The annual conference of the British Design History Society is one of the most significant international platforms in the field of design history and theory research, bringing together experts from various fields and stimulating critical discussion on the role of design in society. Following events in New York, Oxford, Ankara and Porto, this is the first time in the organisation’s fifty-year history that the conference is being held in Central Europe. This year’s gathering of experts from around the world will take place in the Czech Republic, hosted by Masaryk University.
The three-day conference programme will take place from 3 to 5 September 2026 at the Faculty of Arts. The conference is co-organised by the Centre for Modern Art & Theory, which forms part of the Department of Art History. The centre’s mission is to promote research and teaching in the fields of modern and contemporary art, visual culture, aesthetics, design and art criticism.
The subtitle of this year’s conference is ‘Design in an Age of Uncertainty’. Through the programme, the organisers are responding to the current state of the world: to armed conflicts, mass migration and the climate crisis. “All of this has a fundamental impact not only on society, but also on the nature of designers’ work, teaching and research in design. The conference opens up a debate on the role design can play in a period of growing uncertainty and the values it should uphold,” said the event’s organiser, Marta Filipová from the Department of Art History.
Inspiring perspectives on contemporary design
“Lukáš Likavčan from the Slovak Academy of Sciences explores the intersections between philosophy and design, focusing on specific issues relating to the habitability of the planet and the role that design plays in them. Zeina Maasri works at the University of Bristol, where she specialises in graphic design and cultural policy, particularly in the modern Arab world – a region that features daily in the news. Designers Erika and Helena Varga and curator Lili Kriston, working in Budapest under the name Romani Design, present practical experience complemented by a critical reflection on design rooted in the specific experiences of a particular ethnic group,” said Filipová, introducing the conference guests.
Technology and Responsibility in Design
The conference will feature dozens of specialist lectures, panel discussions and presentations of the latest research. The programme will focus on four main thematic areas: visions of the future and the past; digital technology – new hope or risk?; the non-human world and interspecies relationships; and ecology and responsibility in design.
“Design has always been very quick to reflect what is happening in society, politics or the world at large. For example, today’s environmental challenges are linked to decisions regarding the use of specific materials or production methods. The rise of digital technologies is making design – and its consumption – accessible to a wider public. Furthermore, the impact of design on the entire ecosystem is bringing about changes in how designers perceive their responsibility towards nature. The field of design history and theory, which deals with design research, is also responding to such questions. We can thus seek practical and theoretical solutions to the uncertainties of today’s world, informed by the past and by experiences from various geopolitical locations,” explained Filipová.
A space for experts and the public
This international conference is aimed not only at academics, students and professionals, but also at members of the public who are interested in the role of design in today’s world and in possible approaches to this branch of visual culture. It will provide a forum for the exchange of views, the presentation of the latest research and the exploration of alternative models for the future. “The discussions that will take place at the conference should not remain confined to the academic sphere. Given their social relevance, the topics should appeal to the wider public. Our three main lectures – the keynotes – alone are a great opportunity to familiarise oneself with current research and issues that are of pressing concern not only to design historians but to many others as well,” said Filipová.
“Registration for the conference is open until the conference begins on 3–5 September 2026, but as places are limited, I recommend not leaving it until the last minute. Tickets are divided into several categories – for members of the Design History Society, students and the general public,” said Veronika Halamová, who is in charge of PR and promotion for the conference. Registration is available on the website; anyone with enquiries can emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The conference partners are Domoplan and Vinařství Mádl.