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/events-and-activities/international-conference-on-design-synapse
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Banner Items
Title
1 st International Conference on Design Synapse: Connecting the dots between global south countries.
Sub Title
February 4 - 6, 2026 <br>
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Tag
School of Design
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Key Value items
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#section1
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About
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#section2
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D-Synapse Conference
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#section3
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Conference Themes and Sub-themes
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#section4
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Objective and Areas of Interest
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#section5
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Proceeding Publication Partner
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#section6
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Registration
Title
About
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section1
Description
The School of Design, UPES Dehradun is a leading school of design education and design research in India, known for its interdisciplinary approach and strong industry integration. With a focus on sustainability, technology, and social innovation, the school offers cutting-edge programs in product design, communication design, interaction design, and more. It fosters a vibrant ecosystem where creativity meets real-world application, empowering students and scholars to become thought leaders and change-makers in the global design community.
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D-Synapse Conference
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section2
Description
Design Synapse: Connecting the Dots between Global South Countries is an international conference fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among Global South nations, celebrating their rich design traditions, challenges and innovations. It spans a wide range of professional and disciplinary areas, fostering a trans-disciplinary dialogue that incorporates diverse design paradigms and practices. The network bridges theoretical reflections on the nature of design with case studies of real-world design practices, blending research-driven insights with the experiential knowledge of design professionals. The event explores themes like sustainability, cultural preservation, digital transformation, and design's role in equitable development through keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and showcases.
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Conference Themes and Sub-Themes
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section3
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Title
Sustainable Design Practices
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Circular economy and product lifecycle design
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Eco-friendly materials and green innovation
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Sustainable packaging and waste reduction
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Low-carbon design strategies
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Biomimicry and nature-inspired solutions
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Urban sustainability through design
</li>
<li>
Metrics and tools for sustainable assessment
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Circular economy and product lifecycle design
</li>
<li>
Eco-friendly materials and green innovation
</li>
<li>
Sustainable packaging and waste reduction
</li>
<li>
Low-carbon design strategies
</li>
<li>
Biomimicry and nature-inspired solutions
</li>
<li>
Urban sustainability through design
</li>
<li>
Metrics and tools for sustainable assessment
</li>
</ul>
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Single Item
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Cultural Preservation through Design
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Craft revival through contemporary design
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Indigenous knowledge systems in design
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Storytelling and visual heritage
</li>
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Ethnographic methods in design research
</li>
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Local crafts and global markets
</li>
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Cultural symbols and semiotics in design
</li>
<li>
Heritage-sensitive design for tourism
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Craft revival through contemporary design
</li>
<li>
Indigenous knowledge systems in design
</li>
<li>
Storytelling and visual heritage
</li>
<li>
Ethnographic methods in design research
</li>
<li>
Local crafts and global markets
</li>
<li>
Cultural symbols and semiotics in design
</li>
<li>
Heritage-sensitive design for tourism
</li>
</ul>
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Event Two Column
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Digital Transformation in Design
Sub Title
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AI and machine learning in creative processes
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Design for XR: AR, VR, and MR applications
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Data-driven design and smart interfaces
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Digital twins and simulation in design
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Parametric and generative design
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Blockchain and NFTs in digital creativity
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Automation and creative workflows
</li>
</ul>
<li>
AI and machine learning in creative processes
</li>
<li>
Design for XR: AR, VR, and MR applications
</li>
<li>
Data-driven design and smart interfaces
</li>
<li>
Digital twins and simulation in design
</li>
<li>
Parametric and generative design
</li>
<li>
Blockchain and NFTs in digital creativity
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<li>
Automation and creative workflows
</li>
</ul>
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Design for Social Impact
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Inclusive and universal design
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Design for differently-abled communities
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Affordable solutions for rural/urban poor
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Community-centered co-design practices
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Design for public health and safety
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Behavioural design for positive change
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<li>
Empowerment through participatory design
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Inclusive and universal design
</li>
<li>
Design for differently-abled communities
</li>
<li>
Affordable solutions for rural/urban poor
</li>
<li>
Community-centered co-design practices
</li>
<li>
Design for public health and safety
</li>
<li>
Behavioural design for positive change
</li>
<li>
Empowerment through participatory design
</li>
</ul>
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Event Two Column
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Collaborative Design Ecosystems
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Industry-academia partnerships
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Open innovation and crowdsourcing
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Distributed design platforms
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Co-creation tools and methods
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Cross-disciplinary teamwork
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Knowledge sharing in design networks
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<li>
Stakeholder engagement strategies
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Industry-academia partnerships
</li>
<li>
Open innovation and crowdsourcing
</li>
<li>
Distributed design platforms
</li>
<li>
Co-creation tools and methods
</li>
<li>
Cross-disciplinary teamwork
</li>
<li>
Knowledge sharing in design networks
</li>
<li>
Stakeholder engagement strategies
</li>
</ul>
Content Type
Single Item
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Title
Interdisciplinary Approaches in Design
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Fusion of design with science and tech
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STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts & Math) approaches
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<li>
Psychology and cognitive science in design
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Design + Law, Policy, and Governance
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<li>
Bio-design and synthetic biology
</li>
<li>
Systems thinking in design
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<li>
Ethics and philosophy in interdisciplinary design
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Fusion of design with science and tech
</li>
<li>
STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts & Math) approaches
</li>
<li>
Psychology and cognitive science in design
</li>
<li>
Design + Law, Policy, and Governance
</li>
<li>
Bio-design and synthetic biology
</li>
<li>
Systems thinking in design
</li>
<li>
Ethics and philosophy in interdisciplinary design
</li>
</ul>
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Event Two Column
Component Items
Title
Future of Design in the Global South
Sub Title
<ul>
<li>
Design for resource-constrained settings
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<li>
Frugal and jugaad innovations
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Post-colonial perspectives in design
</li>
<li>
South-South collaborations in design
</li>
<li>
Emerging markets and contextual design
</li>
<li>
Local solutions for global challenges
</li>
<li>
Policy and infrastructure for design growth
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Design for resource-constrained settings
</li>
<li>
Frugal and jugaad innovations
</li>
<li>
Post-colonial perspectives in design
</li>
<li>
South-South collaborations in design
</li>
<li>
Emerging markets and contextual design
</li>
<li>
Local solutions for global challenges
</li>
<li>
Policy and infrastructure for design growth
</li>
</ul>
Content Type
Single Item
Right Component
Title
Design Education and Capacity Building
Sub Title
<ul>
<li>
Curriculum innovation in design programs
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<li>
Studio-based and experiential learning
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<li>
Design pedagogy for digital natives
</li>
<li>
Online and hybrid learning in design
</li>
<li>
Mentorship and design leadership
</li>
<li>
Design thinking in non-design disciplines
</li>
<li>
Assessment models and student-led innovation
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Curriculum innovation in design programs
</li>
<li>
Studio-based and experiential learning
</li>
<li>
Design pedagogy for digital natives
</li>
<li>
Online and hybrid learning in design
</li>
<li>
Mentorship and design leadership
</li>
<li>
Design thinking in non-design disciplines
</li>
<li>
Assessment models and student-led innovation
</li>
</ul>
Column Type
Event Two Column
Component Items
Title
Market Expansion and Global Reach
Sub Title
<ul>
<li>
Design entrepreneurship and startups
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Branding and storytelling for global audiences
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Exporting indigenous design to global markets
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<li>
Intellectual property and design protection
</li>
<li>
Global design competitions and platforms
</li>
<li>
Business models for creative industries
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<li>
Design as a strategic business tool
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Design entrepreneurship and startups
</li>
<li>
Branding and storytelling for global audiences
</li>
<li>
Exporting indigenous design to global markets
</li>
<li>
Intellectual property and design protection
</li>
<li>
Global design competitions and platforms
</li>
<li>
Business models for creative industries
</li>
<li>
Design as a strategic business tool
</li>
</ul>
Content Type
Single Item
Right Component
Title
Women in Design
Sub Title
<ul>
<li>
Gender-inclusive design processes
</li>
<li>
Women leaders and mentors in design
</li>
<li>
Designing for women’s needs and safety
</li>
<li>
Empowering women through craft and enterprise
</li>
<li>
Gender equity in design education and practice
</li>
<li>
Feminist perspectives in design theory
</li>
<li>
Representation of women in design narratives
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Gender-inclusive design processes
</li>
<li>
Women leaders and mentors in design
</li>
<li>
Designing for women’s needs and safety
</li>
<li>
Empowering women through craft and enterprise
</li>
<li>
Gender equity in design education and practice
</li>
<li>
Feminist perspectives in design theory
</li>
<li>
Representation of women in design narratives
</li>
</ul>
Column Type
Event Two Column
Component Items
Title
Ergonomics and Human Factors in Design
Sub Title
<ul>
<li>
Cognitive ergonomics in interface design
</li>
<li>
Anthropometry and workspace design
</li>
<li>
Human-centered design and usability testing
</li>
<li>
Ergonomic product design for diverse users
</li>
<li>
Safety and comfort in public design
</li>
<li>
UX research and interaction design
</li>
<li>
Assistive technology and accessibility
</li>
</ul>
<li>
Cognitive ergonomics in interface design
</li>
<li>
Anthropometry and workspace design
</li>
<li>
Human-centered design and usability testing
</li>
<li>
Ergonomic product design for diverse users
</li>
<li>
Safety and comfort in public design
</li>
<li>
UX research and interaction design
</li>
<li>
Assistive technology and accessibility
</li>
</ul>
Content Type
Single Item
Column Type
Event Two Column
Title
Objective and Areas of Interest
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section4
Description
The goal of the conference is to offer a global platform for the sharing and exchange of scientific knowledge in the theoretical, general, and practical fields of design. It aims to create a platform for designers, academics, and policymakers to building an epistemic community where we share interdisciplinary strategies and build partnerships may connect across disciplinary, geographical, and cultural boundaries and drive transformative change. This will be accomplished through the following six modes of communication: keynote presentation, parallel sessions, demonstration and poster sessions, exhibitions, and meetings of special interest groups.
Title
Important Dates
Description
Full Paper submission:
Call for paper: June 20, 2025
Last date: August 15, 2025
Notification: October 30, 2025- November 30, 2025
Camera Ready paper submission: December 1, 2025
Note: All the papers go through peer review process, in which the quality and potential contribution of each manuscript is evaluated by one's peers in the scientific community of the conference.
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Proceeding Publication Partner
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section5
Description
Springer and IGI Global
Only presented and selected papers will be published in the conference proceedings.
Select papers from the conference will be published by Springer and IGI Global as a proceedings book volume. Publisher will conduct quality checks on the accepted papers and only papers that pass these checks will be published.
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Registration
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Description
| Early Bird 30th June 25 | 31st October 25 | Spot Registration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPES | Students | 1500 | 2000 | 2500 |
| Scholars | 2500 | 3000 | 3500 | |
| Faculty | 4000 | 5000 | 6000 | |
| Other Indian Universities and Institutes | Students | 3000 | 5000 | 6000 |
| Scholars | 4000 | 6000 | 8000 | |
| Faculty | 7000 | 9000 | 11000 | |
| Industry | National | 9000 | 11000 | 14000 |
| Asian and Developing Countries (USD) | Scholars | 100 | 120 | 150 |
| Scholars | 120 | 150 | 180 | |
| Faculty | 200 | 250 | 350 | |
| Industry | 250 | 300 | 400 | |
| Developed Countries (USD) | Students | 120 | 150 | 180 |
| Scholars | 150 | 200 | 250 | |
| Faculty | 350 | 400 | 500 | |
| Industry | 400 | 450 | 550 |
Note: Registration Fee: only includes conference kit, working lunch, gala dinner and refreshments at the
conference. GST will be charge extra.
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