BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Design Research Society//Silkstart Technology Inc.// BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:CfP: Making Sustainability 2026: International Conference on Craft\, Design and Innovation DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260501 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260501 DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260107T141348 UID:695e6a1c57912605e1b70af8 DESCRIPTION: The Making Sustainability 2026: International Conference on Craft\, Design and Innovation (on 7-8 in September 2026 at De Montfort University\, UK and online) will bring together researchers\, practitioners\, educators\, and industry leaders to explore how craft\, design\, innovation\, and technology intersect to shape sustainable futures. With a particular emphasis on the connections between craft and design\, such as prototyping in contexts including product\, furniture\, interior\, fashion\, architecture\, and the built environment\, the conference will address themes including: sustainable materials and processes circular design and practices digitalisation and technological advances for sustainable and regenerative practices preservation and reinvention of traditional practices the role of education\, entrepreneurship\, markets\, and policy in supporting sustainable creative industries. The conference aims to challenge conventional boundaries by bringing together artistic\, cultural and industrial perspectives. It seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable making and craft in sustainable and regenerative development\, and to foster new collaborations that will contribute to more resilient futures for communities\, economies\, and environments. Please submit an extended abstract of 400-600 words. Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to develop their work into a full paper for either a special issue of Crafts\, Regenerative Craft and Circular Practice: Material\, Technological\, and Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sustainable Making\, or the Journal of Design and Craft Studies\, or for inclusion in an edited book (publisher to be confirmed\, either Springer or Routledge). Download the abstract template here. Please submit your abstact using the provided template by 1 May 2026 via the CMT submission portal: https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/MS2026. To submit\, you will first need to create an account on the CMT system. Suggested themes and topics include\, but are not limited to: Sustainable materials and processes Biodegradable\, recyclable\, and renewable materials in craft and design Circular use of resources and material recovery systems Low-impact\, energy-efficient\, and low-carbon production methods Waste reduction\, reuse\, and remanufacturing strategies Traditional vs. emerging sustainable material practices Material innovation and biomaterials Sustainable sourcing and ethical supply chains Local materials and place- based making practices Life cycle assessment (LCA) of materials in craft and design Circular design and practices Repair\, reuse\, remanufacturing and upcycling in craft and design Design and make for disassembly\, repair and recycling Design and make for product longevity and emotional durability Modular and adaptable design for extended product life Integration of traditional repair and mending techniques in contemporary design Zero-waste processes and cradle-to-cradle approaches Crafts practices in the circular economy Business models for circular and regenerative craft and design Craft\, technology and digitalisation Craft knowledge in the digital age Digital craftsmanship: translating tacit knowledge into digital forms Prototyping\, fabrication\, and rapid manufacturing (3D printing\, CNC\, laser cutting) Hybrid practices: combining hand-making with digital technologies AI\, robotics\, and automation in craft and design Digital platforms\, virtual communities and creative economies (e-commerce\, NFTs\, social media) Data-driven design and algorithmic aesthetics in craft practices Wearable technology and the convergence of craft\, design\, and smart materials Open-source tools\, digital collaboration\, and maker culture Digital preservation and archiving of craft knowledge and heritage Traditional practices: preservation\, reinvention and innovation Revitalising endangered and disappering craft traditions Intergenerational knowledge transfer and community-based heritage practices Blending traditional and contemporary craft and design methods Localism\, identity\, and cultural sustainability in making practices Intellectual property\, ethics\, and the safeguarding of traditional knowledge The values embedded in craft: authenticity\, meaning and care Reinterpreting vernacular materials and techniques for modern contexts Cross-cultural exchange and hybridisation of traditional practices Innovation inspired by traditional aesthetics\, rituals and philosophies Craft\, design and the built environment Slow making\, craft innovation\, and localised production Sustainable furniture\, interiors\, and architecture through craft approaches Craft in urban and rural development and regeneration Materials and methods for sustainable housing and infrastructures Biophilic and nature-inspired design in architecture and public spaces Craft in public art\, placemaking and community engagement Adaptive reuse of materials and buildings through craft-based methods Handcrafted elements in contemporary architecture and construction Integration of digital fabrication with craft processes in building design Fashion\, textiles and wearables Slow fashion and sustainable textile practices Craft-based approaches to clothing and accessories Innovations in sustainable dyeing\, weaving\, knitting and textile finishing Fashion as cultural storytelling and sustainability activism Regenerative materials and bio-based textiles Upcycling\, mending\, and zero-waste garment construction Ethical production\, fair trade and localised textile economies Emotional durability and longevity of garments through attachment and care Material agency and more-than-human crafts Active role of materials in shaping design outcomes\, processes and forms Collaborative making with non-human agents (e.g.\, plants\, fungi\, minerals\, living organisms) Emergent properties\, unpredictability and material autonomy in craft and design Ecological interdependence and relational making practices Rethinking authorship and creativity through human-non-human entanglements Hybrid material practices expanding the scope of traditional craft Biofabrication and living materials as collaborators in making Philosophical and posthumanist perspectives on material vitality and creativity Ethical and ecological implications of working with living or sentient materials Cross-disciplinary collaborations bridging craft\, biology\, ecology and material science Artistic\, cultural and critical perspectives Craft as an artistic\, cultural\, and philosophical practice Aesthetics\, values and ethics of making and material engagement Symbolism\, narrative\, and meaning-making in craft and design Critical craft and critical design theories\, methods\, and discourses Craft\, art and activism in sustainability transitions and social change The politics of making: gender\, labour\, and representation in craft Decolonising craft theory and practice in global contexts Entrepreneurship\, markets and creative economies Sustainable business models for craft and design entrepreneurs Local and global craft and design markets in a digital economy Creative clusters\, incubators and innovation hubs supporting makers Social enterprises\, cooperatives\, and community-based economies Branding\, storytelling\, and value creation in sustainable craft and design Digital platforms\, e-commerce\, and new market opportunities for craft Funding\, investment\, and financial resilience in creative entrepreneurship The role of craft in regional development and cultural tourism Policy\, governance and institutional support Policies for craft and design at local\, national and international levels The role of governments\, NGOs\, and international organisations in supporting craft and design Trade\, sustainability standards\, and certification systems in creative industries Craft and design within sustainability\, innovation\, and cultural policy frameworks Cultural diplomacy and international cooperation through craft and design Intellectual property rights and legal protection for craft knowledge and design innovation Institutional infrastructures: museums\, academies\, and cultural heritage bodies Governance models promoting equity\, inclusion\, and culutral diversity in creative sectors Communities\, social impact and inclusion Craft as a tool for social innovation\, empowerment\, and transformation Craft for social cohesion\, cultural resilience\, and inclusion Gender\, diversity\, and equity in craft and design practices Indigenous knowledge systems and decolonial approaches Craft and well-being: mental health\, care and healing practices Localised craft economies and community-based production models Co-creation and collaborative making as participatory design practice Community repair cafes\, maker spaces\, and grassroots innovation Disability\, accessibility\, and inclusive design in craft and making Education\, pedagogy and knowledge exchange Teaching making and sustainability in higher and further education Learning through making\, experimentation\, and prototyping Thinking through making as a reflective and critical practice Craft education for community development\, empowerment and social inclusion Digital platforms and online learning for craft and design education Interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral learning between craft\, design and technology Apprenticeship\, mentorship\, and intergenerational knowledge transmission Informal and non-formal craft learning environments (workshops\, studios\, maker spaces) Curriculum development for sustainable and circular design and craft education Collaborative learning\, peer exchange\, and knowledge co-creation Documentation and dissemination of craft knowledge and pedagogical practices Research-led teaching and academic-industry partnerships in craft and design education The diversity of conference themes is a deliberate and strategic choice. Rather than diluting focus\, this breadth is designed to unite researchers\, practitioners\, and educators whose work intersects around sustainability\, innovation\, and creative practice. It provides a shared platform for cross-disciplinary dialogue\, revealing connections between design\, craft\, technology\, policy\, and culture that might otherwise remain siloed. Such an approach fosters meaningful knowledge exchange and opens pathways to new partnerships\, funding bids\, and collaborative publications. Addressing urgent global challenges such as climate change demands precisely this kind of interdisciplinary engagement. Thematically diverse yet conceptually aligned sessions will enable participants to situate their research in wider contexts\, stimulate methodological innovation\, and build enduring networks beyond the event itself. LOCATION: PRIORITY:5 URL:https://www.designresearchsociety.org:443/events/cfp-making- sustainability-2026-international-conference-on-craft-design-and- innovation END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR