DIA-LOGUE: A Two-Way Bridge Symposium - Technology in Research and Design Disciplines

The Ph.D. in Design and the Built Environment (DBE) Program at Clemson University invites submissions for papers to be presented at the DIA-LOGUE Symposium 2026. This year’s symposium examines the role of technology in shaping design research across architecture, planning, landscape, building technologies, and history & theory. We seek contributions that critically explore how digital tools, artificial intelligence, and emerging systems support or challenge creative, theoretical, and ethical dimensions in design research. Please submit abstracts by January 5th via email to dbesymposium@clemson.edu.

(1) Goal of the DIA-LOUGUE Symposium is to explore:

• How technology expands or constrains the scope of inquiry in design research and its applicability in practice?
• What new ethical demands can arise when tools themselves influence interpretation and imagination?
• Does technology have the potential to broaden the opportunity for critical thinking and create greater opportunities for expanding the horizon of research, or restrict it?
• How might the evolving and emerging possibilities of technology challenge disciplinary boundaries and open new territories of application that are yet to be recognized within design practices?

(2) Topics of Interest - Submissions may address (but are not limited to):

• Usage of technology in research methods in design disciplines
• Artificial intelligence, ethics, and design thinking
• Bridging research and practice through technology and/or digital tools
• Case studies of technology integration in research
• Historical and theoretical perspectives on technology in design
• Cross-disciplinary approaches to technology and design
  

(3) Submission - The Symposium follows a two-stage submission process:

Stage 1: Abstract Submission - The authors are required to submit an abstract that adheres to the guidelines provided below:

• Abstract length: approx. 300 words in any academic format.
• Format: PDF, Word Document; anonymized for peer review**.
• Submission Deadline: January 5th, 2026.
• Notification of acceptance: February 2026.
• Paper requisites: All abstracts will undergo a blind peer review; therefore, the submitted PDF or Word document must include only the paper title and the abstract, with no personal identifying information.
• Author name, affiliation, and contact details should be included in the body of the email when submitting through the link provided or email address.

Stage 2: Presentation Submission for Symposium-

• The format and guidelines for presentations will be announced on the Symposium website and circulated to selected participants at a later stage.
• Presenters are expected to submit their presentations in advance.