Artifact Scanner

"The Artifact Scanner is a handheld tool designed to unlock new possibilities, reframe contexts, and inspire futures thinking. Whether you're in a design fiction workshop or exploring speculative design on your own, this tool challenges you to think beyond the present."

About the Artifact Scanner

The Artifact Scanner is a laser-cut acrylic device that prompts users to reimagine the purpose and story of everyday objects. By delivering thought-provoking prompts, it helps designers, futurists, and creators step into alternate realities and future possibilities. This tool encourages the practice of 'imagine harder,' sparking creativity in design fiction.

How It Works

Simply inspect an object in your surroundings through the Artifact Scanner. As you engage, a series of speculative prompts challenges you to reframe the object’s purpose and narrative. By pushing your thinking beyond the obvious, this tool opens new pathways for creativity.

The Making Of

The Artifact Scanner was born from the intersection of speculative design and futures thinking. It was prototyped using laser-cut acrylic for a clean, minimal aesthetic, making it as tactile as it is thoughtful. Below are images from the workshop where participants used the scanner to uncover new design insights.

Build Your Own Artifact Scanner

Want to create your own Artifact Scanner? Below, you'll find all the files and instructions needed to laser-cut and assemble your own device.

Download the source files

Artifact Scanner in the Wild

The scanner was unveiled at the Detroit Imagines Harder Summit 2024 where an eager group of workshop attendees used the device to help analyze and interpret near future artifacts.

Imagine Harder

Artifact Scanner was designed by Dré Labre of Design Fiction Daily & The Department of Never Been Done Before in collaboration with Near Future Laboratory for Detroit Imagines Harder Summit 2024.

• Thanks to Brent Marshall for helping refine the design and assisting with laser cutting.
• Shout out to Smithery and their Obliquiscope for inspiring this fork.
• Stay tuned for Artifact Scanner v2. Coming soon.