Domain Description

Every foresight project begins with a simple question: What exactly are we exploring, and why now? A domain description captures this. It defines the agreed-upon scope for the foresight initiative, providing clarity for the team and alignment with stakeholders.

A good domain description should include:

• The focal issue or guiding question: What’s the central topic you want to explore? This can be either a strategic issue such as "should we invest in AI training" or exploratory, such as "what is the future of AI in urban planning?"
• The project context: Why does this topic matter now?
• The project type: Are you attempting to explore or broaden your understanding of an issue, or are you attempting to get clarity and focus on a particular strategic objective?
• Geographic and sector scope: Where and in what contexts will we focus our attention?
• Client or stakeholder context: Who will use these insights, and how?
• Time horizon: How far into the future are we looking?

Domain Mapping

Once you have a clear understanding of your Domain Description, you can begin to map your futures project using a Domain Map. A Domain Map is a diagram that shows all the topics that are in scope for your foresight project.

Domain mapping works best as a group process with key stakeholders: brainstorming, expanding ideas, and making connections together. Frameworks like STEEPV (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political, Values) can help ensure you’re exploring your domain from multiple angles.

Start by putting your primary research topic in the middle, surrounded by the high-level topic categories.

Then, expand by going deeper into each topic, considering not only the physical systems and stakeholders you work with, but also public attitudes, emerging policies, and shifting habits.

Mark interconnections between subtopics where they arise.

Don’t worry about being too perfect! Exploration can be messy.

You should end with a good understanding of the entire domain and a living document that you can return to throughout the project.