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.
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
Track 2 – Food Transition
Food Serenity and Environmental Challenges
Track 3 – Care and Public Innovative Action Issues
Managing new ethics of public design
Track 4 – Regenerative City and Territorial Development
Co-designing benefits for People and Nature
Track 5 – Informational Issues
Information and Interaction Design & Trust in Information
Track 6 – Design Entrepreneurship
From Designers to Leaders : Cultivating Ethical Leadership by Design-Driven Entrepreneurship
PhD Network
Open call for short papers dedicated to PhD student
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 proposal should be submitted via the Ex Ordo submission system.
Accepted formats
- Academic Papers: These are intended for completed research. Submissions must include an abstract of 500 words, along with relevant keywords and 5-10 bibliographic references. Authors whose abstracts are approved will be notified and invited to submit their full academic papers. For each track, six full academic papers will be selected, with each paper allotted a 25-minute presentation slot.
- Working Papers: These are for ongoing research by master’s students, doctoral candidates, practitioners, and teachers. Submissions must include an abstract with relevant keywords, 200 words, and 5-10 bibliographic references. Authors whose abstracts are approved will be notified and invited to submit their full working papers. For each track, five working papers will be selected, with each paper allotted a 15-minute presentation slot.
- X-Formats: This format is for tangible creative productions accompanied by a description of the process and scientific commentary. Submissions must include an abstract with relevant keywords, 200 words descriptions, visuals and an optional bibliography. Authors whose abstracts are approved will be notified and invited to submit their full X-format. For each track, three X-format will be selected.
- Posters: These are intended for completed research. Submissions must include an abstract with keywords, 200 words, visuals, and an optional bibliography. Authors whose abstracts are approved will be notified and invited to submit their full poster. Six posters will be selected per track
- PhD Network – Short papers : 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