16th International European Academy of Design Conference

Porto___3-7_May___2027
of

The statement above was shared with us by an anonymous visitor. We could not verify its veracity.

It has been edited by guests (43) times.

Select the underlined words to change them, and click here to share if done.

About This Conference

The 16th European Academy of Design Conference — EAD27: Trust__Distrust — is an international scientific event organised by the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto (FBAUP) and the ID+ Research Institute for Design, Media and Culture, taking place in Porto, Portugal, from 3 to 7 May 2027.

The conference brings together researchers, practitioners, educators, and students to advance knowledge in design research, with a particular focus on the theme of trust: its role in shaping digital, social, cultural, and civic life, and its intersections with transparency, accountability, ethics, and emerging technologies.


EAD27 aims to foster international scientific exchange through peer-reviewed paper presentations, workshops, doctoral colloquium, and keynote sessions, contributing to the consolidation of a global design research community and to the visibility and impact of Portuguese design research institutions at the European and international level.

Expected outcomes include the publication of peer-reviewed proceedings, the strengthening of international research networks, and the promotion of Porto and FBAUP as a reference hub for design research in Europe."

Conference Theme

Who or what do we really trust?

In an era where design pervades every facet of human life, from digital interactions and institutional systems to the intimate textures of daily existence.

Our trust capacity has become indispensable and increasingly fragile.

 

Whether in AI-mediated decision-making, civic infrastructures, or the invisible networks that undergird global collaboration, design shapes and is shaped by our willingness to extend trust.

Yet, this balance is being tested. Fractures appear amid privacy concerns, algorithmic opacity, and eroding social cohesion.

Trust isn’t static; it’s dynamic, contextual, and often fragile. Yet it remains central to how societies function, relationships thrive, and design systems, including emerging technologies, are mediated.

In light of this, how can design research explore and strengthen the foundations of trust in such a shifting terrain? This question inspires the theme of EAD 2027.

EAD 2027 invites researchers, practitioners, educators, and students to contribute perspectives across various environments:

Public and private, physical and virtual, individual and collective.

We welcome work critically examining trust's intersections with transparency, accountability, ethics, resilience, and meaning-making, especially as these play out in digital governance, platform economies, sustainability, and cross-cultural exchange

Night by the water

Night by the water

Dawn in Porto

Dawn in Porto

Morning fog

Morning fog

Conference Location: Porto, Portugal

Located in Northern Portugal, Porto is the country’s second-largest city and one of Europe’s most distinctive historic urban landscapes.

The city’s historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, is characterised by its layered architecture, riverside setting along the Douro, and a long tradition of commerce, craft, and cultural exchange.

Known internationally for Port wine, Porto is also increasingly recognised as a dynamic hub for creative industries, design, and cultural research.

Institutional Affiliates

Sponsors

Gen-d.: 0.6494s