The Future Families project investigates design and bioethics partnerships, with particular emphasis upon collaborative research methods. The research uses assisted conception and surrogacy as case studies to investigate the use of design proposals to examine social, cultural and ethical issues surrounding life sciences. More specifically, the research looks at the social relationships that emerge between gamete donors, recipients, commissioning parents and children who are growing in families with other 'parents' or 'progenitors' who do not have a social connection to them.

The research builds on the critical analysis of collaborative activities between scientists and artists coined 'SciArt', to develop a new role for design practice to foster interdisciplinary dialogue between designers and bioethicists. It employs 'Critical Design' theory, developed by Prof. Anthony Dunne, which uses speculative design proposals to address sociocultural issues surrounding emerging technologies. This is distinct from SciArt both through its proximity to the everyday and through its established connection with working practices in the sciences. The aim of adopting 'Critical Design' theory is not only to provide commentary on the issues raised by science but also to identify design opportunities in unfolding scientific and social events, and to use these opportunities to stimulate a deeper intellectual and emotional engagement with evolving possibilities in science and social policy.

The aim is that the research method will be integrated with those of bioethicists with a view of using design proposals to make abstract issues that surround life sciences more tangible for wider audiences, while applying design discipline to contain the "artistic" attitudes to science inherent in much SciArt work.