Session 1: Developing an Academic Book Proposal
Date: 2nd September 2026
Time: 4:30pm to 6:00pm CET
Speaker Details: Suzie Nash, Commissioning Editor, Bloomsbury
This workshop offers a practical introduction to developing a strong academic book proposal for publication through insights from Suzie Nash, Commissioning Editor at Bloomsbury. Participants will learn what publishers look for, explore the key components of a successful proposal, take part in an interactive exercise, and have opportunities to receive tailored feedback on their own
book ideas. Participants will also have the opportunity to schedule one-to-one or small-group feedback
sessions, which can be conducted during the remainder of the conference. They may also book
a session in advance with Suzie by emailing Suzie.Nash@bloomsbury.com.
Session 2: Explorations: Alternative Approaches to Writing in Design History
Date: 3rd September 2026
Time: 10:00am to 11:30am CET
Speaker Details:
Sarah A. Lichtman
(Professor and Chairperson of History of Art and Design, Pratt Institute and Managing Editor, Journal of Design History)
Livia Lazzaro Rezende (Senior Lecturer, UNSW School of Art &; Design, Sydney; Managing Editor, Explorations, Journal of Design History)
The session will begin with a brief introduction to the Journal of Design History, including an
overview of the journal and its submission process, presented by the Managing Editor, Sarah Lichtman. It will then focus on the journal's Explorations section, which publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed content that takes non-traditional academic forms, including short essays, visual essays, interviews, letters, and creative writing. In this mini-workshop, the Explorations Managing Editor, Dr Livia Lazzaro Rezende, will talk about the aims of the section and the pathways to successful publication. The session includes an opportunity for the participants to begin drafting their own proposal, whether they already have an Explorations submission in mind or if they are merely curious about other ways to express their ideas and communicate and publish their research for a design history readership.
Register for either or both workshops here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=I0-QEdvw3EyW9zkL1V_O6L_W7aTfNbpFhqkyUgZlshxUQjhHWUlLWjQ4UTZQMVI0TVlQSEQ4VlNROS4u