Long-term public issues face the intergenerational problem: current policy decisions place a disproportionate burden on future generations while primarily benefiting those in the present. The interests of present generations trump those of future generations, as the latter play no explicit part as stakeholders in policymaking processes. 

This paper describes future design, an innovative method to incorporate the interests of future generations in the process of policymaking. It shows how future design is situated in the policy process and relates to other intergenerational policymaking initiatives. The paper also illustrates how future design can be applied and provides insights into three pilots on two long-term public issues in the Netherlands: housing shortages and water management. 

The paper concludes future design can effectively contribute to representing the interests of future generations, but that adoption of future design in different contexts requires adaptation of the method. The findings increase understanding of the value of future design as an innovative policymaking practice to strengthen intergenerational policymaking.