Important Dates
| Submission Deadline | 27 February 2026 |
| Acceptance Notification | 10 April 2026 |
| E-Rights Completion Deadline | tbc |
| Publication-Ready Deadline | tbc |
| DIS 2026 Conference | 13 – 17 June 2026 |
Submission Details
- Online submission: PCS Submission System
- Template: Pictorial format
- Submission length: Up to 8 pages long (excluding references)
- 5-minute design concept videos (check technical requirements for video content at DIS)
- Poster in one standard letter page size
- Proof of all team members’ student status
- Submissions are not anonymous and should include all author names, affiliations, and contact information.
NB. The Student Design Competition is in-person only.
Review Process
Juried content is reviewed by a committee but in a less rigorous process than refereed and does not include an author’s response or conditional acceptance. Juried content is generally not required to make the same level of lasting and significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding as refereed content. Authors who submit to juried tracks may expect to receive light feedback of up to a few paragraphs in length.
Message from the Student Design Competition Chairs
We are thrilled to present DIS’s Student Design Competition (SDC). Design has never been more critical in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. We created the SDC as a platform for students to demonstrate how thoughtful, rigorous design can drive meaningful change. The SDC poses a real-world challenge and demands that teams of students use the full spectrum of design approaches, from initial brainstorming and rapid prototyping to implementation, evaluation, and beyond. We seek submissions that demonstrate creativity, vision, and impactful solutions. Selected projects will be showcased in person at DIS, serving as a fantastic opportunity to generate meaningful dialogue in the community and identify the field’s most talented students.
ACM’s Publication Policies
It is critical that authors review ACM’s publications policies. Please read this separate page for them.
What is the Student Design Competition at DIS 2026?
The Student Design Competition has three main goals:
Showcase the value of design in an increasingly technological world: As computational solutions dominate problem-solving discourse, this competition demonstrates how design thinking, emphasizing human and other-than-human needs, creative processes, and holistic solutions, is an invaluable partner in addressing real-world challenges. We seek proposals from students from diverse academic, geographic, and personal backgrounds to show the many ways that design creates meaningful impact.
Connect talented students with established design researchers and practitioners: Students presenting at the SDC will have a platform to showcase their work to the DIS community, network with experienced professionals, and strengthen their portfolios. These opportunities can spark mentorship opportunities and pathways for future collaboration.
Enrich the DIS experience for all attendees: The SDC offers all attendees insight into how student design teams from diverse backgrounds and global contexts approach complex, real-world problems, inspiring fresh approaches within the broader design community.
The Design Brief: Rethink, Remake, Redesign
Design is hardly a linear process with an end. It is iterative, recursive, and often makes us return to earlier decisions to uncover new or overlooked opportunities. However, in the face of growing global challenges, from the climate crisis to systemic inequality, simply iterating upon existing designs may not be enough. As designers, we must have the courage to challenge the assumptions underlying even well-established systems. When existing solutions perpetuate problems or fail large groups of people, we must be willing to tear down and rebuild, rather than simply refine.
The DIS 2026 Student Design Competition calls for this kind of radical thinking. We challenge teams of students to conceive of design as an open-ended cycle of rethinking, remaking, and redesigning, in order to confront global challenges in sustainability, health, justice, education, and beyond. “Rethinking” demands that we critically question a design’s core assumptions, understand who it excludes, and imagine bold alternatives that challenge conventional wisdom. “Remaking” emphasizes transforming these insights into alternative prototypes, concepts, or interventions that break from existing paradigms. “Redesigning” extends all these processes by iterating on multiple and plural possibilities, incorporating real feedback and evidence to move towards positive futures.
Your challenge is to identify an existing design – whether it be a tangible product, service, system, or conceptual framework – that hinders progress towards solving a global challenge. Then rethink, remake, and redesign a transformative alternative. Focus areas include but are not limited to:
- Sustainability: fast fashion manufacturing and supply chains, urban waste systems, energy distribution
- Health: mental health support, medical devices, health information platforms
- Justice: voting systems, community safety approaches
- Education: skill development, learning environments, assessment methods
You may (but are not required to) refer to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainability Development Goals [https://sdgs.un.org/goals] as inspiration. You may incorporate design strategies such as participatory design, co-creation and co-design, service design, design for social innovation, inclusive design, and open innovation. You may utilize existing or emerging technologies, such as digital fabrication, citizen sensing, big data approaches, social networks, IoT, gamification, new sensors and actuators, and Augmented/ Virtual Reality, to name just a few. Remember, however, that sometimes the best solution or approach may flow from simple yet sharp insights uncovered from research and might require only minimal technology; or the best design solution may involve the intentional absence of conventional design elements altogether. What is important is that your solution should be appropriate for your specific challenge.
In evaluating submission, we will consider the following criteria as guidelines:
- Does your design specify and solve a relevant and “burning” problem?
- Does your design use technology in an appropriate and novel way?
- Is the design well-crafted and effectively presented?
- Is the design validated in an appropriate and valid way to demonstrate the fulfillment of your design goal?
- Is relevant prior work properly identified and cited?
- Are analysis, synthesis, design, and evaluation systematic and sufficient?
- Is the design developed far enough to demonstrate the key ideas?
- Are genuine stakeholders involved in the process of research, development, and evaluation?
- Are the research process and the involvement of stakeholders ethically appropriate (e.g., were institutional guidelines followed)?
- Does the team explore the entire ecosystem of stakeholders, conditions, and contexts?
Student Team Requirements
Teams must consist of all students and no more than 5 authors. There is no limit to the number of teams that may compete from any given university or organization. However, one student cannot be part of multiple teams.
Submissions are invited from students at all stages of their university careers, from undergraduates to PhD students/candidates. While not a mandatory requirement, it is strongly encouraged that the teams put forward a multidisciplinary and/or multi-national team.
Metadata Integrity
All submission metadata, including required fields in PCS like author names, affiliations, and order, must be complete and correct by the submission deadline. This information is crucial to the integrity of the review process and author representation. The submission deadline is a hard deadline for listing all author names; there are no exceptions. Changes to the order of authors are allowed only during the Publication-Ready submission phase. Minor changes to the title and abstract are permitted during the Publication-Ready submission phase.
Policy on Use of Large Language Models
Text generated from a large-scale language model (LLM), such as ChatGPT, must be clearly marked where such tools are used for purposes beyond editing the author’s own text. Please carefully review the April 2023 ACM Policy on Authorship before you use these tools. The SIGCHI blog post describes approaches to acknowledging the use of such tools and we refer to it for guidance. Note that the LaTeX template will default to hiding the Acknowledgements section while in review mode – please make sure that any LLM disclosure is available in your submitted version. While we do not anticipate using tools on a large scale to detect LLM-generated text, we will investigate submissions brought to our attention and desk reject pictorials where LLM use is not clearly marked.
Policy on Research Involving Human Participants and Subjects
Any research in submitted manuscripts that involves human subjects must go through the appropriate ethics review requirements that apply to the authors’ research environment. As research environments vary considerably with regards to their requirements, authors are asked to submit a short note to reviewers that provides this context. Please also see the ACM Publications policy on research involving humans before submitting.
Accessibility
Accessible submissions are essential for reviewers and are good practice. Authors are expected to follow SIGCHI’s Guide to an Accessible Submission. If you have any questions or concerns about creating accessible submissions, please contact the Accessibility Chairs at plurality@dis2026.acm.org early in the writing process (the closer to the deadline, the less time the team will have to respond to individual requests).
Preparing and Submitting your Student Design Competition Submission
The DIS Student Design Competition will adopt the Pictorial format. First introduced at DIS 2014 in Vancouver, pictorials are publications in which visual elements—such as diagrams, sketches, illustrations, renderings, photographs, annotated images, or collages—serve as central components for communicating ideas and contributions, complemented by the accompanying text. The submissions must be submitted via the PCS Submission System by February 27th, 2026. The submission must have the following four components, must be in English, and must meet the accessibility requirements. If you have any questions or concerns about creating accessible submissions, please contact the Accessibility Chairs at plurality@dis2026.acm.org
Part one
- Pictorial submission: Pictorials must be submitted using the DIS Pictorials templates (below) and not exceed 8 pages, excluding references. On the first page of the submission, please keep with the template and include the submission’s title, author(s) and their affiliation(s) (non-anonymous), and a written abstract of no more than 150 words succinctly describing the background and context of the pictorial as well as its contribution to the DIS community. The template’s first page contains only text. On the remaining pages, however, you can and should add images or other graphical content and use the space creatively. Besides the abstract, written sections that would normally be expected in a paper format – such as Introduction, Conclusion, Discussion, Acknowledgements, and References – are optional. The main part of the submission should be an annotated visual composition, and we encourage submissions to use the format creatively. Consider this review of visual strategies in Pictorials for further inspiration.
We strongly advise you to use the InDesign template to compose your Pictorial. If you do not have access to InDesign, please use the Word or Powerpoint templates.
- DIS2026 Pictorials InDesign Template
- DIS2026 Pictorials Word Template
- DIS2026 Pictorials Powerpoint Template
For more details on the pictorial format please check out DIS 2026 Pictorials.
This document should be submitted as a single PDF, and the file must be no larger than 150 MB in size (however, we suggest that you keep reviewers in mind and experiment with lower resolution images to make the submission considerably smaller). The Pictorial should include:
- A description of your chosen design focus and proposed solution, with a summary of the approaches taken within your design process, the real life problems that you are solving, and your main claims for your proposed solution with evaluation results
- Reference to design principles, sources of inspiration, and HCI theory where appropriate and relevant. Please refer to the guidelines above in the “The Design Brief: Rethink, Remake, Redesign” section.
- Acknowledgement of partial or incomplete solutions
- Acknowledgement of any assistance drawn from outside the team (e.g., supervisors, domain experts, existing solutions, users)
Part two
- Poster: The poster size should be reduced to one standard A4 page and submitted in PDF format. The file must be no larger than 10 MB in size and must include:
- Proposed solution’s name, team name, academic affiliation
- Chosen challenge/goal(s)
- Perspective taken to address the design brief. Please refer to the guidelines above in the “The Design Brief: Rethink, Remake, Redesign” section.
- Concise description of the proposed solution
- Clear illustrations of key aspects of your proposed solution
- Compelling, effective visual design
Part three
- Design concept video: Teams must provide a video presentation (max 5-minute — check technical and accessibility requirements for video content at DIS), with a file size no larger than 100MB. The video may illustrate how your solution fits the lives of the users with the help of scenarios, or how it addresses human aspects of the chosen goals. It may also illustrate some details of the interface (if applicable) and the information presented in your pictorial or poster. The Video may include:
- Examples of significant contextual data and its analysis (primary, secondary research, or both)
- Key creative sources of design inspiration (existing designs and systems)
- Sketches of the evolving solution
- Scenarios depicting how the solution fits in the life of users and solves problems / engages or entertains users
- Details of the interface and information design where relevant
- Highlights of significant evaluation results
Part four
- Proof Package of Student Status: submit a single file confirming the status of each student on the team written in English.
- This can be a proof of school affiliation or a note signed by your academic supervisor or a faculty member in the same institution verifying all of the following information:
- Academic affiliation
- Whether you were an undergraduate or a graduate student (PhD candidates included) when the work was done
- Student status at the time of the initial submission (February 2026)
- List of supervisors/advisors with affiliation, if relevant
- NB. Transcripts or scanned IDs will not be accepted as a proof.
Selection Process
Each team’s initial submission will be reviewed by both academics and practitioners, based on:
- Fit of your proposed design within this year’s design brief
- Use of appropriate design methods
- Clarity and credibility of design focus, problem, purpose, and solution relative to the chosen goal(s)
- Originality and quality of the design solution, including claims, and their supporting evidence, based on the guidelines above in the “The Design Brief: Rethink, Remake, Redesign” section.
- Innovation within the design process
- Clarity of the submission materials
- Meeting the accessibility requirements
- The submitted poster will be judged based on:
- Clear communication of key aspects of problem and solution
- Clear communication of design approaches
- Clear communication of arguments for proposed solution
- Quality of the solution
Submissions should NOT be anonymous. However, confidentiality of submissions will be maintained during the review process. All rejected submissions will be kept confidential in perpetuity. All submitted materials for accepted submissions will be kept confidential until the start of the conference, with the exception of title and author information, which will be published on the website prior to the conference.
The Competition Structure
The competition follows a three-round process. Each team’s pictorial submission will be reviewed by both academic and professional design and usability experts. Each round focuses on communicating the team’s ideas through a different mode.
Round One: Pictorial Submission, Poster and Video (Submission deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026)
Expert reviewers will evaluate submissions of pictorial, video, and poster. A maximum of 12 teams will be selected to attend the DIS conference. Teams will be provided space in the convention center to display posters and discuss their proposed solutions with the DIS 2026 attendees.
Please ensure that submissions do not contain proprietary or confidential material and do not cite proprietary or confidential publications. Student Design Competition authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection by email along with instructions on how to submit the publication-ready version of their Pictorial, Poster, and Video.
Round Two: Poster Presentation (At DIS 2026 conference)
Submissions selected for round two of the competition will be evaluated during a poster presentation session at DIS 2026. Teams will be provided space in the convention center to display posters and present/discuss their proposed solutions with the DIS 2026 attendees during a scheduled poster session during the conference. At least one member of the accepted teams is expected to attend the conference to present their poster, outline their design, and discuss their proposed solution with a panel of Student Design Competition Judges. The poster presentation will be judged based on the following:
- Quality, originally, and relevance of design solution
- Clarity and organization of the presentation
- Clarity of supporting presentation material (e.g., poster)
- Clarity of argument used to justify why the solution is worthy of consideration
Based on the results from the poster session, the judges will select four teams to present their proposed solutions a second time during a scheduled session named “Student Design Competition Final”.
Round Three: Final Presentation (At DIS 2026 conference)
The four teams selected by the judges following the Poster Presentation will re-present their design process and solution in a session, open to all DIS attendees pending circumstances/logistics. During this final round, students will give a short presentation of their work (more details to follow) followed by a question and answer period, which will be evaluated by a panel of judges.
Final presentations must include:
- The design process that was followed
- A concise description of the proposed solution
- Reference to design principles and theory where appropriate
- Acknowledgement of partial or incomplete solutions
All finalists earn a Certificate of Recognition. The winning entry will be recognized during the closing plenary session of the DIS 2026 conference. In addition, all teams will be mentioned on the conference website.
Upon Acceptance of your Submission
Student Design Competition pictorials will be archived in the ACM Digital Library. Publishing in the Student Design Competition will not constrain future submissions (e.g., as a conference paper or a journal article). Your pictorial and poster are not considered to be a prior publication of the work for the purposes of a future conference or journal publication.
Authors of all accepted submissions will receive instructions on how to submit the publication-ready copy of their pictorial. Deadlines and instructions regarding publication-ready submissions are emailed to accepted authors. This email will also contain instructions of how to notify the Student Design Competition and Accessibility Chairs of any necessary accommodations. Authors will also receive instructions by email about poster design for presentation at the conference. If the authors are unable to meet these requirements by the Publication-Ready deadline, the venue Chairs will be notified and may be required to remove the publication from the program.
Should you need technical assistance, please direct your technical query to: publications@dis2026.acm.org.
Competition Reviewers and Judges
To be confirmed
At the Conference
At least one author per accepted team must participate in the competition in-person. Accordingly, a presenting author must register for the conference.
Accepted submissions will participate in an interactive poster presentation session (Round 2 above). Finalists will present a second time (Round 3 above).
In-person attendance
The DIS 2026 Student Design Competition relies on in-person attendance, so that all students can benefit most from the experience. At least one author from each accepted submissions are expected to attend DIS 2026 to participate in the Student Design Competition. If you have an exceptional circumstance which prevents your in-person attendance, please contact the Chairs.
After the Conference
Accepted submissions will appear as Companion proceedings in the ACM Digital Library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit to the Student Design Competition and submit the same work in parallel with other tracks (e.g., Provocations)?
For each work, authors must choose only one track and submit their submissions to a single track. Any concurrent submissions must be declared and should follow ACM Policies on Redundant Publication or Self-Plagiarism. Any duplicate submissions across tracks will be rejected.
Contact Us
- Kongpyung (Justin) Moon, National University of Singapore
- Katherine Song, TU Delft