Design Society Committees
In 2018, the Design Society strengthened its organisation by the establishment of a number of Standing (permanent) and Ad Hoc (temporary) Committees. These Committees comprise mainly current and past members of the AB, but also some members, who may not have a current formal role in the BM/AB structure.
The Committees address the following general needs of the Society:
- Engage AB and (as needed) other Society members in ongoing Society activities in a continuous and systematic manner.
- Directly support the workload of the BM and its decision-making within specific focus areas.
- Advise and support individual BM members that have responsibilities for specific Society tasks.
- Study specific issues as they arise and provide actionable advice to the BM.
Each BM member serves as BM liaison to one or more of the committees. Each AB member serves on at least one of the committees.
Design Society 2040 Vision: An important task is that there is a common challenge for all committees to address, in addition to specific assignments per committee. The BM seek input from all committees to build a vision and for strategy development. We ask you to critically and constructively assess what we currently offer in relation to what we desire to offer, thereby initiating the task to set an ambition for DS until 2040. Where do we want to be as a design society by 2040, and what do we need to do to get there? The ambition is to discuss and promote an updated vision for Design Society 2040 at the 25th anniversary year and use Committees as one important forum. The overall 2040 challenge regards the heart of the development of the society, now approaching its 25th anniversary (2025) and in many ways can be seen as a grown-up society. We provide already services to our members via wide range of academic instruments – both established via the ICED conference series and endorsed collaborative conferences, the Special Interests groups, the summer courses and workshops organised and much more. We also live and act in times of change, why there is a need to think both in short and long terms.
STANDING COMMITTEES 2023-25
Communications Committee
Advise on internal and external Society communications, including website, newsletter, social media, and general marketing and publicity. Focus for the coming two years, is to develop strategies for selecting appropriate channels to inform DS members and stakeholders about various events, advice on how best to keep our different membership constituencies informed and how to raise awareness about the Design Society and its activities. Particularly in a time where many activities have been online and mostly confined to known audiences, we are also interested in discussing how to further strengthen our communications to potential new colleagues and collaborators.
Members: Dieter Krause (chair), Monica Bordegoni, Serena Graziosi, Tim McAloone, Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, Yong Se Kim
BM Liaison: Kristin Paetzold-Byhain
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Propose practices that the DS can adapt to support equality, diversity and inclusion for all its members. The focus for the coming two years is to establish how can the DS actively contribute to fair treatment and opportunity for all with the aim to eradicate bias, prejudice and discrimination based on an individual or group of individuals' protected characteristics at various levels.
Members: Sophie Hallstedt (chair), Claudia Eckert, Julie Stal-Le Cardinal, Joshua Summers, Ian Whitfield
BM Liaison: Mario Štorga
Events Committee
Coordinate practices and supporting resources across DS owned, co-owned and endorsed events, across SIGs initiatives (not limited to conferences and workshops) and across further on-site/hybrid/online events promoted by the DS. Establish and communicate best practices, and identify shared needs and required services that the DS can support. The focus for the coming two years is to establish which models are the most appropriate for future DS events, taking into consideration the lessons learned during the pandemic time, and collect the best practices related to the different aspects of the organisation of the event that may be used by the future event organisers.
Members: Sandro Wartzack (chair), Albert Albers, Boris Eisenbart, Kilian Gericke, Francesca Montagna, Julie Stal-Le Cardinal, Yong Se Kim, Peter Törlind, Maria Yang
BM Liaison: Ola Isaksson
Honours and Awards Committee
Manage awards for Fellows and Honorary Fellows; define possible other awards and associated processes.
Members: Panos Papalambros (chair), Lucienne Blessing, John Gero, Armand Hatchuel, Dorian Marjanovic, Margareta Norell Bergendahl, Christian Weber
BM Liaison: Gaetano Cascini
Industry and Society Relations Committee
Identify strategic needs and priorities for competence, knowledge, and research in relevant industrial and societal areas. This includes new opportunities for industries and/or new constraints, regulations, etc., as well as how DS as a society can contribute to societal impact on current and emerging needs. Communicate external (industry and society) expectation, challenges and opportunities to the members, support relations. Propose and develop material that enables DS members and representatives to communicate the value of design research and education to external stakeholders in society and industry. Formulate and propose fora for how DS and its members can interact, exchange ideas and expectations with stakeholders in industry and society. Ultimately, the committee is expected to propose a strategy and concrete activities to foster a richer and more direct dialogue between DS and its members with society and industry.
Members: Iris Gräßler (chair), Benoit Eynard, Kilian Gericke, Matthias Kreimeyer, Kevin Otto, Joshua Summers, Sandro Wartzack, Ian Whitfield
BM Liaison: Ola Isaksson
Instructional Design Resources Committee
Explore the creation of a modular design knowledge repository (Design Society Exchange, based on the UC Berkley inherited solution) that will support both experienced and new instructors in developing design courses. Focus for the coming two years, is to support and enable a step-wise content review and update, suggestively by expanding with SIG collaboration. In parallel to its establishment, develop a vision and strategy for how Design Society Exchange best can be used as a resource for knowledge sharing and knowledge development amongst DS members.
Members: Francesca Montagna (chair), Lucienne Blessing, Monica Bordegoni, Yvonne Eriksson, Kilian Gericke, Dieter Krause, Daniela Pigosso, Peter Törlind
BM Liaison: Kristin Paetzold
Liaison with Other Societies Committee
Develop an understanding of the overlaps and potential synergies with other societies. Assess opportunities for collaboration. Work with the Government Committee on joint lobbying. The focus for the coming two years is to propose a plan of action and suggest specific initiatives to propose and identify relevant Societies (e.g., CIRP, ASME, DRS, ...). Extend the exploration to other relevant societies not focused on Design Science, but possibly interested in specific partnerships (e.g., multi-disciplinary research or education initiatives). Seek to promote Design Research in collaboration with other interests in Design Research.
Members: Claudia Eckert (chair), Albert Albers, Jean-François Boujut, Yvonne Eriksson, Harrison Kim, Pascal Le Masson, Yukari Nagai, Carolyn Seepersad, Benjamin Schleich, Pieter Vermaas, Bernard Yannou
BM Liaison: Gaetano Cascini
Membership Committee
Work on policies for new, continuing, and institutional members, including members from non-academic communities. Challenge the membership structures and fees, can these be improved to cater to the needs of the society? How can SIGs better serve as an entry to membership? A particular focus is the mobilisation of young and early career members, and how to get these engaged in DS duties and activities. The focus for the coming two years is how to make the membership life cycle more visible, how to enter, how to mature as a DS member, and how to stay active as a senior, retired and alumni- member.
Members: Joshua Summers (chair), Ross Brisco, Boris Eisenbart, Monica Bordegoni, Harrison Kim, Tim McAloone, Yukari Nagai, Sandro Wartzack, Maria Yang
BM Liaison: Mario Štorga
Publications Committee
Strengthen visibility, rigour, and value propositions of Design Society publications, initiating and undertaking specific initiatives, as needed. The focus for the coming two years is to explore further strategies to improve the visibility and reputation of DS publications. Furthermore, consolidate the editorial roles of the Society and procedures concerning DS publications not related to a specific conference (e.g., SIG reports, project reports). Consolidate general criteria for publication awards in DS events.
Members: Michael Kokkolaras (chair), Ross Brisco, John Clarkson, Claudia Eckert, Benoit Eynard, Serena Graziosi, Benjamin Schleich, Maria Yang
BM Liaison: Anja Maier
Sustainability Code of Conduct Committee
Build further on the first inputs created by the committee in the last period, regarding how the DS promote sustainable behaviour, research, teaching and communication about Design Science. The focus for the coming two years is how to proactively promote sustainability, through our activities as a society, both concerning Design Science and in terms of how we operate (incl. international travel, inclusion of sustainability in our research, conferences, teaching, etc.).
Members: Benjamin Schleich (chair), Jeremy Faludi, Sophie Hallstedt, Daniela Pigosso, Chris McMahon, Massimo Panarotto
BM Liaison: Gaetano Cascini
PREVIOUS COMMITTEES
Committee reports are the result of the work of the committees. This may not reflect the values of the BM or newly implemented policies.
Body of Knowledge AD-HOC Committee
The result of the work of this committee is at this link.
Members: Petra Badke-Schaub, Lucienne Blessing (chair), Yong Se Kim, Carolyn Conner Seepersad.
BM Liaison: Georges Fadel
Code of Conduct AD-HOC Committee
The result of the work of this committee is at this link.
Members: Petra Badke-Schaub (co-chair), Chris McMahon (co-chair), Harrison Kim, Yukari Nagai.
BM Liaison: Panos Papalambros
Who we are AD-HOC Committee
The result of the work of this committee is at this link
Fostering a discussion around unique strengths of the DS and its distinct expertise
Members: Kilian Gericke (Chair), Yoram Reich, Michael Kokkolaras, Ola Isaksson
BM Liaison: Claudia Eckert
Young Members Committee
Maintain engagement of young members, including continuing membership and special events. Identify specific values that the Society can offer such as career development.
Members: Julie Stal-Le Cardinal, Phil Cash, Daniela Pigosso, Joshua Summers, Peter Törlind (chair)
BM Liaison: Kristin Paetzold
20th Anniversary AD-HOC Committee
Preparations for the celebration of the Design Society 20th Aniversary.
Members: Philip Cash, Margareta Norell Bergendahl, Serena Graziosi, Camille Jean, Udo Lindemann, Dorian Marjanović (Chair), Chris McMahon, Massimo Panarotto, Christian Weber, Maria Yang.
BM Liaison: Panos Papalambros, Tim McAloone