Designing for Multiplicity

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Some of the major topics that occupy the discourse of design and innovation in recent years refer to challenges of inclusivity, diversity, sustainability, equality, and social justice. While there are numerous approaches towards these topics not only within the field of design and innovation but also in other fields (i.e., economy, education, sociology, anthropology), we would like to suggest that one of the common denominators of all these discourses lies in the theoretical-philosophical-practical concept of multiplicity.

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The Design Factory Global Network acknowledges the challenges and benefits of exploring diverse perspectives, practices, and pedagogies to work towards solving challenges beyond the remit of a single solution or discipline. We invite submissions exploring how design-driven thinking and practices can use multiplicity to gain new meanings and approaches, create more inclusive and achievement-oriented learning environments, and foster design and innovation that are more responsive to diverse perspectives and needs. Authors are welcome to submit their research on the following sub-themes:

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1. [EDUCATION] How is the multiplicity of teaching and learning in higher education expanding one's capacity for innovation?

2. [CULTURE] How is design-driven education contributing to creating a more open culture, embracing ethics and design of the multiple?

3. [TECHNOLOGY] How are new technological advancements shaping education, inclusivity and multiplicity?

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Additional topics may include:

• Strategies for incorporating multiple lived experiences and needs into the design process.

• Managing diversity in design teams

• Teaching and learning empathy from the perspective of the multiple

• Design for Everybody: inclusive and universal design principles

• Multiplicity and design for the Earth: leveraging diversity to increase the social, ethical and environmental sustainability of design

• People first: How can the future generation of global innovators use concepts of multiplicity, flows, and horizontal thinking and who are the educators that can foster their passion and skills.

• Multiple spaces, places and inclusive learning environments for work and play

• Dissolving disciplinary distinctions or forming new ones to forecast the challenges of the 22nd century.

• Creativity and critical thinking for uncertainty, ambiguity and unknown future skills. Managing up, down and sideways, negotiating diversity in innovation ecosystems

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Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches are all welcome, and papers should represent original, empirical work. We welcome new perspectives that might fall outside these specific themes, as we love to be surprised! For more detailed information on the conference theme, please visit the 'For Authors' page on the conference website.