MICHELANGELO SCHOLAR PUBLISHING LIMITED

Design History

Focusing on innovative theories grounded in design practice and their historical development

The Journal’s OJS Platform: Design History

Latest Articles

Understanding the Interdisciplinary Nature of Design History

Design History (DH) emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of design history and theoretical research, recognizing that meaningful insights often emerge from the integration of diverse perspectives and expertise. The journal welcomes contributions from fields such as design, art history, cultural studies, sociology, and education to foster a comprehensive understanding of historical and theoretical dimensions of design.

By promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange, DH seeks to break down disciplinary silos and encourage innovative approaches that integrate insights from multiple domains. This interdisciplinary focus supports the study of complex design phenomena holistically and rigorously, contributing to more nuanced and impactful scholarship.

ISSN: 3106-0390(Print), 3106-0404(Online)

Frequency: Semiannual (two issues per year)

Editorial Committee

Open Access

See Instructions for Authors for manuscript requirements.

Submitting Your Manuscript to the Journal System: DH

Email: dh@michelangelo-scholar.com

January 15, 2026

Design History (DH) is an international scholarly journal registered in October 2025 and dedicated to the publication of high-quality, original research in design. The journal is published semiannually in both print and online formats and operates under a double-blind peer review process and a Diamond Open Access model, ensuring that no fees are charged to either authors or readers.

DH accepts research articles, review articles, and book reviews. Its scope includes design service and assessment, social innovation theory and practice, and design as a strategy for social and cultural development. The journal particularly encourages research that addresses multidisciplinary issues in design innovation for social services.

DH aims to disseminate innovative design ideas and solutions, explore topics such as sustainable design and consumer services, and promote design for harmonious social development and cross-cultural exchange.

Call for Articles

Core Themes: Human factors, logic, and cultural History in the design practice

Design History (DH) is an International Journal that actively seeks high-quality submissions that advance scholarly understanding of design's historical dimensions. We welcome diverse methodological approaches, theoretical frameworks, and geographic perspectives that contribute to the evolving discourse in design history.

As an international platform for design historical scholarship, the journal serves as a bridge between academic research and professional practice, fostering dialogue across disciplinary boundaries. We are particularly interested in submissions that demonstrate innovative approaches to archival research, digital humanities methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Research Article

We invite original research manuscripts (7,000-9,000 words) on all aspects of design history. Submissions should offer new insights, methodologies, or theoretical frameworks that advance understanding of design's historical dimensions.

Priority areas include decolonial approaches to design history, gender in design practice, environmental design histories, digital design cultures, and cross-cultural design exchanges. We particularly encourage submissions that challenge traditional narratives and introduce underrepresented voices to the field.

Strong research articles demonstrate rigorous archival work, theoretical sophistication, and clear relevance to contemporary design discourse. We welcome comparative studies, transnational analyses, and interdisciplinary approaches that draw on fields such as anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies.

Special Topic

Design History welcomes proposals for Special Topics addressing emergent themes, methodological innovations, or underexplored geographic contexts. Prospective guest editors should submit a 500-word concept statement and a potential contributor list.

Special Topics can explore topics such as design and decolonization, sustainable futures, and gender politics in design. We seek proposals that demonstrate scholarly rigor while addressing contemporary concerns relevant to the design history community.

Special Topics should include 6-8 research articles, an editorial introduction, and may incorporate alternative formats such as visual essays or interviews. Guest editors work closely with our editorial team to ensure coherence and quality across the issue.

Exhibition Review

Critical reviews (2,000-2,500 words) of significant design exhibitions are accepted on an ongoing basis. Reviews should contextualize exhibitions within broader currents in design historical scholarship and curatorial practice.

Strong reviews analyze curatorial decisions, assess the exhibition's contribution to public understanding of design history, and engage with the broader implications for the field. We encourage reviews of exhibitions from diverse global contexts.

Reviews should evaluate the exhibition's historical narrative, consider its pedagogical effectiveness, and address questions of accessibility and audience engagement. We particularly welcome reviews that examine how exhibitions contribute to ongoing debates in design history.

PUBLISHED BY MICHELANGELO SCHOLAR PUBLISHING LIMITED

ADDRESS: ROOM A, 3/F, WING TAT COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 121-125 WING LOK STREET, SHEUNG WAN, HK

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E-MAIL: mspl@michelangelo-scholar.com

Design History (DH) is an international, peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by Michelangelo Scholar Publishing Limited (MSPL). The journal operates under a Diamond Open Access model, ensuring that all content is freely accessible to readers worldwide without subscription or access fees and that no article processing charges (APCs) are required from authors.

All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process, maintaining the highest standards of scholarly integrity. Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), with copyright retained by the author(s).

DH provides a platform for high-quality research on the history, theory, and development of design across disciplines, fostering both academic excellence and broad accessibility.

Special Issue

The Temporal Dimension of Design History: Historiography, Evidence, and the Construction of Historical Knowledge

Design history research is deeply intertwined with the temporal dimension through which historical narratives, material evidence, and cultural contexts are interpreted. The process of examining objective historical facts often requires long-term scholarly reflection, critical historiography, and continuous reinterpretation across different temporal frameworks.

This special issue seeks to explore the role of time in design history research. It invites contributions that critically examine how historical knowledge in design studies is constructed, interpreted, and revisited over time. Particular attention will be given to methodological approaches that address long-term historical processes, archival research, historiographical debates, and the evolving interpretation of design artifacts and practices.

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that investigate the temporal dynamics of design history, including but not limited to the study of long-term cultural transformations, design historiography, historical methodology, and the relationship between past design practices and contemporary interpretation.