CALL FOR PAPERS
L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique and the Cumulus Association are pleased to announce the opening of the call for contributions for the Cumulus Spring Conference 2025! We invite researchers, professors, professionals, and creatives from the Cumulus network and beyond to submit their research work. The theme, « Ethical Leadership: A New Frontier for Design », explores the ability of designers to lead ethically responsible innovations in social, ecological, cultural, and digital domains.
Read more about the theme
Ethical Leadership : A New Frontier for Design
In the last three decades, the design field has seen significant transformations, marked by diversification, complexity, and integration with various sectors, including technology. Initially focused on form and function, design has expanded to drive social, ecological, cultural, and digital innovations. Two major revolutions – digital and service – have reshaped the discipline. Today, with environmental challenges and advancing AI, designers face a critical juncture, necessitating reevaluation of practices and theories. This includes adopting multidisciplinary, innovative, and ethically responsible approaches.
Cumulus PhD Network – Call for short papers open until February 3, 2025
Tracks summary
Submissions must fit into one of the six tracks.
Track 1 – Digital Ethics
From UX to Ecosystems, from AI Ubiquity to AI Acceptability – Close
Track 2 – Food Transition
Food Serenity and Environmental Challenges – Close
Track 3 – Care and Public Innovative Action Issues
Managing new ethics of public design – Close
Track 4 – Regenerative City and Territorial Development
Co-designing benefits for People and Nature – Close
Track 5 – Informational Issues
Information and Interaction Design & Trust in Information – Close
Track 6 – Design Entrepreneurship
From Designers to Leaders : Cultivating Ethical Leadership by Design-Driven Entrepreneurship – Close
Cumulus PhD Network
Open call for short papers dedicated to PhD student – Open until February 3, 2025
Selections
Process
Contributions will be selected based on the evaluation of submitted abstracts. Full papers must be submitted prior to the conference opening, with proceedings to be published at a later date. Each submission will undergo a rigorous double-blind review by professionals, including designers and researchers. Additionally, a scientific committee will validate the final selection to ensure both quality and relevance. All contributions will be published digitally in the conference proceedings.
All proposal should be submitted via the Ex Ordo submission system.
Accepted formats
Academic Papers: These are intended for completed research.
- Step 1 – Abstract (from September 2, 2024, until November 3, 2024) : Abstracts should be not more than 500 words long including keywords, 5-10 bibliographic references and anonymous.
- Step 2 – Full paper (From December 2, 2024 until February 03, 2025) : Authors of approved abstracts will be notified and invited to submit their full academic papers. All academic papers will be restricted in length to between 4,000 and 6,000 words (excluding references). Files should be submitted in both a PDF and an editable Word file (docx) based on the template provided. Academic papers will be published digitally in the conference proceedings.
Working Papers: For research in progress, open to master’s students, doctoral candidates, practitioners, and educators
- Step 1 – Abstract (from September 2, 2024, until November 3, 2024): Abstracts should be not more than 200 words long including keywords, 5-10 bibliographic references and anonymous.
- Step 2 – Full paper (From December 1, 2024 until February 03, 2025): Authors of approved abstracts will be notified and invited to submit their full working papers. All working papers will be restricted in length to between 2,000 and 3,000 words (excluding references). Files should be submitted in both a PDF and an editable Word file (docx) based on the template provided. Working papers will be published digitally in the conference proceedings.
X-Formats: We welcome submissions that propose new, experimental formats that actively involve 15+ participants and let them come together and discuss, debate, play, paint, scratch, bend, tear apart, or X a specific topic. The format should be engaging, social, inclusive, cooperative and highly interactive.
Format X sessions should last 30 minutes.
- Step 1 – Abstract (from September 2, 2024, until November 3, 2024 ): Abstracts should be not more than 200 words description, visuals, an optional bibliography and anonymous.
- Step 2 – Full paper (From December 1, 2024 until February 03, 2025): Authors of approved abstracts will be notified and invited to submit their full X-format papers. All X-Formats should be submit with a 500-word final description. Files should be submitted in both a PDF and an editable Word file (docx) based on the template provided. X-Formats will be published digitally in the conference proceedings
Posters: These are intended for completed research.
- Step 1 – Abstract (from September 2, 2024, until November 3, 2024): Abstracts should be not more than 200 words long including keywords, visuals, an optional bibliography and anonymous.
- Step 2 – Full poster (From December 1, 2024 until February 03, 2025): Authors of approved abstracts will be notified and invited to submit their full poster. Submissions should be the complete poster, anonymous. Files should be submitted in both a PDF based on the template provided. X-Formats will be published digitally in the conference proceedings
Short papers – Cumulus PhD Network: PhD students interested in participating should submit an abstract (max. 500 words) and a short paper (max. 2000 words. Please refer to the Formats page (coming soon) for specific guidelines.
Selected papers will be featured in one or more special sessions during the conference and published in the conference proceedings.
Submissions templates
Templates are available in the shared folders at the following links. Submissions must remain anonymous until the final selections. In Word, you can use the predefined styles configured in the document.