World Game

Fuller Futures Festival 2026

April 22–26, 2026

SIU Carbondale & Fuller Dome Home Museum

Call for Trimtabs

Making the world work for 100% of humanity through design science and collaborative problem solving

Origins

Fuller's Vision For Global Design

Buckminster Fuller created the World Game in 1961 as a tool for understanding humanity's greatest challenges. He believed that with the right information and collaborative thinking, we could solve problems once thought impossible.

A game without winners

The World Game operates on a principle that contradicts traditional competition. Everyone wins when humanity wins, and the simulation reveals how our choices ripple across the globe.

Systems thinking in action

Players encounter the interconnected nature of resources, economics, and human need. What seems like a local decision carries global consequences, teaching participants how the world actually works.

Design science as method

Fuller's approach combined rigorous data with creative imagination. The World Game demonstrates that solving for all of humanity requires both scientific precision and bold thinking.

2026

The festival returns home

Southern Illinois University Carbondale hosted Fuller from 1959 to 1971, years when his most transformative work took shape. We're bringing the World Game back to where it was nurtured.

The SIM Center advantage

Technology has evolved since Fuller's time, but his core insight remains unchanged. Our SIM Center uses advanced visualization and data modeling to make the invisible visible, letting players see the consequences of their decisions in real time.

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Participate

Three Ways To Engage With The Game

Whether you're a first-time player or someone who's studied Fuller's work for years, there's a role for you. Choose the level of involvement that fits your schedule and interests.

Submit

Play a World Game session

Join a team for a two to six hour simulation and experience collaborative problem-solving at scale.

Play

Form a SIM Center team

Work with advanced visualization tools to model scenarios and test solutions with real data.

Learn

Contribute expertise and data

Share your knowledge as a facilitator, data provider, or subject matter expert guiding the game.

Join The Game

This Year’s Festival Theme:

Fuller Futures Festival 2026

Call For Proposals

Join Fuller Futures Festival 2026 at SIU Carbondale. A global call for proposals re-igniting Buckminster Fuller’s World Game. We welcome ideas that unite art, science, and design to shape a sustainable future. Submit your proposal and be part of the convergence.

Learn systems thinking

The World Game teaches you to see connections others miss. You'll understand how decisions in one sector ripple through the entire global system.

Build lasting networks

You'll work alongside artists, scientists, designers, and educators from around the world. These collaborations often extend far beyond the festival.

Create real-world impact

The solutions generated during the festival inform actual projects and initiatives. Your thinking becomes part of the work to make the world work for everyone.

Questions

Everything you need to know about participating

What is the World Game?

Fuller's World Game is a collaborative design simulation that brings together diverse minds to solve real-world problems. Players work in teams to allocate global resources and address critical challenges facing humanity. It remains one of the most powerful tools for systems thinking and creative problem-solving ever developed.

Who can participate?

Artists, designers, educators, scientists, and thinkers of all backgrounds are welcome. You don't need prior experience with the World Game or expertise in any particular field. What matters is your willingness to engage seriously with complex problems and collaborate with others.

How long does it take?

Sessions vary in length depending on the format and depth of play. Most World Game experiences at the festival run between two and six hours. You can participate in multiple sessions throughout the festival if you wish.

What happens in the SIM Center?

The SIM Center is where the World Game comes alive with advanced visualization and data tools. Players use interactive technology to model scenarios and see the real-time consequences of their decisions. It's where theory meets practice and imagination meets evidence.

Do I need to prepare?

No special preparation is required. We'll provide all the context and guidance you need when you arrive. Come with an open mind and a willingness to think differently about the world's challenges.

What will I learn?

You'll gain insight into systems thinking, global resource distribution, and design science principles. More importantly, you'll experience firsthand how collaboration and creative thinking can generate solutions to seemingly impossible problems. The lessons extend far beyond the game itself.