We are delighted to be able to announce that AICDR-2026 will take place on 22 August (Online) and 23 August (In-person) in Colombo as planned. 28 final papers are lined up for presentation. If your paper is not in the list, please let us know. If you have any issues, please contact Ranjith Dayaratne at the address: conference@archi-texts.com.
We would like to also announce that the locatuon has changed. We have moved to the Science Centre / gap HQ. The details are as follows. Uf you have an issue, send an email to Ranjith Dayaratne at the address: conference@archi-texts.com.
Keynote Speakers
In response to a number of requests from potential participants to AICDR-2026, we are delighted to announce that the conference will allow poster presentations in parallel with the paper presentations. Those who wish to present posters instead of researh papers are requested thus to please compose your research in the attached template and send it to conference@archi-texts.com by 15th June 2026. There is a poster presentation fee of 75USD per presenter in-person. It is the responsibilty of the authors to print and mount them on solid boards and bring them to the venue on the day of the conference. Space will be made available for the presentations to remain throughout the duration of the conference enabling a wider exposure. Please find below the template. Please follow the notes embedded in the template as much as possible. If you have any issues, please contact Ranjith Dayaratne at the address: conference@archi-texts.com.
AICDR-2026 will be held on 22nd Saturday and 23rd Sunday August 2026.
The conference explores the multi-faceted relations that exist between research and design that coud provide designers with design knowledge relevant to creating poetics of spaces through architecture, landscape architecture and interior design and exciting new things, such as furniture, jewellary, clothes and other products. It will take place within the premises of 'Savsiripaya' in the City of Colombo at its wonderfully articulated research setting - designed by the architect Ashley De Vos. The conference is accompanied by an exhibition of students' design work, demonstrating how research and design inter-relate.
More often than not, Research and Design are seen as domains hardly related to each other. On the one hand, Design is seen as an atheoretical discipline without any research basis for design decisions, akin to art. In fact, desgn is seen as a unique activity that is not necessarily informed by research, but imagination. More over, design is never seen as a way of research, although there are inherent relations between research and design. In this context, AICDR invites the scholars dealing with design related disciplines from architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, graphic design, furniture design and product design to explore the numerous ways and means of research as related to design. Accordingly, following sub themes are suggested, but the papers are not limited only to these themes. Other innovative papers that examine the nexus between research and design can also be presented.The Theme
Towards Creating a Renaissance of Asian Design: Research for, about and by Design
'Understanding the Nexus between Research and Design'
Sub Themes
Theme 1: Research for Design
This is an already known and practiced form of design research. However, this practice is not seen as an act of producing knowledge and therefore findings are often not presented in the form of research papers. They provide the necessary information and data to begin designing, and are left behind. It is a pity that they are not shared as research papers presented at conferences or published in journals. This conference enables you to do so, so that we will develop a repository of research for design, which will help designers. Use the template-1 as a guide.
Theme 2: Research about Design
This theme encompasses two tracks: on the one hand, it involves finding out how designers 'design': produce unique products. Understanding these activities will throw light on the internal processes of designers and 'demistify' the design process. On the other hand, designs affect the society and people. Research about design can reveal the complexity of this relationship. How does design affect human society in enabling habitation: use of spaces and things and experience of them while constructing the states of 'being' and 'becoming.' In fact, ways of 'knowingthe world around us.'
Theme 3: Research by Design
This is an entirely new way of thinking about both research and design. Although design is not usually considered as a research activity, this paradigm draws attention to the fact that indeed, designing also entails a production of knowledge and such knowledge eventually resides in a design. In other words, designed spaces, places and objects are seen as repositories of knowledge. Under this theme, it is proposed to reveal the 'knowledge,' produced and invested in designs through 'designing as a way of producing new knowledge.'
Theme 4: Designers' approaches to Design
Within this theme, It is suggested to look at how the designers conceptualize design ideas and inquire as to where the design ideas come from. Theories, philosophies, fantasies, users, environments and all sorts of 'sources of ideas' can be explored as they have been employed by any specific designer: an architect or a product designer.
Theme 5: Everyday Design by People
Although design is usually seen as a 'specialized' activity carried out by people identified as 'designers,' not everything is designed by designers. What people do in every-day living does lead to new arrangements of spaces and productions and making of things: in other words, designs. In this theme, research can reveal how ordinary people produce 'designs' by making and doing things.
An Invitation to Participate
ASK-AICDR invites those who are involved in engaging in designing spaces, places, things and settings to focus on any of the above sub-themes under the main theme to propose research papers and presentations to be shared at this conference. It aims to foster a critical dialogue, collaborative exploration, and creative experimentation, encouraging the participants to examine how research related to design manifest in numerous ways. It is a call to re-imagine design also as a way of producing knowledge. Through a series of keynote lectures, academic presentations, design case studies, exhibitions, and panel discussions, the conference invites architects, urbanists, planners, designers, researchers, academics and students to explore the intersection of reserach and design.
Submission Guidelines
Please send the abstracts and final papers to conference@archi-texts.com;editor@archi-texts.com or ranjith.dayaratne@gmail.com prepared using the templates as noted below.
Abstract Template for reserach for design Abstract Template for reserach about design Abstract Template for reserach by design Abstract Template for research on people doing design Abstract Template for reserach on designers approaches to design
Template-1 for Final Papers (Research for Design) Template-2 for Final Papers (Research About Design) Template-3 for Final Papers (Research by Design) Template-4 for Final Papers (People Designing Spaces) Template-5 for Final Papers (Designers' approaches to Design) Please write the abstracts in the Abstract Template listed above. It should not exceed 300 words: single page. Once received, they will be reviewed by a panel of reviewers and if accepted, the authors will be asked to proceed to prepare the final papers.
Review Panel
Prof. Narein Perera, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
Prof. LSR Perera, City School of Architecture, Sri Lanka.
Prof. Pratyush Shankar, Navrachna University, India.
Prof. Sanjeev Singh, School of Plannning and Architecture, Bhopal, India.
Prof. Mohammed Yousif, University of Malaysia, Malaysia.
Prof. Peter Kellett, University of Newcastle, UK.
Prof. Islam Hamdi Elghonaimy, University of Bahrain, Bahrain.
Dr. Islam Abohela, Strathclyde University, UK.
Dr. Nishan Wijetunga, Oklahoma University, USA.
Dr. Arosh Gamage, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Dr. Noor Aldoy, University of Bahrain, Bahrain.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Publication
Publication
After review, revision and subsequent developments, the presented papers of the AICDR Conference will be published in the conferece proceedings - Design Research e-journal.
For details of the published journal, please visit https://archi-texts.com/Design_Research.php
Deadlines - Schedule of Progression and Conference Fees
Registration
Attendees: paper presenters and others need to register by 30th June immediately after the final papers have been accepted for presentation. Please use Bank to Bank transfer with bank fees paid by you. Submit the completed registration form, with proof of payment to conference@archi-texts.com or ranjith.dayaratne@gmail.com
- Local - Asian School of Knowledge, Peoples Bank, Thimbirigasyaya (SLR Account) - Account No: 086-1-001-4-0029070
- International - (USD Account) KURUPPU ARACHCHIGE RANJITHPREMA DAYARATNE, Standard Chartered Bank, Manama Branch, Bahrain - Account No:18 1425604 01 - IBAN- BH25 SCBL USD1 8142 5604 01
AICDR-2026 Conference Notes
Please see below some instructions for the preparation of the presentations and attending the conference.- Please use PowerPoint as the presentation system and produce a graphically well-composed, and textually-meaningful presentation. Be brief.Do not overcrowd the slides with excessive text. use visuals to communicate with bulleted text.
- Most nationals are required to obtain an 'Online visa' prior to arrival. Please check the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka for further information. Foreign participats will receive an invitation letter to support their VISA.
- AICDR will be held within the premises of Savsiripaya in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Its address is 120, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. Here is how you go there.
Savsiripaya Location map Every one who participates will receive a certificate reflecting the nature of his/her participation and contribution. There is plenty of accomodation in the neighbourhood of the venue. (hotel Janaki-Thimbirigasyaya is a potential place)An Invitation to Visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of the world's best places to visit. Those who attend the conference will stay at a city hotel enjoying the great places in the vicinity. They will experience the unique Tuk Tuk rides, street food, Nature, culture and the People. They will make new connections for interractive and progressive academic pursuits. Sri Lanka is full of design-conscious students and professionals experimenting with ideas of design promoted through the Department of Intergrated Design at the University of Moratuwa, and three schools of architecture in addition to world renowned architects such as Geoffery Bawa, Ashley De Vos and Madhura Prematilake. There are also other numerous design based establishments such as 'BAREFOOT', 'Mooniak Design Studio', 'Good Life X Sri Lanka', 'DesignUp' and 'Homework Studio' who are turning out exciting new designs of things with a focus on Asia. Thus, there is no better place to initiate this conference in Sri Lanka than anywhere in Asia, with its design-rich traditions, breath-taking Nature and unmatched-hospitality. Savsiripaya is indeed a great place to gather too.
AICDR-2026 is planned to be one of the most exciting events held in Colombo in August with an exhibition of the students design works, and engagement with a new idea: the nexus between research and design: in other words, DESIGN RESEARCH. It is not only about design but what occurs before designing and buttresses design.
Its timing is unique. On the one hand, August is a time of pleasant weather in Colombo. On the other hand, the final annual processions of the 'Kandy Perahera' with hundreds of elephants and dancers parading the streets of the City of Kandy will take place immediately after the conference: 'designs' come alive on the streets there. Thus, after the event, the participants can travel to Kandy: the hill country and see the Perahera, to experience designs in the real world. Afterwards, they can climb the anciant Sigiriya rock fortress, visit Bawa's Lunuganga, and also go and see wild elephants at Uda Walawe, while emersing in culture and design. This is a great opportunity to engage in intellectually-stimulating academic discourse and also to visit wonderful places in Sri Lanka, gain immersive experiences and acquire cherishable memories indeed.
The conference takes place in the beautiful setting of 'Savsiripaya' in the City of Colombo, people and the natural landscape of Sri Lanka. The area of Colombo 7, where Savsiripaya exists, has a lush green landscape, and is close to the beach and parks. The Interior of Savsiripaya has a great ambience. ARTI designed by Geoffery Bawa is on the other side of the street.
