Call for Workshop proposals

Important dates

Workshop proposals due20 February, 2025
Acceptance notifications6 May, 2025
Camera-ready due16 May, 2025
Workshops will be held on5-6 July, 2025

Deadlines are specified as Anywhere on Earth time.

Proposals

We invite you to submit proposals for hosting a workshop at DIS 2025. Workshops at DIS provide unique opportunities for diverse scholars, practitioners, and researchers to come together and engage with specific topics in interactive systems design. In line with the DIS 2025 theme, we particularly welcome proposals that promote rethinking the role of DIS in shaping a more sustainable world with a specific focus on our world’s oceans and bodies of waters. 

This year’s theme extends beyond simply accepting research related to the ocean and bodies of water; it invites a critical examination of how these ecological elements—such as marine ecosystems, tides, underwater landscapes, coastal environments, and the island setting itself—can inspire design that transcends human-centred perspectives and embraces more-than-human and caring approaches to design. Workshop leads are encouraged to consider topics related to “Designing for a Sustainable Ocean,” including but not limited to:

  • Designing with marine ecosystems, underwater environments, and coastal ecologies
  • Exploring the symbiotic relationships between humans, non-humans, technology, and nature in aquatic contexts
  • Practices for sustainable interaction with ocean resources
  • Addressing environmental challenges such as pollution and climate change through design
  • Rethinking oceanic and coastal design through more-than-human, caring approaches
  • Investigating the cultural, social, and ecological dimensions of oceanic design
  • Leveraging the unique opportunities of Madeira’s island and coastal settings to inspire innovative and inclusive design
  • Envisioning interactive systems that foster symbiotic and sustainable futures by rethinking boundaries between humans, technology, and nature

These examples are intended to spark ideas and foster proposals that align with this year’s theme. The island location of Madeira, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, offers a unique context to reflect on the interplay between land and sea, fostering discussions on how these environments can shape innovative, sustainable, and inclusive design practices.

Workshop Logistics

Workshops will be held on5-6 July, the two days preceding the main conference. Workshops can be a half day, one day, or in rare cases, two days in duration and will be hosted in person in Funchal, Madeira. DIS 2025 will be an in-person-only event, and attending online will not be possible.

Workshop organisers should plan for a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 participants. Each accepted workshop proposal must have at least one registered organiser and five confirmed participants to run.

Submission Details

Proposals to host a workshop have two separate components submitted as separate files: 1) a 4 page abstract, and 2) a detailed workshop description. Proposals are not anonymised for review.

All submissions will be reviewed by the workshop chairs independently, and the co-chairs will convene for a ranking of reviews to select the final workshops for DIS 2025.

For a list of last year’s workshops, please see Workshops at DIS 2024.

We look forward to receiving your workshop proposals and to the vibrant discussions and collaborations they will inspire. For any questions or further information, please contact the workshop chairs at workshops@dis2025.acm.org  

Abstract

An abstract describing your proposed workshop should be up to 4 pages in length excluding references in the ACM Primary Article Template, submitted via the PCS submission system as a .pdf. Accepted abstracts will be archived in the ACM Digital Library. Ensure your submission is accessible by following the guidelines for “Creating an Accessible ACM Conference Submission” in the Call for Papers.  

The Abstract should contain:

  • Title and proposed duration
  • Organisers’ names and institutional affiliations (proposals are not anonymised for review)
  • Workshop theme, goals, background, and motivation
  • Anticipated outcomes
  • References (do not count toward the 4-page limit)

Detailed Workshop Description

A workshop description should also be submitted as a separate PDF file, containing details of your proposed workshop to help the workshop chairs understand the practical details relating to planning the workshop. This document will not be archived in the ACM Digital Library. 

The detailed workshop description should include:

  • Intended audience and recruitment strategy
  • Schedule and description of planned activities
  • Anticipated outcomes and their significance
  • Required facilities and equipment 
  • Inclusion and accessibility considerations
  • A plan for disseminating workshop results beyond DIS 2025
  • Short biographies of the organisers
  • A draft 250-word call for participation for your workshop to be posted on the DIS 2025 website. This should contain information on how and what potential participants should submit to you.

Submission Format

Templates are available for several platforms: 

Workshops Chairs

  • Colin M. Gray, Indiana University Bloomington
  • Vera Fearns, University of Lisbon
  • António Coelho, Universidade do Porto

workshops@dis2025.acm.org