The conference Design and Migration Societies: Co-creating Just Futures will be accompanied by a pop-up exhibition at the Industrial Design Engineering department of TU Delft, running from 2 to 6 November 2026.
With this exhibition, we aim to show the many ways design shapes the everyday realities of migration and society, as a starting point for interdisciplinary dialogue. We are particularly interested in contributions that respond to the themes and questions of the conference, which starts from the premise that design is never a neutral problem-solver: it can exclude (through camps, walls, hostile architectures) and it can also support dignity, justice, and rebuilding. We are looking for work that takes a clear position on what design does or can do in these contexts, or that documents its effects critically. For further information, please see the call for the conference panels and workshops here.
We invite scholars, researchers, practitioners, architects, designers and artists working on aspects of contemporary migration contexts – from shelter, housing and labor to borders, civic integration and digital infrastructures like apps or databases, to care, spatial justice and repair. Theoretical, methodological or innovative approaches, work-in-progress and completed projects; experimental or speculative work are all welcome. Collaborative and community-based projects are especially encouraged.
We welcome proposals in different formats and media:
- Printed materials (displayed on panels or tables) such as posters, architectural drawings, maps, handbooks, zines, booklets, or photo essays;
- Audio-visual materials (screened on-site) such as film or video recordings (under 3 minutes), interactive websites or digital tools, photography or visual documentation projects;
- Physical objects (displayed on plinths or tables) that present design proposals, such as scaled models or mock-ups.
If your work does not fit the above categories, but you believe it belongs in the exhibition, please get in touch — we are open to other formats where practically feasible. Display details will depend on the venue setup and will be confirmed by the exhibition team with accepted contributors.
How to submit
Please send your proposal to GMDCentre@essb.eur.nl by 31 July 2026 for the first round of selection. The proposal should be a maximum of two pages and include:
- (tentative) title of the contribution
- name(s), affiliation(s), and contact details of the contributor(s)
- a short description of the work (max. 250 words), indicating how it relates to the (sub)themes and guiding questions of the conference
- the format and media of the contribution, including preferred dimensions and technical or spatial requirements (e.g., screen, table space, display panel)
- one or two indicative images (low resolution is fine at this stage), or a link, website, or a short preview for audio-visual and digital work (e.g., via repository, Vimeo/YouTube, or a shared folder)
Selection and practical matters
The exhibition team will confirm participation based on its fit with the conference themes, the diversity of formats, perspectives, and disciplinary fields, and the practical possibilities of the venue. Confirmation of participation will be sent by September 2026, and the deadline for the final submission of the work will be communicated in good time after confirmation.
Questions
If you have any questions, you can reach us at GMDCentre@essb.eur.nl.