Futures studies argue that the future cannot be predicted, but rather alternative futures can be explored and preferred futures can be imagined. Furthermore, our images of the futures can be a resource that informs our decision making. Understanding and imagining futures needs transdisciplinary inquiry; it calls for creativeness and freedom from prejudice. In this study, we present a design experiment accomplished in the textile teacher education at the University of Helsinki. Our aim was to explore and strengthen the skills that students will need in their future work. Expression, design and technology are characterized by open-ended and complex design problems. When solving them, a student internalizes that there are no right or wrong solutions to problems, that the path of the design process cannot be precisely defined in advance, and that the same starting point can produce different solutions. This experiment familiarized students with the interrelation between materials and the techniques for their manipulation, and guides the students to understanding the opportunities provided by manual experimentation, spontaneous invention and discovery. Carrying out these experiments entails the free, unusual or absurd manipulation of the materials. Ugly was especially selected as the viewpoint to discuss possible new futures. Data were collected from students’ portfolios and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The study shows that making something intentionally ugly raises emotional debate. Ugly was understood and defined in numerous ways. Ugly experiments impacted on motivation to invent and discover by empowering or encouraging, for example. A matrix was formed to summarize the findings of the study.

中文翻译：

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丑陋的手艺，考验另类期货

期货研究认为，无法预测未来，而是可以探索替代期货，并可以想象优先期货。此外，我们对期货的印象可以成为指导我们决策的资源。了解和想象期货需要跨学科的研究；它要求创造力和摆脱偏见。在这项研究中，我们提出了一个在赫尔辛基大学的纺织老师教育中完成的设计实验。我们的目的是探索和增强学生未来工作中需要的技能。表达，设计和技术的特点是开放性和复杂的设计问题。在解决问题时，学生会内在地思考问题没有正确或错误的解决方案，无法预先精确定义设计过程的路径，相同的起点可以产生不同的解决方案。该实验使学生熟悉了材料和操纵技术之间的相互关系，并引导学生了解手工实验，自发发明和发现所提供的机会。进行这些实验需要对材料进行自由，异常或荒谬的操纵。特别选择了Ugly作为讨论可能的新未来的观点。从学生的档案袋中收集数据，并使用定性内容分析法进行分析。研究表明，故意制造丑陋的东西会引起情绪上的争论。丑陋的理解和定义方式多种多样。例如，丑陋的实验通过授权或鼓励来影响发明和发现的动力。