The Future of Education

In a world shaped by rapid cultural, technological, and economic transformations, futures literacy—the capacity to imagine and prepare for multiple possible futures—has emerged as a critical competency, recognized by UNESCO as essential for navigating 21st-century challenges. Fashion education provides a unique opportunity to cultivate this skill, offering a fertile ground for the integration of forecasting and foresight methodologies. The field's dual reliance on data-driven analysis and speculative creativity makes it an ideal platform to prepare students for uncertainty while fostering innovation.

This study explores the intersection of these methodologies through a case study, guided by the theoretical framework developed by researcher Arianna Mereu. The project demonstrates how combining predictive analysis (forecast) with strategic exploration of alternative futures (foresight) and speculative design methods (including generative AI), equips learners to anticipate shifts in cultural, technological, and consumer behavior. This multi-methodological approach is aimed at fostering critical thinking and creative problem-solving within the dynamic landscape of fashion.

The findings suggest that embedding futures literacy into fashion education enhances students' ability to navigate and shape emerging trends, aligning with industry demands for adaptability and visionary leadership. By bridging the gap between theoretical models and practical applications, this framework empowers educators to rethink pedagogy, fostering a forward-thinking mindset that combines data analysis, creativity, and strategy.

This presentation offers a methodological blueprint for applying forecast and foresight in education, with implications for curriculum design, student engagement, and industry collaboration. As fashion continues to evolve at the crossroads of culture and innovation, this approach positions education as a driver of change, equipping the next generation of fashion professionals to lead with foresight and agility.

Keywords: Futures literacy, forecast, foresight, fashion education, trend analysis, speculative design, scenario planning, cultural shifts, generative AI

REFERENCES

• Garcia, C. C. (2023). "Fashion futuring: Intertwining speculative design, foresight, and material culture towards sustainable futures." Futures, 115, 103242.
• Al-Halah, Z., Stiefelhagen, R., Grauman, K. (2017). "Fashion Forward: Forecasting Visual Style in Fashion", Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV), 338-397
• Miller, R. (2021). Transforming the Future: Anticipation in the 21st Century. Routledge.