How to visualise futures studies concepts Revision of the futures cone

Abstract

Futures studies concepts are complex and challenging to communicate and elaborate on. Visual

artefacts exist to aid this process. Variants of futures cones, plausibility cones, or cones of possibilities

are most common. Yet, the is a lack of scientific discussion and consistency. A review of

what does exist can lead to a more coherent communication of concepts. This aids futures literacy

and enables more targeted theoretical elaborations using the cone as an intermediary object. We

pose the questions (1) how futures cones have been used so far to visualise concepts of futures

studies and (2) how characteristics can be consolidated into a revised version. We compiled 14

representations and compared and analysed them.