EXPANDING THE MARGINS (EXM26)
International Design Research Conference 3–4 DECEMBER 2026, BARCELONA
Open University of Catalonia (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) Rambla del Poblenou, 156 Carrer Perú, 52 08018 Barcelona
Contact: designconference@uoc.edu
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
KEY DATES
Publication of Call for Papers: February 2026
Submission deadline: 15 May 2026
Notification of acceptance: 1 July 2026
Online registration: 2 September to 31 October 2026
PUBLICATIONS
As an outcome of the conference, the proceedings will be published with an ISBN, along with a special issue in an academic journal.
CALL FOR PAPERS
The conference aims to explore the richness and diversity of approaches to design research, as well as their potential to address the challenges of contemporary society.
You are invited to submit proposals, reflections, and research projects related to the following lines of specialization in design:
- Design and new political scenarios— design against fascism, citizen participation, and social justice
- Design and professional practice— creativity?, cultural narratives, employability, and precariousness
- Design and academia— teaching experiences in design and/or the trajectory of design researchers
- Design and new visualities, graphics, and image— defining visual culture in physical and digital spaces
- Design, information visualization, and cartographies— the role of design in scientific communication
- Design in the peripheries— practicing design from non-normative spaces
- Design and the climate crisis— approaches, reflections, and/or solutions regarding design’s role in the climate emergency
- Design and its historical debts— filling the gaps in Western design narratives (gender, postcolonialism, class)
- Design, health, and well-being — approaches and experiences from design practice
- Design and possible futures— speculative technologies, methodologies, and imaginaries to be built
Participation Formats
Participation in the conference may take the form of paper presentations or posters.
Additionally, other formats may be considered depending on the proposals received.
Submissions are accepted in Spanish, Catalan, and English.
Papers Abstracts
Must be submitted through the online form. They should be 500 words and include the research question and/or approach, theoretical references, methodology, and, when applicable, results.
Posters
Complete freedom is given regarding the design and format of the poster, with a recommended maximum size of A2 (420 × 594 mm).
Posters must be submitted as PDF files and should include the research approach, methodology, and references. Once accepted, authors are responsible for printing their posters.
Other formats
You may propose alternative formats, which will be evaluated by the committee.