Designing Health 

The Sixth Annual Design Research Conference Call for Papers and
Projects:

Conference to be held at the Interdisciplinary Design Institute of
Washington State University Spokane

October 7 - 8, 2010

 

"Design" is a dynamic and multi-faceted term. Both verb and noun, it
originates in the Latin designare, or, "to mark out." Thus, design can
be understood as both a mental activity that involves the study and
transformation of our physical and intellectual surroundings; and as the
products of such activity. "Health," according to the World Health
Organization, "...is not only the absence of infirmity and disease but
also a state of physical, mental and social well-being." Design and
health have many areas of overlap. How do the designs of our
environments, including such specific characteristics as light, color,
material, and dimension; and more general characteristics such as
proximity to nature, other human beings, and basic services, affect our
health? Can good design contribute to good health, and if so, how can we
study this relationship and facilitate the most healthful outcomes?

 

Designing Health explores these and other questions that arise from the
intersections of the design and health care fields. This annual
conference is notable for its intimate size, generous paper presentation
times that allow for in-depth discussions, and a variety of
participatory sessions that facilitate interaction between students,
paper presenters and invited speakers. Past conference participants have
come from all over the world. The conference will be held at the
Riverpoint campus, adjacent to both the Spokane River and historic
downtown Spokane, in easy walking distance to hotels, restaurants, and
recreational opportunities. 

 

We encourage proposals that directly or indirectly advance the
scholarship concerning various scales of the urban environment
integrating health and design concerns in teaching, research, practice
community outreach, or combinations thereof. The number of presentation
sessions is limited, so please submit abstracts early. Submissions for
papers and projects can address (but need not be limited to) the
following topic areas:

 

*	In the manner of utopias: a vision for a healthy society
*	Health, wellness, and design: challenges and accomplishments in
developing countries
*	Health and the community: pedestrian-friendly communities, New
Urbanism, obesity in relation to lifestyle
*	Planning the health science campus
*	Healing environments
*	Designing the new hospital: hospital as resort
*	The spa, the salon and the therapist parlor: real spaces for
health or just fancy interiors for the rich?
*	The 21st century home: a new paradigm for healthy living
*	Elderly assisted living care: just another building or a special
place?
*	The absence of home: homelessness and health
*	Health and the body: ergonomics
*	Signs of health: contributions of graphic design on health and
wellness

 

Authors may submit in any of the following categories:

 

Papers: Presentations of research by one or more authors explore either
theoretical or practical aspects of the conference theme. It is expected
that the research presented in the paper category will have reached at
least some preliminary conclusions and/or implications that can be
shared with the audience. 

 

Projects: Can be designs (or concepts) of built forms at any scale, so
long as an accompanying narrative explains how the project addresses the
conference topic.   

 

Panels: The moderator will write the abstract proposal and invite three
to five presenters to participate. Include names of the participants in
the abstract. The topic should address the conference theme and be one
that would benefit from diverse opinions and open discussion.

 

Posters: This is a format that fosters one-on-one dialogue between the
presenter and the conference attendees, and is intended for research
that is best presented in a graphic manner. Abstracts submitted in this
category must include a description of or information concerning the
graphic presentation being proposed (medium, format, etc). Authors will
be notified of the display area upon notification of acceptance. Posters
will be presented in an open forum at designated time(s) during the
conference. 

 

Graduate Forum: The Graduate Forum is intended for those students whose
projects are not completed or fully developed. The forum is viewed as an
opportunity for mentoring between the presenter and the audience. These
forums will include two students each presenting for 15 minutes. The
remaining half hour is for audience interaction. 

 

Submission requirements for presentation categories

*	Abstract must not exceed 500 words and should be double-spaced,
Arial font (10 pt). 
*	Page should have 1" margins on all sides.
*	Place the title of the abstract in the header. Immediately below
it record the type of presentation and word count. If a student, please
indicate after word count. (e.g., Poster; 490 word count; Student)  
*	Information revealing the identity of the author should not
appear in the abstract.
*	Submissions may include up to two pages of images or support
information included as an appendix.
*	Submissions MUST be submitted as a pdf.

 

 

Submissions are to be sent to Darrin Griechen at
[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> . Please copy (cc) John
Turpin at [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> . Within the body
of the email, include contributor(s) name, affiliation, and contact
information.  All submissions will be double-blind peer review. Deadline
for submissions: midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time) on April 1, 2010
with decisions issued by May 15.

 

Presenters' work at the conference may be further peer reviewed for
inclusion in the Interdisciplinary Design and Research e-Publication
(IDRP), sponsored by the WSU Interdisciplinary Design Institute:
http://www.idrp.wsu.edu/ <http://www.idrp.wsu.edu/> .