Proposal submission system is now Closed

The ACM Special Interest Group on the Design of Communication (ACM SIGDOC) invites you to submit a research or technical paper, experience report, or interactive poster on the design of communication.

This year’s conference asks how contexts affect how we design communication experiences.

For example,

How have communication design practices evolved to meet the needs of new contexts/audiences?

How has UX design evolved to respond to technology used in multiple contexts?

How does mobile use (checking mobile devices while riding in a car, cooking dinner, walking around town, etc.) affect how we communicate and use information?

Industry and academic researchers (including graduate and undergraduate students) are encouraged to submit research papers, experience reports, and posters. Contributions may include studies of design processes, research methods, pedagogical practices, deployment analyses, and situated-use studies related to the design and use of communication systems and artifacts.

SIGDOC will be located in Silver Spring, MD, right outside Washington, DC September 22-24, 2016.

Topics of Interest

Proposals should address topics including, but not limited to:

Content Strategy

Technical Communication

User Experience

International and Intercultural Communication Design

Learning Systems/Environments

Open Source Design Solutions

Collaborative Platforms

Design Methods and Principles

Digital Humanities and Design

Project Management

Information Design and Information Architecture

Computer-Mediated Communication

Experience Architecture

Submission process

First, short proposals (500 words) will be submitted for review. Once a proposal is reviewed and accepted, the author(s) will submit either:

a full-length paper (research and technical papers or experience reports; final papers are not to exceed 10 pages), or

(research and technical papers or experience reports; final papers are not to exceed 10 pages), or an extended abstract (posters and panels; final abstracts are not to exceed 6 pages).

The full-length papers and extended abstracts will then be reviewed, sent back to the authors for final edits and ACM formatting, and resubmitted as “camera-ready” submissions. Papers and extended abstracts will be published in the Conference Proceedings and in the ACM Digital Library.

Submission types

Research and technical papers

Research papers present integrative reviews or original reports of substantive new work: theoretical, empirical, and/or in the design, development and/or deployment of novel systems. Papers will be reviewed for academic standards, relevance, conceptual quality, innovation, and clarity of presentation. Proposals are not to exceed 500 words. The results described must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Final papers not to exceed 10 pages in length in ACM SIGDOC conference format (available soon), including figures and references.

Experience reports

Experience reports present experience and reflections on a particular case, methodology or design idea from real life projects and deployments. Reports are reviewed for usefulness, clarity, and reflection. Strong Experience Reports discuss both benefits and drawbacks of the approaches used and clearly call out lessons learned. Reports may focus on a particular aspect of technology usage and practice, or describe broad project experiences. Proposals are not to exceed 500 words. Final papers not to exceed 6 pages in length in ACM SIGDOC conference format, including figures and references.

Note: At least one author from a paper must register and attend the conference in order for the paper to be included in the proceedings. Multiple papers will be grouped thematically by the Program Chair into 75 minute panels at the conference.

Other types of presentations:

Posters

Posters are a less formal presentation of work in progress, theories, experimental work, new concepts, late-breaking research results, or work that is best communicated in conversation. Poster proposals may describe original research or novel designs. Successful applicants should bring their completed posters, up to 1x2m in size, to the conference where they will be displayed at a special session during the conference. Proposals are not to exceed 250 words. Final extended abstracts not to exceed 2 pages in ACM SIGDOC conference format.

Panel Proposals

Panels should be comprised of multiple presenters organized around a specific topic relevant to the SIGDOC audience. Proposals are not to exceed 250 words. Final extended abstracts not to exceed 2 pages in ACM SIGDOC conference format.

Note: All members of the panel must register for and attend the conference for the extended abstract to be included in the Proceedings.

Workshop Proposals

Workshops provide opportunities for engaged introductions to new developments in the field and participatory discussion of current ideas and practices. Successful workshop proposals explain clearly how registrants will participate in workshop activities and must include a schedule indicating times, registrant activities, and speakers. Proposed Workshops with no evidence of active participation by registrants will not be accepted. Proposals are not to exceed 1500 words.

Important Dates

The timeline for the conference is as follows:

January 11, 2016: Proposal system open for submissions. Click here to submit your proposal.

February 8, 2016 11 : 59 PM PST: Research and technical paper, Experience report, Poster, Panel, and Workshop proposals due

11 59 PM PST: Research and technical paper, Experience report, Poster, Panel, and Workshop proposals due February 29, 2016: Proposal reviews completed

May 1, 2016 11:59 PM PST: Research and technical papers, Experience reports, Posters, and Panel/extended abstracts due

June 6 , 2016: Full-length reviews completed

July 11, 2016: “Camera-ready” paper/extended abstract revisions and final posters due

If you have any questions, please email the program chair: Sarah Gunning at sgunning (at) towson (dot) edu