of a nation’s soul relies on the smallest, most precious artefact—just a byte of information.
Questions:
- What if, in a world without physical borders, the concept of “possessions” shifted from tangible objects to cultural narratives and digital heritage — who would have the power to control them?
- What if the global community, facing existential threats, had to decide which aspects of their culture and identity to preserve in a digital vault — and which to leave behind? Who gets to make those decisions, and what does it mean for future generations?
- What if a digital vault for preserving a nation’s culture wasn’t just about storage, but about creating a living, breathing connection between its citizens worldwide? How might this shift the way we see belonging to and with others?
- What if being part of a global community wasn’t about geography but about what you chose to safeguard in a digital vault — could this become a new form of citizenship?
Engagement during 34th International Conference
Visitors encountered The Tiniest Soul – a physical ring with a floating digital animation, simulating an hologram. Each received a government letter welcoming them as a “Nation Keeper” at 16, introducing their role in this speculative future. Through guided role-play, they explored the scenario’s mechanics before facing a poignant question: What one element of your culture would you preserve in the ring? After reflection, visitors documented their cultural treasures on cards, depositing them in a collection box.
Key Insights
The experience revealed that many participants had never deeply considered cultural heritage loss or its humanitarian implications. Thus, the scenario sparked rich discussions, with visitors making personal connections (like blockchain enthusiasts seeing new applications). The act of selecting a cultural element proved particularly powerful, making the future feel emotionally present and the introductory letter and guided interactions effectively deepened the engagement.
Conclusion
This foresight and speculative design exercise on digital risks demonstrates why we must move beyond conventional humanitarian thinking. In a world of accelerating, unpredictable change, speculative futures work expands our imagination and prepares us for tomorrow’s challenges. Continuous foresight dialogue and weak signal monitoring remain essential to navigate humanitarianism’s evolving landscape.
Want to explore further? Contact us! If you’re interested in a deep dive into the possible futures for your organisation, let’s connect.
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