Emerge 2026

Emerge 2026 is a three-day seminar with the theme of Product Design and Innovation sponsored by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and hosted by the IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay. 

While anyone can submit to the seminar, Emerge encourages people under the age of 35 years working in any area of design research — whether through traditional PhD routes or practice-based, industrial, or independent pathways.

About

IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay in collaboration with the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, is pleased to announce a new seminar series designed to nurture and celebrate emerging researchers in design. This initiative brings together young researchers, early-career faculty, and design practitioners who are shaping the future of design research and scholarship.

Emerge 2026 welcomes diverse pathways to design research. This seminar recognises that design research thrives across multiple contexts — from academic institutions to industry innovation labs, from traditional PhD programs to practice-based research environments, and from established institutions to independent research initiatives. This seminar creates a vital gathering space for the next generation of design researchers to present their work, engage with peers, and learn from established voices in the field.

Theme

In year 2026, the seminar is inviting submissions under the theme of Product Design and Innovation. See the Call for Papers, Posters and Demos for more details.

Who Should Attend

• Young faculty members embarking on research careers
• Recent PhD graduates transitioning to research positions
• Postdoctoral researchers continuing their scholarly work
• PhD students (all stages) and M.Des by Research or similar program students on a research pathway
• Researchers and designers within corporate R&D teams conducting rigorous inquiry
• Emerging practitioners and independent researchers dedicated to advancing design knowledge
• Prospective students exploring design research as a career direction
• We particularly welcome researchers whose work challenges conventional disciplinary boundaries and those whose research contexts extend beyond traditional academic institutions.

For presenters

• Present and receive constructive feedback on your research from peers and senior researchers
• Connect with a community of young design researchers from diverse backgrounds and institutions
• Gain visibility within the design research community
• Learn about diverse research methodologies and approaches within design
• Explore potential collaborations and future research partnerships
• Access insights from established researchers navigating research careers in design

For all participants

• Engage with cutting-edge design research across multiple contexts and methodologies
• Build your professional network within the design research community
• Discover diverse pathways for research careers in design
• Participate in substantive conversations about the future of design inquiry
• Access inspiring examples of how young researchers are advancing the field

What to Expect

Invited talks by early-career national and international researchers, sharing experiences from their work, career paths, methods, and lessons learned.

Peer-reviewed paper presentations, where selected participants present their work and receive feedback from peers and senior mentors.

Informal networking and mentorship spaces focused on career building across academia, industry R&D, and practice-based research.

Registration, Travel & Stay

All participants will have to register to attend the seminar. The registration fee is INR 2500 for professionals and INR 1000 for students. Registration fees will cover seminar kit, 1 dinner, 2 lunches, and 4 tea/refreshments on the 3 days of the seminar. 

Thanks to a sponsorship from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, presenters under the age of 35 who have an accepted paper, poster or demo will get a waiver of registration fees. The seminar will also be able to cover travel and accommodation costs for a limited number of presenters under the age of 35. Instructions about this will be sent along with the acceptance notifications.

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