Throughout the week there were plenary and parallel sessions of full paper presentations, workshops, pictorials, panels and collective moments of confrontation attended by students, researchers and design professionals from all over the world to discuss the new perspectives and challenges that design faces daily in the context of major contemporary transformations.

IASDR – International Association of Societies of Design Research sponsors an international congress every two years. The theme of the 10th edition of the congress was “Life-Changing Design” and the consequent role of design in the accelerated transformation process to which the contemporary world is subjected. 

As a matter of fact, the pandemic has radically changed people's habits, affecting the way we used to live and returning us a world that will never be the same as before. Thus, in the post-pandemic era, humanity has been faced with change and, consequently, with the possibility of restoring pre-covid conditions or critically adopting the changes.

In this context, “Life-Changing Design” encourages researchers to investigate and explore current changes and anticipate future ones, opening up to the discussion on the role design can play in these processes of transformation and change.

The theme has been divided into nine tracks.

The first track, "Changing Organizations and Policies", explores approaches to transform organizational culture in the public sector through sustainable digital tools and methodologies.

"Identities and Changing Identities" addresses the cultural identity of design and its relationship to other cultures, genders, classes and religions.

"Changing Products and Production" focuses on innovation in production processes and the use of sustainable materials.

"Changing Spaces and Services" explores the role of design in urban contexts and inclusiveness.

"Changing Ecosystems" reflects on the environmental and ethical impact of design and the circular economy.

"Changing Education" discusses educational models based on design and sustainability.

"Changing Interactions" considers the interaction between digital and physical and the involvement of social actors in creating innovative solutions.

"Changing Communities" focuses on the role of design in promoting sustainable behavioral changes based on a participatory approach.

Finally, "Changing Heritage" reflects on the contribution of design in preserving and adapting cultural heritage before global, social, political and climate change.

More than 500 participants, many international speakers who, along with numerous researchers from the Design Department, offered their input and insight during the conference.

At the end of the event, professors and congress organizers Luisa Collina, Francesca Rizzo, Davide Spallazzo and Laura Galluzzo handed over the baton to the next host member: the Taiwan Design Research Institute and the Chinese Institute of Design will organize the next IASDR 2025 conference.