Social Design is profoundly shaped by the evolving dynamics of society. Our understanding of the ‘social contract’ directly impacts the possibilities and roles of design. In recent decades, we have witnessed the beginnings of profound societal transformations — from increasing diversification and political polarization to climate adaptation, shifts in capital and privilege, and digitalization. As societies evolve, so must our practices, values, ethics, and methods.

How can we ensure that Social Design remains adaptable, reflexive, and accountable, and to whom? What and who should our practice focus on? What alliances should we forge? What imaginaries and frameworks should we adopt or challenge? And what new skills, literacies, and tools are needed to address these challenges in a meaningful, future-oriented way? At the Social Design Conference 2025, we will explore these and other urgent questions. We welcome a wide range of practice- and theory-based contributions, including but not limited to papers, visual essays, projects, workshops, and interventions, within the following tracks:

Diversity and New Actors
Social Design is inherently participatory, requiring designers to engage and collaborate with a diverse range of actors. This track explores how the emergence of new actors and alliances is reshaping Social Design practices and notions of “design’s significant others”. We invite proposals that critically and innovatively address this problem space, including the ethical challenges of expanding our understanding of agency and participation. What new forms of collaboration, inclusion, and solidarity can Social Design facilitate in increasingly diverse societies? How can we redefine the role of space and locality, and what new concepts might help us rethink the notion of “community” in the contemporary digital age? Furthermore, as awareness of environmental limits and non-human actors grows, how can we meaningfully integrate ecosystems and future generations into design processes — moving beyond superficial representations of their engagement to achieve tangible political and societal impact?

New Conflicts, Old Identities
In the face of intensifying local and global conflicts, we are witnessing a resurgence of identity politics, moral absolutism, and entrenched “us vs. them” divisions. This track invites positions that address the intersections of conflict and identity, while exploring ways in which Social Design can foster dialogue, even between polarized or opposing sides of society. As this conference explores how Social Design should evolve alongside changing notions of society, we particularly welcome contributions that provocatively challenge us to rethink the very definition of the “social” in an age marked by atomization, social seclusion, and rising hatred. Submissions to this track may explore a spectrum of goals for Social Design: Should it promote productive agonism, encouraging the open confrontation of differences? Or should it aim to seek common ground and reconciliation? We invite examples, theories, interventions, provocations and reflections that illustrate these different approaches, pushing the boundaries of what Social Design can achieve in navigating the complex realities of conflict and identity today.

Shifting Lines of Capital and Privilege
As new forms of capital emerge and new types of poverty take shape — whether related to data, or redefined concepts of cultural and social capital — how can Social Design contribute to the redistribution of both traditional and contemporary forms of wealth? This track invites contributions, reflections, and innovative practices that critically address the economy of design and explore Social Design’s potential to tackle inequalities within and beyond conventional economic paradigms. We also welcome positions that examine how Social Design can help reframe the concept of “value” itself: How might Social Design redefine what we consider valuable, and in doing so, challenge entrenched systems of capital and privilege?

Design in Datafied Societies
As AI, automation, and new communication platforms reshape democracies and social interactions, we seek to explore how Social Design can respond to issues of accessibility, sovereignty, and justice in increasingly data-driven societies. While questions of digitalization have often remained at the margins of Social Design theory and practice, this track seeks to map the ways in which digital transformation is reshaping the field. From forging new and reimagined relationships with other disciplines, to pushing the boundaries of how we use, interpret, and own/govern data. We invite contributions that explore these shifts. Additionally, this track will address ethical questions and the role of design in the development and application of emerging technologies. We also welcome more general reflections on whether and how digitalization in its various forms is transforming the focus and practice of Social Design. How can Social Design adapt and thrive in datafied societies, and what new opportunities and challenges lie ahead?

Pedagogies for (Eco-)Social Transformation
As societies face profound changes, design education must evolve to equip future designers with the skills and understandings needed to navigate and shape these transformations. This track explores how Social Design pedagogy can prepare students to engage with societal challenges and drive meaningful change. What are the opportunities and challenges of preparing designers to act as agents of transformation in today’s changing world? How can design education foster critical literacies, ethical frameworks, and collaborative capacities for increasingly diverse, interconnected, and uncertain futures? What new theories and methods should educators prioritize, and which approaches should be reconsidered? We invite contributions that examine innovative, experimental, and collaborative approaches to design education, especially those that break disciplinary boundaries or rethink traditional curricula. Submissions may include reflections on pedagogy, case studies, experiments, theoretical insights, and provocations that redefine the role of education in shaping Social Design practices.