Science fiction and the futures of artificial womb technology: towards a carrier bag theory of design fiction

(2019), we argue that a narrative frame rooted instead in multiplicity, resourcefulness and collectivity is necessary for approaching speculation about AWTs.To show how Le Guin's theory might reshape futures debates, we propose a theoretical framing of a design method: a carrier bag theory of design fiction. Reflecting on a design fiction exercise developed through engagement with Le Guin's essay, we show how taking account of a diverse range of perspectives as well as a broad spectrum of possible futures fosters discussion of a technology that is not restricted to individual benefit and desirability. Rather, such an approach decentres existing narratives, juxtaposing them with alternative fictions that educe the wider impacts of novel technologies. By reflecting on this process, the essay considers the affordances of the carrier bag as a form, showing how narrative structure shapes the types of futures that can be imagined.