Call for Papers /// Twentieth International Conference on Design Principles and Practices - 25th to 27th February 2026, 25th to 27th February 2026
- s-architecture
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
Twentieth International Conference on Design Principles and Practices
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy + Online
25th to 27th February 2026
Rome, Italy
https://designprinciplesandpractices.com/2026-conferenceFormat: In-Person (Location) and Online (Asynchronous Content)
PLENARY SPEAKERS
Diletta Huyskes, University of Milan, Italy
Massimo Banzi, Interaction Designer, Educator, Technologist and Co-founder, Arduino, Ital
Lorenza Baroncelli, Director, Department of Architecture and Contemporary Design, MAXXI Museum, Italy
SPECIAL FOCUS: DESIGN ACROSS TIME
Time, as Aristotle suggested, is a measure of change, and it has long been a critical dimension in both philosophical discourse and scientific inquiry. Over the past 20 years, the annual conferences of DPP have served as a measure of change within the field of Design, witnessing its growing significance as a profession and its establishment as a scientific discipline within universities worldwide. This two-decade journey prompts a timely reflection on how DPP's global community - and the broader discipline of Design - might evolve over the next 20 years.
This reflection is particularly pressing in a world confronted by urgent global challenges spanning multiple dimensions. Environmental crises such as climate change and biodiversity loss, social issues like aging populations, health disparities, and inequalities, and technological shifts including energy transitions, the digital divide, and the rise of artificial intelligence demand immediate and forward-thinking responses. Within the "futures cone" of possible scenarios, dystopian projections often appear the most probable, while achieving preferable futures requires increasingly deliberate and collective efforts.
Design, therefore, must adopt an extended temporal perspective - one that not only interprets the present desires of people but also anticipates and addresses the long-term evolution of challenges, systems, and artifacts within the Anthropocene. Over the past few decades, Design has diversified into a range of thematic and disciplinary communities, each fostering distinct cultures, methodologies, and tools for practice and research. This diversification has enabled Design to operate at new levels and in novel contexts, though challenges persist in creating and measuring long-term impact.
The 20th anniversary of DPP provides a valuable opportunity to assess how well our principles and practices have performed and to envision how Design must adapt to meet the challenges of the near future. This moment invites us to reinforce Design’s cultural role as a catalyst for meaningful, lasting change.
We call on researchers across all domains of Design to explore the concept of Time, reflecting on its influence in any aspect of Design practice or research. What changes would you advocate for in the next 20 years?
CONFERENCE THEMES
THEME 1: Design Education
THEME 2: Design in Society
THEME 3: Designed Objects
THEME 4: Visual Design
THEME 5: Design Management and Professional Practice
THEME 6: Architectonic, Spatial, And Environmental Design
DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES JOURNAL COLLECTION
Exploring the nature, meaning, and purpose of design. Supporting a member-based, scholar-led knowledge community.
ABOUT US
Founded in 2007, the Design Principles and Practices Research Network offers an interdisciplinary forum to explore the meaning and purpose of design. In professional and disciplinary terms, the network traverses a broad sweep to construct a trans-disciplinary dialogue, which encompasses a wide array of design paradigms and practices.
RELATED CONFERENCES
We also offer related thematic events in our other Research Networks that you might be able to attend in-person. This way we build for our Research Network Members flexible, and at the same time resilient, spaces for communication, engagement, and participation.
View other Common Ground Research Networks conferences: https://cgnetworks.org/conferences/conference-calendar
Enquiries: support@cgnetworks.orgWeb address: https://designprinciplesandpractices.com/2026-conference
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