How IMAGINATE has helped define Generation-After-Next concepts for defence

We have successfully used the IMAGINATE approach in several projects within Dstl to define GAN concepts for Defence. It provides a robust structure to be able to define concepts, whilst also allowing flexibility of the approach depending on the client’s needs.

What we’ve done

Imagineer Recruitment

We used our extensive network to identify suitable Imagineers for each sprint. Across the 8 Imagineers needed for each sprint, it was important to get the right mix of scientists and creative folk – to allow some creative tension whilst getting deep into the science!

Workshop Design

We have designed and developed a series of workshops for each sprint that:

• Build on one another to deliver game-changing concepts in the final workshop

• Use science and technology signals to create a stimulus for defining GAN concepts

• Focus either on future world pull or science and technology push. 
  For future world pull we use the stimulus to create narratives of a possible future world and then define concepts to address the challenges posed by the future world. For science and technology push we do a deep dive into the stimulus and generate ideas for how it could be applied in the future.

We worked closely with the client for each project to select and create the stimuli.

Workshop Delivery

During the sprints, our expert facilitation team kept the Imagineers on track ensuring that all pre-work was completed in time for the next workshop. This was important because the pre-work contributed to the stimulus material.

For the face-to-face workshops in addition to the Imagineers, Treehouse also supplied two Visioneers to sketch the concepts as they were created to bring them to life. We also worked with Dstl to access Military Advisers in the workshops. These individuals provided valuable operational insights to the teams to help shape the concepts. 

Outcome

Using the IMAGINATE approach we have worked with Dstl to deliver more than 20 concepts for some of their science programmes. These concepts will be developed further to check their viability for maturation and research by Dstl.

Feedback for the approach has been very positive, and participants particularly like the attendance of the Military Advisers, as well as the visualisations of the concepts.

One member of the Futures team said the support to Futures has “generated impactful ideas that have made us think differently and genuinely made a difference”.