Industrial Design at DIS 2025
Industrial Design is well represented at DIS 2025 with papers, pictorials, and workshops. The department plays a central role in this international design dialogue
From July 5鈥�9, the ACM SIGCHI Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) will take place in Funchal, Madeira. This annual event brings together designers, artists, psychologists, systems engineers, and researchers who are shaping the future of interactive systems. For the Department of Industrial Design, DIS is a key moment in the academic calendar. It鈥檚 not only a leading platform for sharing research and design practices, but also one where the department itself has long played a significant role.
Strong presence
This year, Industrial Design is once again well represented. Researchers and students will present their work in a variety of formats, including full papers, pictorials, demos, posters, and workshops. These contributions reflect the department鈥檚 broad and in-depth engagement with the field, addressing topics ranging from well-being and technology to social issues and new forms of interaction.
Notable contributions
Among the papers being presented is 鈥淢indFlow: Breathing-Integrated Progressive Muscle Relaxation with a Full-Body Self-Avatar in Virtual Reality鈥� by Hangcheng Yang, Yuan-An Chan, Panos Markopoulos, and Rong-Hao Liang. This research explores how breathing and muscle relaxation can be integrated into virtual environments.
Another standout is the pictorial 鈥淟et鈥檚 Talk Menopause: Promoting Intergenerational Dialogue about Menopause through Design鈥� by Daisy O鈥橬eill, Renee Noortman, Svetlana Mironcika, and others. This visual contribution investigates how design can support open conversations about menopause across generations. It was the result of a Design United collaboration between the 4TU鈥檚 and was showcased at Dutch Design Week 2024.
In addition, Daisy Yoo is co-organizing a one-day workshop on the paradoxes and tensions involved in decentering the human in design practices.
Sustainable focus
The theme of DIS 2025 is 鈥淒esigning for a Sustainable Ocean.鈥� The conference invites participants to reflect on how design can contribute to more sustainable relationships with our oceans. Contributions from Industrial Design engage with this theme in various ways, connecting technology, human behavior, and societal impact.
Leading role
Industrial Design has long held a prominent position within DIS which started in 1995 as a designerly spin-off of the larger Computer-Human Interaction (CHI) conference. Historically, the department is the second-largest contributor to the conference, and over the past decade, it has even ranked first. This year鈥檚 diverse and thoughtful participation once again highlights the department鈥檚 leading role in the international design community. DIS 2025 showcases how Industrial Design researchers and students are actively shaping the future of interactive systems.