Hosted by early-career researchers at Design HOPES, part of the UKRI (AHRC)-funded Future Observatory Green Transition Ecosystem Hubs, a dedicated program of funding that focuses on translating the best design-led research into real-world benefits, SHIFT offers a platform for engaging with like-minded creatives and researchers through interactive discussions, hands-on workshops, and thought-provoking presentations. ‘SHIFT’ is a dynamic one-day event dedicated to exploring the intersections of health, the green transition, design and creative practice.  SHIFT aims to transform the traditional conference format, placing artefacts at the heart of the discussion, accompanied by supporting written pieces. Together, we will delve into the complex connections and boundaries between planetary and human health which stems from this transdisciplinary challenge. These are key elements central to a liveable future amidst the challenges of climate change.

As our planet rapidly evolves, so too must our approaches to understanding health in relation to the environments, places, and objects that shape our daily lives. This event is your opportunity to contribute to a collective reimagining of how we design a healthier, more sustainable future. By addressing environmental challenges through design, we can foster green transition ecosystems that promote climate action and sustainability. Design plays a crucial role in addressing climate change by innovating solutions that integrate sustainability into every aspect of our lives, from healthcare systems to everyday products.

Call for Artefacts and Proceedings: 

We invite submissions that explore transdisciplinary approaches to health and sustainability. Whether you are rethinking healthcare systems, designing innovative sustainable products, or exploring new narratives of well-being, your contribution can help shape the conversation. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Design-Led Approaches to Sustainable Healthcare, Digital Health and Environmental Wellbeing
• Understanding Place and Environmental Wellbeing in a time of climate breakdown
• Technological and environmental influences on health and well-being
• Craft(ing) for care: transdisciplinary practices for the development of Sustainable Care

SHIFT will provide opportunities to connect, collaborate, and create alongside a vibrant community of designers, thinkers and makers. Submit pictures of your artefact and supporting document today and join us at SHIFT to push the boundaries of creative practice in the face of global challenges.

Submission Guidelines: 

We invite the submission of artefacts with accompanying texts that offer new or challenging views on the conference theme that have not been previously published*. The artefacts and accompanying texts will be selected through a double-blind peer-review process by our research team. The proceedings will be collected and published in a special edition publication developed by the SHIFT symposium team, with planned publication in late 2025 (more detail below).
An artefact may include, but are not limited to, physical objects, digital creations, prototypes, conceptual designs, or artistic works that embody your research or practice in relation to the conference theme.

To help reviewers to fulfil double blind process, ensure that your abstract and image files do not contain any identifying information. Author details should only be provided in the submission form.

Submission Portal: Oxford Abstracts

Word Limit: A 400-500 word abstract describing your artefact and its relevance to the conference theme, include references

Please Include: 3 high quality images of your artefact within the submission, include a brief caption (50 words max) for each image explaining its significance to the research

• Submissions will be assessed on: 
• Originality and innovation of the artefact
• Relevance to the conference theme
• Quality and clarity of the accompanying text
• Potential impact on the field of design research 

Who Should Submit? 

We aim to attract a wide audience to the SHIFT symposium but are particularly interested in submissions from:

• Early career** researchers
• Early career art, design and craft practitioners 

Post conference: The organising team have agreement with the Routledge Taylor and Francis ‘Design Research for Change’ book series, edited by Paul Rodgers to publish a book based on the SHIFT symposium (publication date 2026).

About the Series: Design Research for Change includes books that highlight the wide-ranging social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of emerging design research on industry, governments, and the wider public. The series will reach across disciplinary, methodological, and conceptual boundaries and will include scholars from around the globe. The series will be of interest to scholars working in the fields of social design, design history, design research, design culture studies, and design studies.

If you have any questions about this application process email designhopes@strath.ac.uk with the subject heading ‘SHIFT application’ 

If you require this document in a different format email designhopes@strath.ac.uk with the subject heading ‘SHIFT format’ 

If you want to hear more about travel and accommodation costs email designhopes@strath.ac.uk with the subject heading ‘SHIFT travel’

*We encourage applications from those whose voices have not been heard in design research circles. We have an access fund that can help to cover reasonable travel and accommodation costs. If this applies to you, please let us know in advance.
**We acknowledge that “early career” has multiple meanings. Please feel free to apply if you consider yourself to be “early career”.