Planetary Design – Nordes 2027 in Rovaniemi, Finland (Lapland) 26–28 April 2027
For design to develop and remain relevant, it is essential to acknowledge planetary and life-centred needs. These challenge not only design, but also service production and delivery—and consumption as a whole. Planetary design situates design practice within planetary boundaries and Earth systems. It understands human, technological, social, and ecological processes as deeply interdependent. This approach seeks to contribute to planetary well-being by addressing systemic challenges across spatial, temporal, and socio-material scales, while acknowledging ethical responsibility for more-than-human life and future generations.
Design has created added value within private and public service–product systems by identifying and responding to human needs. Designers have championed human-centredness, usability, accessibility, holistic approaches, functionality, and coherence in service delivery—and have developed tools and processes to support these aims. To remain innovative, design must continue to experiment, work at the margins, and take risks, while staying within planetary boundaries. Arts-based methods are also integral to design and can be especially valuable in addressing community needs—particularly in vulnerable communities—while keeping critical thinking at the centre of design.
What tensions arise between creative practice, more-than-human thinking, cultural heritage, user- and life-centredness, and emerging technologies (AI and XR) as we seek to remain within planetary boundaries?
Nordes 2027 will feature several tracks on planetary design, including topics such as a temporal turn, emerging technologies, productive discomfort, and film.
Conference co-chairs: Prof Satu Miettinen (University of Lapland), Prof Jonna Häkkilä (University of Lapland) and Associate Professor Jasmin Niess (University of Oslo)
Important dates:
• Submissions open: 1. August 2026
• Full and exploratory paper deadline: 1 September 2026
• Workshop, exhibition, demo, film, and doctoral consortium deadline: 14 September 2026
• Notification to contributors: 26 October 2026
• Camera-ready submission deadline: 26 November 2026
• Final acceptance: 23 January 2027
• Conference dates: 26–28 April 2027
Nordes – Nordic Design Research – is a network of people interested in design research and participating in the Nordes conferences, the Nordes Summer schools or other Nordes activities. Nordes is an open network that started with the first Nordic Design Research Conference in Copenhagen 2005. In addition to organising the bi-annual Nordes conferences and Summer schools Nordes promotes the publication and dissemination of design research through the Nordes Digital Archive and DRS Digital Library.
The Nordes board is responsible for the program of the upcoming conference and also for all activities between conferences. The board consists of people from all Nordic countries, elected at each Nordes conference.