Full Research Papers

Full Research Papers present original, completed research contributions that advance knowledge in design, innovation, and related interdisciplinary domains. These papers should offer substantial theoretical, empirical, or methodological insights relevant to the conference themes and tracks.

INDIS 2026 welcomes rigorous research contributions from academia, industry, and interdisciplinary practice that explore how design engages with technology, society, business, and emerging innovation ecosystems.
Submissions should clearly articulate the research problem, methodology, results, and implications for design and innovation studies.

Accepted papers will be included in the peer-reviewed conference proceedings published with Springer (ISBN), subject to publisher approval. Selected high-quality papers may also be considered for extended publication in a journal special issue.

Scope of Contributions

Full Research Papers may include, but are not limited to, the following types of contributions:

  • Empirical research studies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods)
  • Theoretical or conceptual contributions advancing design research
  • Methodological innovations in design research or innovation studies
  • Interdisciplinary research linking design with technology, management, or society
  • Studies addressing human factors, user experience, and human–AI interaction
  • Research examining design-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and business models
  • Experimental or computational approaches to design and creativity
  • Research on sustainable, inclusive, and socially responsible design

Submissions should demonstrate scholarly rigor, methodological clarity, and relevance to contemporary design challenges.

Paper Length and Formatting

Authors must prepare their manuscripts according to the following guidelines:


The manuscript must be formatted strictly according to the official Springer conference paper template provided here.

Submissions exceeding the page limit or not conforming to the template may be returned without review.

Anonymization and Review Process

INDIS 2026 follows a double-blind peer review process.

Authors must ensure that:

  • The submitted manuscript does not contain author names, affiliations, or identifying information
  • References to the authors’ previous work are anonymized where necessary
  • File metadata does not reveal author identities

Each submission will be reviewed by multiple members of the Scientific Committee based on the following criteria:

  • Originality and novelty of the research contribution
  • Methodological rigor and clarity
  • Relevance to the conference themes
  • Quality of analysis and discussion
  • Contribution to design and innovation research

Accepted papers will be presented during the conference and included in the official proceedings.

Submission Process

INDIS 2026 - International Conference on Design & Innovation Studies

All Full Research Papers must be submitted through the Microsoft Conference Management Toolkit (Microsoft CMT) submission system.


Authors must:


  1. Create or log in to a Microsoft CMT account at Microsoft CMT Log in
  2. Select the INDIS 2026 – Full Research Paper track
  3. Upload the anonymized manuscript in PDF format
  4. Provide the required metadata (title, abstract, keywords, author details)

Submissions sent by email or other means will not be considered.


Recommended Paper Structure


INDIS 2026 follows a double-blind peer review process.

While authors may adapt the structure to their research approach, a typical Full Research Paper may include:

  • Title
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • Literature Review / Background
  • Research Questions or Objectives
  • Methodology
  • Results / Findings
  • Discussion
  • Implications for Design and Innovation
  • Conclusion
  • References

Important Notes


  • Submissions must present original, unpublished work that is not currently under review elsewhere.
  • All papers will be checked for academic integrity and originality.
  • At least one author of each accepted paper must register and present the work at the conference for it to appear in the proceedings.

Review Process

All Full Research Paper submissions to INDIS 2026 will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure high academic quality and relevance to the conference themes.

Each submission will be reviewed by multiple members of the Scientific Committee (TPC) and external experts when required. Reviewers will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

  • Originality and novelty of the research contribution
  • Relevance to design and interdisciplinary research
  • Methodological rigor and clarity
  • Quality of analysis and interpretation
  • Contribution to theory, practice, or design methodology
  • Clarity of writing and organization

Based on the reviews and recommendations from reviewers, the Program Chairs and Track Chairs will make the final decision regarding acceptance.


INDIS 2026 aims to maintain a constructive and developmental review process, providing authors with meaningful feedback to strengthen their work.


Program Chair


The Full Research Paper track is coordinated by:

Prof. Sougata Karmakar
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India

At the Conference

Authors of accepted Full Research Papers will be invited to present their work at INDIS 2026 during dedicated technical sessions.


Presentations will provide authors the opportunity to:


  • Share their research with the international design research community
  • Engage in discussions with scholars, practitioners, and industry experts
  • Receive feedback that can further strengthen the research for future journal publications

At least one author must register and present the work for the paper to appear in the proceedings.

Publication and Archival

Accepted papers will be published in the INDIS 2026 Conference Proceedings by Springer (subject to publisher approval).

  • Proceedings will receive an ISBN
  • Papers will be archived on Springer’s platform
  • Accessible to the global academic community

Selected high-quality papers may be invited for extended journal submission.

Ethics and Responsible Research


INDIS 2026 expects all submissions to adhere to high standards of academic integrity and responsible research practice.


Authors must ensure that their work:


  • Represents original research that has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • Properly acknowledges prior work through appropriate citations.
  • Avoids plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of data, or other forms of academic misconduct.

Research involving human participants, user studies, field research, or data collection must follow appropriate ethical guidelines. Authors are expected to ensure that:

  • Participants provided informed consent.
  • Data collection respects privacy, confidentiality, and data protection principles.
  • Institutional or organizational ethics approvals were obtained where required.

INDIS encourages responsible research practices that consider the social, cultural, environmental, and ethical implications of design and innovation.


Submissions found to violate ethical standards may be rejected or withdrawn from the review process.

Use of Generative AI Tools


Authors may use generative AI tools (such as language models or AI-assisted writing systems) as supportive tools during the research and writing process, but they remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.


The following principles apply:


  • Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors
  • Authors must ensure that AI-generated content does not introduce plagiarism, fabricated references, or incorrect claims.
  • If AI tools significantly assisted in writing, editing, or data analysis, authors should transparently acknowledge their use in an appropriate section of the paper (e.g., acknowledgements or methodology).

The use of AI tools should not replace scholarly reasoning, analysis, or original intellectual contribution.


All submissions will be subject to similarity checks and academic integrity screening as part of the review process.

CMT Acknowledgement

The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.