Design Disrupted: Shaping the Future of Design

IDSA International Design Conference & Education Symposium
September 11-13, 2024 – Austin, Texas

Submit an abstract for consideration as an IDSA Education Paper. Selected papers will have the opportunity to present at IDC, driving conversations on design pedagogy and research.

Industrial Design as we know it is changing, with disruptions affecting designers across the globe. But we don’t have to do it alone – by cultivating collective adaptability, we have the power to shape and redefine our industry and prove our value. Are you prepared to embrace these changes and elevate your design skills to new heights? 

In this rapidly changing environment, designers face new pressures in response to the state of the global economy and mass layoffs in design. Now, more than ever, designers must demonstrate their value as the tools we employ and the roles we fulfill continue to evolve. Together, we'll explore the skills you need to remain relevant through agility and adaptability as you forge connections with your fellow attendees. 

At this year's International Design Conference, we'll delve deep into the art of upskilling and navigating the future. Our expert speakers will share their insights and experiences, equipping you with the tools and knowledge to thrive in this ever-evolving landscape. From cutting-edge techniques to game-changing approaches, we will uncover new pathways to innovation and chart a course towards a brighter, more sustainable future. 

The IDC is more than a gathering of like-minded professionals. It is a call to embrace change and build a better industry, together. As we grapple with disruptions in emerging technology, supply chains, sustainability, and design education, it’s important that we come together as a community to welcome and support designers of all backgrounds in navigating the ever-changing future. Join us to be a part of this community of visionaries, disruptors, and change-makers who are shaping the future of industrial design.  

Are you ready to be part of the design revolution? Together, let's break barriers, challenge conventions, and ignite a new era of design. Join us at this year's IDC to be the catalyst for change that the world needs. Your journey towards a brighter future starts here!

 


 

Areas of Interest

  • Innovations in Design Education 
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 
  • Climate Action & Disaster Response 
  • Healthcare & Wellness 
  • Future of Mobility 
  • Emergent Technologies 
  • Collaboration 

Key Dates & Deadlines 

  • February 29, 2024 - Abstract submission deadline  
  • Notification of abstract acceptance will begin in March 2024. 
  • May 6, 2024 - Full paper and activity submissions are due for review.
  • Notification of acceptance will begin in May 2024.
  • August 2024 - Final versions of papers and activity materials due.

Paper Submission Details 

If your abstract proposal is accepted, full submisions for further review must be submitted by April 19, 2024. There are three submission types. The committee will review the final paper submissions to determine if they will be accepted. The committe reserves the right to curate different modes of share back for each of the accepted submissions. Paper acceptance guarantees publication, but does not guarantee presentation at the Education Symposium. Format of presentation is up to the committee. 

Full papers are required to follow the WRITTEN PAPER TEMPLATE or VISUAL PAPER TEMPLATE. Workshop submissions must follow the WORKSHOP TEMPLATE.

Submission Types

Paper Types

Paper Presentation: Papers may be presented from the Education Symposium stage in a traditional speaker/audience format. Full papers are required to follow the WRITTEN PAPER TEMPLATE or VISUAL PAPER TEMPLATE.

Panel Discussion: Select an interactive or collaborative style presentation for your paper. Full papers are required to follow the WRITTEN PAPER TEMPLATE or VISUAL PAPER TEMPLATE.

Workshop: Interactive workshops, lessons, or collaborative experiences encourage real-time engagement, learning, or problem-solving experiences that strongly benefit from being together in the same space, at the same time. This year we're particularly interested in workshops that engage with local culture, community, and social contexts. 

A one-page paper will be required if your abstract is accepted. Workshop submissions must follow the WORKSHOP TEMPLATE.

*Full workshop submissions will go through another round of evaluation.

  • Academic Research: These contributions follow a systematic investigative approach to a question, problem, or situation. Scholarly research builds on or addresses an existing body of knowledge, and contributes new ideas, theories, principles, or practices to the field of design. The study should identify clear research goals, address relevant design questions, and conform to standard research methodologies and practices. 
     
  • Case Study: These contributions are research investigations into one topic area, such as describing a process or project, with a thorough and tangible discussion of practical outcomes. Examples might be curriculum investigations, course projects, technologies, or industry product developments. They should demonstrate new ideas in industrial design pedagogy or practice. 
     
  • Design Letter: Design letters provide an informal platform for sharing your ideas, opinions, and perspectives regarding a broad range of topics in design education and practice. We’re interested in diverse voices, new ideas, and unexpected opinions from your collective past, present, and future. Design letters should challenge design standards, norms, principles, or expectations in a thoughtful and meaningful way. This year we are especially encouraging stories about your past to fill in historical gaps in industrial design. 
     
  • Student Research  (Ph.D./Masters/Undergraduate): These contributions address research or projects conducted by students whose unique perspective enlivens, illuminates, and contributes to the body of industrial design knowledge. 

Completeness Classification

  • Work in Progress (WIP): We encourage authors to submit shorter papers to solicit feedback from the community. This can be a paper based on preliminary or pilot data, theories that are under construction, or pedagogical approaches that you are almost ready to test out.
     
  • Completed Work: The paper presents research that has concluded.

 

Owen Foster, IDSA
Education Director, IDSA Board of Directors
Associate Chair of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design

Education Symposium Committee

  • Owen Foster, IDSA, Savannah College of Art and Design
  • Jim Arnold, IDSA, Utah State University
  • Fabio Castellanos, IDSA, Kean University
  • William Nickley, IDSA, Ohio State University
  • James Rudolph, IDSA, University of Notre Dame
  • Jerrod Windham, IDSA, Auburn University