This project, in collaboration with Rotterdam Public Library (RPL), focuses on the renewal of the Erasmus Experience, aiming to engage citizens of Rotterdam with the values of Desiderius Erasmus. Despite Erasmus's historical significance and RPL housing the largest collection of his works, many visitors remain unaware of his contributions. Originally designed in 2016, the Erasmus Experience aims to introduce Erasmus's ideas on language, behaviour, religion, and humour in an interactive format. With the renewal of RPL and a decline in visitor numbers, a renewed experience was in favour.

The goal of this project is connect citizens of Rotterdam with Erasmus's values, guided by RPL's mission to foster conscious, critical societal participation. Speculative design was chosen as the foundation for the new experience, in particular the method of Design Fiction. Speculative design employs fictional future scenarios to provoke thought and discussion on societal values. By presenting hypothetical situations relevant to Rotterdam, visitors are encouraged to reflect on moral and societal issues.

The final concept, In praise of the Future, integrates these speculative stories into an interactive digital experience, guiding users through four reflection moments. At the end, participants receive a token as a tangible takeaway to encourage continued reflection.

The evaluation, conducted at RPL, tested user engagement and the effectiveness of fostering critical reflection. While the prototype struggles to attract spontaneous participation in a busy space, those who engaged showed deep reflection, connecting the stories to their own lives and societal concerns.

By using speculative design to explore modern societal themes in an engaging and accessible way, the project shows the potential to successfully encourage reflection while being in line with RPL's broader educational and cultural goals.