Energy Divination

Energy Divination: Would you like to tell the future of energy?

Energy Divination is a game and speculative design made by Oliver Bates and Marcia Smith for the Net0i research project funded by the EPSRC. The game is a critique of data centric insights used by many decision makers and a prototype of visual only interpretive AI tool for predicting energy futures. 

What is it?

Energy Divination is a quick visual prompt game about using only visual information to predict energy futures. It encourages an alternative approach and perspective to the data-centric thinking that happens in energy research and digital interventions.

To play.

1) Download and print the sheet 

2) Grab some of your favourite cards with dreamlike images (think Dixit, Mysterium, Tarot, etc) and shuffle. (Try mixing different decks if you like)

3) Now read When, Where, What and How your energy future will unfold. 

4) New pause for reflection. 
  - How does this approach compare to existing forecasting and reporting tools (e.g., dashboards, spreadsheets, etc)
  - If you were in charge of energy, when and where would you use a tool like this?

Read more about the AI headset inspiration for the game here and more about the design process here.

Thanks to our play testers: Christian Remy, Adam Tyler, and attendees of ICT4S 2025.