Hosted by Tsinghua University, the International Conference on Art & Design Education (ICADE) has successfully convened five editions since its inception in 2021, engaging over 50 international academic institutions. Through academic forums, exhibitions, interdisciplinary workshops, and doctoral symposia, ICADE brings together global educators, practitioners, and theoretical researchers across art, design, and interdisciplinary fields to explore the future of art and design education in the new era from a global perspective.

Themed "Paradigm Shift, New Research," ICADE 2026 focuses on the pivotal role and ongoing transformations of academic journals in shaping the design discipline and fostering a robust academic ecosystem.

This year's forum invites editors and scholars from 12 prominent journals. Utilizing academic journals as a medium, the event aims to map out a new academic landscape for art and design while collaboratively charting the path for future development.

(Listed in chronological order of their establishment)

Zhuangshi
Founded in September 1958 and sponsored by Tsinghua University, Zhuangshi is a highly influential academic journal in China's design sector. Adhering to the editorial mission of "rooted in the contemporary, focused on the local," the journal consistently highlights indigenous Chinese design practices and theoretical frameworks, promptly addressing contemporary developments and cutting-edge issues. For decades, Zhuangshi has served not only as an indispensable archival platform for researching modern Chinese design but also as a vital academic stronghold for advancing local design theory.

Leonardo
Established in 1968, Leonardo is published by the MIT Press and serves as the official journal of the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology (ISAST). The journal highlights works that dissolve the artificial boundaries between contemporary art, science, and technology. It emphasizes the practical application of modern science and technology in art, design, and music, alongside ethical reflections viewed through historical and theoretical lenses.

Design Studies
Founded in 1979 and published by Elsevier, Design Studies is a widely influential journal in the international design research community. Centered on bridging design theory and practice, it is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary design discourse, exploring the historical evolution of design theory and its implications for future practice, and critically examining design methodologies and outcomes from ethical, social, and environmental perspectives.

Archives of Design Research
Established in 1980 and hosted by the Korean Society of Design Science, Archives of Design Research is a premier journal in the Korean design field. It focuses on industrial, visual communication, interaction, spatial, and service design, as well as interdisciplinary research intersecting design with the humanities, technology, and society. The journal is committed to accumulating and disseminating design theories, methodologies, tools, and case studies to promote both basic and applied research.

Design Issues
Founded in 1984 and published by the MIT Press, Design Issues is the first academic journal in the United States dedicated to design history, theory, and criticism. It aims to provoke deep reflection on the cultural and intellectual issues related to design, profoundly exploring the cultural connotations and ethical reflections underlying design practices.

Journal of Design History
Established in 1988, the Journal of Design History is sponsored by the Design History Society and published by Oxford University Press. It is a core journal in the global field of design history research. Emphasizing interdisciplinary perspectives, including material culture, history of technology, sociology, economics, and consumer studies, it explores the evolution of design across diverse socio-cultural contexts.

The Design Journal
Founded in 1997, The Design Journal is the flagship journal published by Taylor & Francis and the official publication of the European Academy of Design. As a vital academic platform for international design research, it covers design knowledge, interdisciplinary research, and creative practice. It encourages the reflection on and challenging of established design concepts and methodologies, while continuously exploring and leading the future directions of design research.

Journal of Visual Culture
Established in 2000 and published by SAGE Publishing, the Journal of Visual Culture focuses on visual culture research within a global context. It encourages interdisciplinary approaches to analyzing the theories, practices, and dissemination of visual culture, striving to curate critical and innovative research that broadens our understanding of the visual landscape.

Journal of Architectural/Planning Research and Studies
Founded in 2002 and hosted by the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Thammasat University, Thailand, this journal focuses on architecture, landscape, spatial planning, design management, and the social, cultural, and technical systems of the built environment. It aims to explore the comprehensive science of the built environment from a broad perspective, encompassing the multidisciplinary connections among structural, landscape, socio-economic, cultural, and engineering systems.

CoDesign
Established in 2005 and published by Taylor & Francis, CoDesign focuses on co-design, collaborative design, concurrent design, human-centered design, participatory design, socio-technical design, and community design. It encourages the cross-disciplinary flow of information to advance the field of design collaboration.

Nakhara: Journal of Environmental Design and Planning
Founded in 2005 and hosted by the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, Nakhara explores architecture, urban design and planning, landscape architecture, housing development, and community development from social, cultural, economic, political, and technological perspectives. It is dedicated to fostering meaningful dialogue between scholars and practitioners.

Disegno – Journal of Design Culture
Established in 2014 and hosted by the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Hungary, Disegno conceptualizes the design environment as an interconnected whole of socio-cultural products, practices, and discourses. It focuses on the intersections among art, design, visual culture, and socio-cultural innovation. The journal aims to provide an interdisciplinary platform for design culture research, critically addressing inherent biases and misleading cultural notions within the design field.

The conference will be held on October 17–18, 2026, at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. Researchers and educators in art and design disciplines at higher education institutions are warmly invited to attend and participate.

Agenda

A total of 200 delegate seats are available for this forum. Please scan the QR code below to secure your registration.

Hosted by:
Tsinghua University

Organized by:
Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Zhuangshi