MICHELANGELO  SCHOLAR  PUBLISHING   LIMITED
JDSSI
DH
JACAC
JAUD
Focusing on innovative theories grounded in design practice and their historical development

                      


            






















                                                                







                                                           



 


Thank you for choosing to submit your paper to JDSSI. These instructions will ensure your article matches the journal’s requirements，so your article can move through peer review, production and publication smoothly. Please take the time to read and follow them as closely as possible.

Our topics include, but are not limited to:
Design Service and Society Innovation;
Sustainable Design;
Innovation in everyday life;
Design Cases Study;
Design and Consumer Culture;
Research on Design Theory;
Design History.

Submitting your manuscript
Email: jdssi.editorialmanager03@gmail.com; jdssi-editor@michelangelo-scholar.com

* The journal provides a waiver on  article processing charges for all authors.


Aims and Scope 

Thank you for choosing to submit your paper to DH. These instructions will ensure that your article meets the journal’s requirements, allowing it to progress smoothly through peer review, production, and publication. Please take the time to read and follow them as closely as possible.

DH's primary aim is to advance knowledge in the fields of design, service, and social innovation through rigorous research and analysis.
We seek to promote best practices in these domains by showcasing successful initiatives and innovative approaches.
A key goal is to foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to address complex societal challenges through interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge sharing.

DH provides a platform for this important work, bringing together diverse perspectives to drive progress in these critical areas.

DH covers a broad range of topics related to design-led research, design for social impact, and the application of design thinking to address societal challenges. This includes, but is not limited to, healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, and community development. DH welcomes empirical studies, theoretical analyses, and case studies that offer novel perspectives and actionable insights.

DH aims to provide a platform for high-quality, peer-reviewed research that explores the intersection of design, service, and social innovation. DH seeks to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge that can inform policy and practice, fostering solutions to complex social issues.



Our topics include, but are not limited to:


The research areas of design history journals mainly include the following aspects:

The Restatement of Classic Design History re-examines classic design history issues, such as modernism, the Bauhaus, and the Arts and Crafts Movement, aiming to go beyond traditional art history narratives and explore diverse perspectives and de-classification paths in design history.

Material culture research takes material culture as its core method, studying the production, circulation, use, and significance of design objects, focusing on the interactive relationship between design and society, culture, and technology. For example, by analyzing the materiality of design objects such as furniture, textiles, and architecture, historical and social changes can be revealed.

Interdisciplinary research integrates interdisciplinary methods such as architectural history, technological history, business history, anthropology, sociology, etc., exploring the intersection between design and social structure, power dynamics, gender, class, and other issues, such as studying the role of design in colonial and postcolonial contexts.

Global design history transcends Western centrism, focusing on design practices in non-Western countries and regions, exploring issues such as transnational design history and exile design history, and constructing a narrative of design history from a global perspective, such as studying the interaction between design and modernism in Africa, Asia, and other regions.

Design Education and Practice Analysis: The development process of design education, the relationship between teaching methods and social needs, as well as the characteristics and influences of design practice in different historical periods, such as studying the role of design education reform in promoting design practice in the 20th century.

Design archives and curation focus on the organization, protection, and utilization of design archives, as well as the planning and display methods of design exhibitions. Through archives and exhibitions, the historical and cultural value of design is presented, such as researching how to preserve and disseminate design archives through digital technology.


These research fields reflect the expansion and deepening of the discipline of design history by design history journals, emphasizing interdisciplinary, global perspectives, and the exploration of the socio-cultural significance of design practice.



Submitting your manuscript


Email: m.scholar2023@gmail.com


Online Submission System (OJS): https://ojs.michelangelo-scholar.com/index.php/DH/submissions


* DH provides a waiver on article processing charges for all authors.

Embrace New Fields: Emerging Trends in Design History Research


Design history, as a discipline, has evolved significantly since its formalization in the mid-20th century. Initially focused on stylistic evolutions and canonical figures in fields like architecture, graphic design, and industrial products, it now encompasses broader socio-cultural, economic, and technological contexts. This shift reflects a growing recognition that design is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but a reflection of human needs, societal values, and power structures. Emerging trends in design history research are pushing the boundaries further, embracing interdisciplinary methods, digital innovations, and inclusive narratives. As we approach the late 2020s, scholars are increasingly drawing on history to inform future practices, addressing global challenges like sustainability and decolonization. This article explores these trends, highlighting how they redefine the field and its relevance to contemporary design.


Design history is increasingly interdisciplinary, blending insights from psychology, anthropology, sociology, and environmental sciences. This trend stems from a generational shift in design research, from the rational methods of the 1960s Design Methods Movement to today's collaborative, practice-based frameworks. Panels like those at the Design Research Society (DRS) emphasize how history, theory, and practice intersect to foster future-focused thinking, with scholars advocating for "Academic Design" to unify these elements.


A key development is the use of systems thinking, drawing from mid-20th-century influences like the Bauhaus and Swiss graphic design, to inform modern design systems. Interdisciplinary symposia, such as the New Directions in Design History Symposium at Washington University in St. Louis, bring together historians, designers, and visual culture scholars to tackle critical issues at these intersections. This approach expands the field beyond Eurocentric narratives, incorporating global case studies, such as business applications in the Pearl River Delta or craft traditions in India, to reveal design's role in social phenomena.

Decolonizing design history is a vital emerging field, challenging dominant Western-centric stories and amplifying non-Western voices. Researchers are exploring influences from Islamic geometric patterns, African textiles, and Chinese scroll layouts, which have shaped modern UX elements like scalable visualizations and vertical feeds. Japanese principles of *ma* (negative space) and Scandinavian functionalism are reframed as global contributions to inclusive design.


Beyond postcolonialism, new directions include comparative studies of colonialism's impact on design innovation outside Europe, as well as themes of memory and migration. Initiatives like the Center for Design History at some Universities focus on  Asian design history research, uncovering histories of museum donors and underrepresented artifacts. Feminist critiques are resurging, highlighting women's underrepresentation in industrial design histories and advocating for gender equality in future practices. These efforts promote ethical design that respects cultural symbolism and avoids appropriation.


Sustainability is weaving into design history research, with scholars examining how past efficiencies—such as Industrial Revolution standardization—can inform eco-friendly futures. Accessibility principles, evolving from universal design to standards like Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), are studied for their broader benefits, ensuring designs endure and adapt. Historical analyses of material culture critique over-engineered products, pushing for people-centered approaches that reduce waste.
In education, trends emphasize preparing designers for sustainable systems, shifting from product to service-oriented models influenced by social and economic changes. Oral histories and reflexive methods are gaining traction, allowing researchers to manage biases and foster inclusive narratives for ethical progress.
New Methodologies and Future Outlook
Innovative methodologies, such as oral histories and anthropological turns, are transforming design history. PhD theses and pedagogical experiments are viewed as research outputs, bridging academia and practice. Victor Margolin's call for socio-historical understanding remains central, urging historians to connect past meanings with future innovations.

Looking ahead, these trends position design history as a dynamic tool for addressing global issues. By embracing digital tools, interdisciplinary collaboration, decolonization, and sustainability, the field not only preserves the past but shapes equitable, innovative futures. As exhibitions like "Reverberations: Lineages in Design History" at the Ford Foundation demonstrate, ancestral wisdom across cultures continues to inspire contemporary work. In an era of rapid change, design history research invites us to rethink our world through the lens of what we've built—and what we can build next.