The 10th International Conference on Design History and Design Studies (ICDHS)

Taipei – the ‘World Design Capital of 2016’ welcomes proposals for the ICDHS 2016 Taipei to share this historical moment and think critically about design in the global context.  This fast moving, culturally complex city is an ideal place for debat- ing and making a trans/national contemporary design history – an aim that has been part of the ICDHS’s goal of inclusive and far-reaching design history and design studies. In producing innovative design while leading the postcolonial debate on transnational identities and practicing democratic activism, Taiwan and its geo-cultural location offers a compelling con- ference platform.

We are seeking proposals for the following eight strands that will cover a wide range of themes including local level issues specific to East Asia and inter-Asian connections. Furthermore, topics that have been developed through previous ICDHS conferences1, and the undiscovered, newly emerging ideas in the field of design history and design studies will also be considered for inclusion. The overarching aim of this conference is to explore different possibilities of engagement that advance ‘global’, ‘world’ and ‘transnational’ design histories and studies. The eight  strands are:

  1. Inter-Asia and design historical issues in Asia
  2. Trans/national design theory and identity
  3. Science, technology and sustainability
  4. Craft, material culture and cultural industry
  5. Design policies, pedagogies and creative economy
  6. Contemporary design practice
  7. Activism, democracy and design interventions
  8. Open strand

Proposals for individual 20-minute papers, or for panels organized around a common theme, and or poster presen- tations should use the form provided from the conference website2. Upon completion, please upload and submit the form to3.

Proposal submissions must be in English, and should include the following:

  • An abstract not exceeding 300 words
  • Indication of strand and participation type
  • 5 keywords

The official language of the conference is English and Chinese. Submissions of full papers or posters in either English or Traditional Chinese are open to the choice of authors. Full paper and panel presentations in the conference could be con- ducted in either English or Mandarin Chinese.

  • 1. http://www.ub.edu/gracmon/icdhs/
  • 2. http://www.dt.ntust.edu.tw/icdhs2016/wp- content/uploads/2015/04/icdhs2016_taipei_proposal_form.pdf
  • 3. https://easychair.org/conferences/?cof=icdhs2016taipei