The 19th PhD colloquium on Design Research

Established in 2015, the PhD Colloquium on Design Research was initiated by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunan University, Jiangnan University, National Cheng Kung University, Tongji University, and Tsinghua University The Colloquium provides doctoral students from China and abroad with a high-level, multidisciplinary platform for design research and academic exchange, advancing scholarship through dialogue and the exchange of ideas across institutions.

The 19th PhD Colloquium on Design Research, hosted by the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, will take place on 10 and 12 November 2026. The Colloquium invites research paper abstracts from doctoral students who have successfully passed their confirmation of candidature. Outstanding applicants will be selected to present their research at the Colloquium.

We warmly invite you to participate in this vibrant forum for scholarly exchange, where you can share your research, engage with fellow researchers, and gain valuable feedback to support your academic development.

The 19th PhD Colloquium on Design Research is strategically merged with the Leadership Forum on Translational Knowledge to be held on 11 November, into a high-impact, 3-day programme (10–12 November 2026).

Theme: Building Translational Design Knowledge

In an increasingly complex world marked by rapid technological shifts, design serves as a primary vehicle for knowledge creation. The 2026 joint event investigates how we construct, organise, and apply translational design knowledge to shape future research and prepare the next generation of practitioners.

The theme encompasses four directions:

1. Design Intelligence

Design Intelligence positions design as a critical means of shaping how emerging forms of intelligence, including AI, are integrated into human life. Through human creativity, critical inquiry, and interdisciplinary collaboration, it advances a design-led approach that promotes social wellbeing, ethical accountability, and environmental stewardship.

2. Design Wellbeings

Design Wellbeings explores how products, environments, services, and systems can enhance physical, mental, and social wellbeing for individuals and communities. It emphasizes empathy, inclusivity, and sustainability, drawing on evidence-based and participatory methods to address contemporary wellbeing challenges.

3. Design for Virtue

Design for Virtue examines how ethical values, moral responsibility, and concern for the common good can inform design processes and outcomes. Through critical reflection, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation, it seeks to embed virtues such as honesty, empathy, and justice into design practice.

4. Translational Knowledge

Translational Knowledge extends beyond the one-way transfer of university research to society, industry, or policy, framing knowledge exchange as a dynamic and reciprocal process. It involves actively reworking knowledge across contexts, connecting research with practice, education with professional application, disciplinary expertise with interdisciplinary collaboration, and local with global perspectives.

Colloquium Structure

1. Doctoral Research Presentations

With their supervisor’s recommendation, doctoral students who have successfully passed their confirmation of candidature may submit abstracts of their research. Selected applicants will be invited to present their work at the Colloquium and receive feedback from experts across participating institutions students who have successfully passed their confirmation of candidature may submit abstracts of their research. Selected applicants will be invited to present their work at the Colloquium and receive feedback from experts across participating institutions.

2. Expert Commentary and Evaluation

Experts will provide constructive feedback on the doctoral presentations, helping participants clarify their research questions, define their research scope and refine their methodologies. These discussions aim to strengthen both design research and practice. Outstanding presentations will be recognised through the Best Presentation Award.

3. Poster Exhibition

Selected doctoral researchers will prepare posters in accordance with the specified format for display. The poster showcase will provide opportunities for research exchange and include judges’ choice voting for the Best Poster Award. The venue of exhibition is the Innovation Gallery of Jockey Club Innovation Tower, PolyU.

Key Dates

15 September 2026: Call for Papers
10 October 2026: Abstract Submission Deadline
20 October 2026: Abstract Acceptance Notifications
25 October 2026: Forum Agenda Released
10 November 2026: PhD Colloquium Day 1
11 November 2026: 2026 Leadership Forum on Translational Knowledge
12 November 2026: PhD Colloquium Day 2

Organiser

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design

University Partners

Hunan University; Jiangnan University; National Cheng Kung University; Tongji University; Tsinghua University

International Partner Institution

Carnegie Mellon University