Eighth International Conference on Design Principles and Practices

UBC Robson Square, Vancouver, Canada
16-18 January 2014

Conference Focus

This conference will address a range of critically important themes relating to design today. It is a place to explore the meaning and purpose of ‘design’, as well as speaking in grounded ways about the task of design and the use of designed artifacts and processes. The conference is a cross-disciplinary forum which brings together researchers, teachers and practitioners to discuss the nature and future of design. The resulting conversations weave between the theoretical and the empirical, research and application, market pragmatics and social idealism.

We are inviting proposals for paper presentations, workshops/interactive sessions, posters/exhibits, or colloquia (See Proposal Types).   Proposal ideas that extend beyond these thematic areas will also be considered.  For more information about the ideas and themes underlying this community, see Our Focus.

Virtual participation is available for those who are unable to attend the conference in person. Proposals for virtual presentations may be submitted at any time, up to the start of the conference. All conference registrants (in-person and virtual) may also submit their written papers for publication in the refereed Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal.

Submit a Conference Proposal

To learn more about preparing and submitting your conference proposal, including guidelines, deadlines, and "how-to" information, go to Submitting Your Work: Conference Presentations.

Conference Details

To learn more about the conference, including speakers, session formats, venue, registration, and the like, stay in The Conference section of the website and use the navigation bar on the left to access desired information.

Vancouver & Design

As a trade and cultural center of Canada, Vancouver has a diverse landscape of industries, individuals, and built environments. Vancouver is the most densely populated city in Canada and utilizes high-rise and mixed-use developments to maintain a compact core, rather than succumbing to an urban sprawl. In the last ten years, Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most 'livable cities' in the world, and it is fully committed to its 'Greenest City 2020' initiative to become the greenest city in the world by 2020. The urban area is bound by mountains, ocean, and forests, making it an active city that celebrates these surroundings through its wonderful parks and gardens, including Stanley Park – one of North America's largest and most used urban parks. Its ethnic and cultural diversity are best experienced in its historic neighborhoods, including Gastown, Chinatown, Yaletown, Punjabi Market, Granville Island, and The Drive.