Dustin Valen (March 2012) has published an paper in the latest issue of PLAT Journal — an independent architectural journal published by students at Rice School of Architecture. Entitled "On the Uses and Disadvantages of Science Fiction; or, The Architectural Relevance of William Gibson," the paper was inspired by a seminar taught at the Daniels Faculty by visiting professor Helmut Klassen in  Fall 2012. Klassen's seminar was called "Liminal Projection: The Intersection of Architecture and Cultural Imagining in the Contemporary City."

Valen's paper looks at the process of extrapolation, a method of imagining developed through the science-fiction genre at the close of the 19th century, and explores how it can be usefully applied to architecture as a predictive design tool. "This essay is meant as a provocation to young designers in light of our present, and escalating rate of technological innovation," says Valen. As the title implies, his paper discusses one example of Sci-Fi's speculative richness, the work of author William Gibson (better known for his 1984 literary blockbuster Neuromancer), to suss out a handful of future-minded architectural and urban insights.

Valen is currently working in Toronto at Lord Cultural Resources as a designer on their exhibition and events team. He will be starting PhD research at McGill in the Fall.