‘The future is a work in progress’ was a flagship symposium at ImaginationLancaster's Festival of Futures. The symposium shared the culmination of five years dedicated pursuit of knowledge, funded through a groundbreaking E3 initiative by Research England in 2019. During this time four centres of design-research excellence across the UK applied their expertise to work at the intersection of design and global challenges:

-The Centre for Print Research, University of the West of England, Bristol
-The Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Newcastle University & Northumbria University
-ImaginationLancaster, Lancaster University
-Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam University

At the symposium, academics from the four centres came together to explore the complexities of our future world, a gathering that demonstrated how design research transcends disciplines, challenges assumptions, and shapes the very fabric of tomorrow. The symposium was attended by senior figures from the UK Research Councils, academics, public, private and third sector organisations and the public. 

The Festival of Futures took place from the 8-15th March 2024 at Lancaster University. It was the culmination of the £13.2M E3 Beyond Imagination project funded by Research England and Lancaster University demonstrating how design research can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and prosperous world. 

The festival consisted of 2 flagship symposiums, a weeklong exhibition of cutting-edge design research drawn from four universities which delegates experienced as part of this event, plus nine satellite events led by Imagination academics.