In times when rapid digitalisation and fewer human interactions are redefining our traditional concepts of romance, sex and relationships, we explore what it means to be “intimate” in our modern world.
“Futures of Intimacy” is a digital knowledge piece that explores evolving signals, drivers, and scenarios shaping the future of intimacy and relationships, acknowledging trends driven by digitalisation and social and cultural shifts.
Intimacy and meaningful connection are what make us human and what make us feel alive. During Covid-19, a growing narrative around relationships, human connection, touch, identity, and inclusivity emerged, especially as we considered the global pandemic’s impact on our mental health, loneliness, and fear, both in our personal and professional lives.
Across the world, Covid-19 has had a tremendous impact. The virus not only revealed shortcomings and biases in our economic and healthcare systems, but it also gave us time to rethink, reframe, and redefine our relationships and perhaps even change our minds about them. It revealed habits and hidden dimensions of our relationships with ourselves and others. And it continues to impact how we connect with the people in our lives, the relationships we nurture, and how we view concepts around closeness and intimacy.
As designers and futurists, we are intrigued by the role of intimacy in our modern world and in our future. Questions such as What is intimacy (and what is it not)? How are traditional conceptions of romance, sex, and relationships changing and evolving? How do we experience the role of technology in reshaping what it means to be intimate? are not only fascinating but also matter. Quite frankly, we believe human connection and intimacy are major forces shaping the future of love, work, learning, society, and humanity.
How did we do it?
Firstly, we conducted desktop research to identify a diverse range of signals of change within the intimacy landscape. This was gathered through engagement with academic, commercial, and news articles, as well as podcasts, educational videos, and social media scanning.
Equally important, we conducted interviews and conversations with experts through a Bespoke Dialogues session: an intimate, offline evening with engaged dialogue, no audience, curious conversations, fresh inspiration, and challenging ideas. We invited a group of people from different walks of life, interests, and areas of expertise to explore perspectives of intimacy.
“This was a beautifully designed experience. A bonding ritual of practising intimacy and vulnerability, where strangers could look each other in the eye, engage, and share their personal perspectives on intimacy.”
— Bespoke Dialogues participant
Ultimately, the purpose was to listen, share, and push our thinking to new horizons around the topic of intimacy, sexuality, technology, and the social sciences.
This project originates from Bespoke, a foresight design consultancy that merged with Manyone in 2022. The Future Landscapes of Intimacy publication’s research and overall design process were informed and guided by Bespoke’s Futures Design Framework.
Credits: Delivered as part of Bespoke. Role: Strategic Foresight Lead
October 2021 – December 2021
