Fear, Sadness and Anger: Key Emotions in Future Design
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When we think about emotions, we often focus on the "positive" ones and push aside those we've been taught to avoid, the ones with "bad press". That led me to another thought: if I had to design the future from an emotional perspective, which emotions would I consider? What emotional space would I use as a foundation? So, I turned to a neutral source: good old ChatGPT.
ChatGPT, what emotions are key to designing the future?
It mentioned emotions like curiosity, empathy, resilience, trust, and hope. And it makes sense, they are fundamental for innovation and change:
- Curiosity: The foundation of innovation, driving us to explore
- Empathy: The ability to understand others and design relevant solutions
- Resilience: The skill to adapt to change without losing direction
- Trust: Essential for collaboration and building strong teams
- Hope: A driver of action in uncertain times
But I was still left with the same question I had at the start of this article, what about the emotions we tend to avoid? The ones that make us uncomfortable but can also be powerful drivers of change? I say this from personal experience. That question is what sparked this article.
I connected with three emotions that, for me, felt completely out of place when talking about the future. After all, we all want a future that is better, happier, full of kindness, equality, and progress. How could I possibly build that future by listening to emotions like fear, anger, or sadness? They weren’t exactly welcomed at the table… or were they?
Three Key Emotions for Designing the Future
In a world full of uncertainty, three emotions, often seen as "negative", are actually crucial for innovation and transformation: fear, sadness, and anger. These emotions push us to ask difficult but necessary questions when designing a more human and realistic future.
😨 Fear: What could you lose?
Fear has a bad reputation, but in reality, it’s a compass. It alerts us to risks and helps us evaluate our decisions more carefully. As Brené Brown, an expert on vulnerability and leadership, says:
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it."
If we never feel fear in an innovation process, we might not be challenging the status quo enough. Designing the future requires boldness, but also an awareness of what’s at stake.
😢 Sadness: What have you lost that truly mattered?
Sadness connects us to what we deeply value. It allows us to reflect on what we’ve left behind and what we don’t want to lose in the future. As Simon Sinek puts it:
"Emotions drive decisions. When we feel sad, it’s because something truly matters to us."
If you've never felt vulnerable in an innovation process, maybe you haven’t explored deeply enough. Sadness forces us to recognize the importance of human connection in designing the future.
😡 Anger: What is unfair?
Anger is a driver of change. It pushes us to question what isn’t working and seek solutions to urgent problems. As Angela Davis famously said:
"I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept."
If you’ve never felt anger in a design process, you might not be paying enough attention to the injustices that need transformation. Well-channeled anger can be a powerful catalyst for change.
Designing the Future with All Our Emotions
The future of work and team design can’t be built solely on "positive" emotions.
We need to embrace those emotions with "bad press" because they are part of us—they are part of our humanity. Addressing the tough questions these emotions bring up can open up profound and valuable processes. Fear, sadness, and anger can help us build more human, realistic, and just solutions.
Future Design isn’t just about imagining what’s possible; it’s about facing what challenges us, pains us, and outrages us.
Listening to all our emotions will allow us to design futures that are not just functional but truly authentic. As designer John Maeda put it:
"Design is not just how it looks, but how it works."
And for it to work, it must connect with the emotional reality of people.
So next time you feel fear, sadness, or anger in an innovation process, don’t push them away. Ask yourself what they’re telling you, what they can bring to the table, you might discover something truly valuable for yourself and for others who feel the same.
Interested in Designing More Human-Centered Teams?
If you'd like to chat about how we can design more human-centric teams, aligned with real emotions and ready for the future of work, let’s talk! I’d love to help create more human and effective work environments.
