DESIGN COMMIT 2026: 2nd International Conference on Design and Industry District C Guimarães, Portugal, March 25-27, 2026

Conference website	https://designcommit.pt/
Submission link	https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=designcommit2026
Submission deadline	July 30, 2025

DESIGN COMMIT 2026 – 2nd International Conference on Design & Industry.

Design for Different Futures, Learning with Nature

25-27 March 2026, District C, Guimarães, Portugal

 

Call for Papers

Submission Deadline: July 30, 2025

 We are pleased to invite you to participate in DESIGN COMMIT 2026, the 2nd edition of the International Conference on Design & Industry, taking place from March 25th to 27th, 2026, in the historic city of Guimarães, Portugal. 

The organizing committee of DESIGN COMMIT 2026 invites the submission of original high-quality contributions in the form of full papers.  Applied projects, theoretical research, and results-oriented papers from both academia and industry, based on thorough analysis or argumentation, will be considered for the conference programme.  

 

About DESIGN COMMIT 2026

In a rapidly transforming world, the second edition of DESIGN COMMIT is set to break boundaries, fostering a dynamic relationship between design, industry, and nature. As a global platform for dialogue and collaboration, this in-person event brings together visionary researchers, pioneering designers, creative academics, forward-thinking technology companies, startups, business associations, and policymakers.

The 2026 edition embraces the theme "Design for Different Futures | Learning with Nature," reinforcing the need to integrate nature’s intelligence into design and industry. DESIGN COMMIT 2026 cultivates an ecosystem where innovation and sustainability are not opposing forces but interconnected drivers of progress. By exploring cutting-edge materials, AI-driven design, and regenerative systems, we seek to reimagine the future of design and industry—one where creativity, responsibility, and resilience shape a world in harmony with nature.

Through interdisciplinary exchange and knowledge-sharing, the event serves as a catalyst for transformative ideas, empowering participants to co-create solutions that align with both technological advancements and the urgent need for environmental and social responsibility.

 

Our Purpose

At the heart of DESIGN COMMIT 2026 lies a fundamental commitment: to redefine the role of design as a force for sustainability, inclusion, and resilience. Our purpose is to challenge conventional models and explore how nature-inspired solutions, biomimicry, and circular economy principles can drive innovation across industries.

Aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, this edition is dedicated to fostering regenerative practices, ethical production, and responsible technological integration. We will address urgent global challenges—climate change, digital inclusion, and sustainable manufacturing—by leveraging research, experimentation, and collaboration to push the boundaries of design’s impact on society and the environment.

As we navigate a world shaped by unprecedented challenges, DESIGN COMMIT 2026 is a call to action: embrace nature’s wisdom, harness emerging technologies, and co-create a future where design is a tool for innovation and a catalyst for planetary well-being.

 

THEMATIC AREAS FOR SUBMISSION

Topics:

1. Biomimetic Design
2. Natural Patterns in Design
3. Nature-Inspired Product Design
4. Sustainable Innovations from Nature
5. Bio-Inspired Engineering

Description: Focuses on how natural principles and processes can inspire design practices that resonate with sustainability and innovation. From biomimicry to natural patterns in design, sessions will explore how nature-inspired design can transform industries by promoting innovative and practical solutions. This track covers a wide range of fields that use nature's wisdom to solve modern challenges.

 

Topics:

1. Environmental Data in Design
2. Observational Methods in Natural Systems
3. Ecosystem-Informed Design
4. Nature-Based Decision Making
5. Adaptive Design from Nature

Description: Emphasises the importance of observing and understanding natural systems to inform design decisions. From methods of collecting environmental data to incorporating these data into the design process, sessions will focus on creating resilient and sustainable projects. This track explores how a deep understanding of natural systems can improve the efficiency and sustainability of design.

 

Topics:

1. Regenerative Design and Agriculture
2. Permaculture in Urban Design
3. Biodiversity-Supporting Products
4. Eco-friendly Manufacturing Practices
5. Sustainable Consumer Goods

Description: Focuses on design practices that nurture and sustain the environment, promoting a symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature. Sessions will cover everything from regenerative design and sustainable agriculture to develop products that support biodiversity. This track discusses design solutions that encourage healthy ecosystem growth and promote fair practices across industries.

 

Topics:

1. Ecological Restoration Projects
2. Resilient Infrastructure Design
3. Social Impact of Regenerative Design
4. Urban Renewal and Green Spaces
5. Community-Led Environmental Projects

Description: Dedicated to projects that intend to regenerate ecosystems and communities, going beyond sustainability to restore and revitalise environments. Sessions will highlight initiatives that demonstrate how design can contribute to environmental and social renewal, promoting resilience in urban and rural areas. This track explores the positive impact of regenerative design on vulnerable communities.

 

Topics:

1. Systems Thinking in Design
2. Integrated Ecosystem Design
3. Holistic Product Development
4. Interconnected Network Solutions
5. Cross-Disciplinary Design Approaches

Description: Addresses systemic approaches that consider all parts of an ecosystem, integrating design solutions in a holistic and interconnected way. Sessions will showcase projects that present the connections between different elements and their interdependencies, promoting an integrated and comprehensive view of design. This track stimulates discussions on how systems thinking can be applied to create innovative and green solutions.

 

Call for Papers – Submission Guidelines

Submitted papers must meet the following rules:

• Full papers should be 8 to 12 pages, including the title, abstract, keywords, main body, images, and references.
• Papers must address one of the conference topics and present complete studies or theoretical findings
•  Submissions should demonstrate high academic scholarship, clearly articulating the research focus, context, methodology, findings, and contribution to the field.
• Papers must be written in English and follow the APA publication style for in-text citations and references.
• Formatting must follow the provided template.
• All submissions must be anonymous for double-blind peer review. Authors must remove their names and institutional references before submission.
• Each author may submit a maximum of two papers as the lead author.
• Submissions must be made through the EasyChair submission system.
• Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings, provided that at least one author registers, attends, and presents at the conference.
• Papers that are not presented will be excluded from the proceedings.
• All submitted and accepted papers may also be considered for possible selection and further publication (extended version) in journals or books associated with the conference.
• After the review period, authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection via email.

 

PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES

Following the successful editorial outcome of Design Commit 2024, we are pleased to highlight the publishing achievements from the last edition:

1. The Book of Abstracts was published with DOI and ISBN and is available here.
2. The Book of Proceedings, published by the University of Aveiro Press, is finalized and will be officially released by the end of March 2025, also featuring  ISBN and DOI certification.
3. The Taylor & Francis book, Design and Industry: Scenarios for Sustainable Futures, is in its final stages before publication, featuring 25 selected chapters from high-scoring conference papers.
4. The Special Issue Call in The Design Journal (Taylor & Francis) is open until 31 March 2025, providing an opportunity for authors to submit extended versions of their work (Call details).

 

Publishing Opportunities for Design Commit 2026

 Building on the well-established editorial standards of previous editions, we are pleased to confirm that Design Commit 2026 will offer the following publishing opportunities:

1. Conference Proceedings – All accepted papers will be published in the official Conference Proceedings, certified with ISBN and DOI

Upcoming Announcements – We will soon announce additional publishing opportunities with Taylor & Francis, including:

   2. Taylor & Francis Book – A selection of high-quality full papers will be invited for publication as chapters in a Taylor & Francis book.

   3. Special Issue in The Design Journal – A Call for Papers will be launched in The Design Journal (Taylor & Francis), indexed in Scopus and Web of Science      (AHCI).

 

FULL PAPER SUBMISSION DEADLINE

July 30, 2025

The submitted papers should fit into the proposed conference themes/topics. 

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us geral@designcommit.pt if you have any further questions.

 

For more information:

Website  https://designcommit.pt   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092275076306

Instagram https://instagram.com/designcommit?igshid=ZGUzMzM3NWJiOQ==

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/design-commit/

 

Best regards,

DESIGNCOMMIT2026_ Organization Committee

 

General Chairs | Maria João Félix | Paulo Cruz

Chairs | Fátima Pombo | Fernando Moreira da Silva | Rita Almendra