Invitation to Paper Submission
Japan’s first international conference on universal design (UD) was held in Yokohama in November 2002. The International Universal Design Declaration adopted on the final day defined UD as a way of creating a social environment that respects the humanity of every individual, and asserted that it was urgently necessary to rebuild the relationship between makers and users and thereby create a human-centered system that applies to all aspects of society. Since then, various people in various fields have conducted activities based on that declaration.
The next international conference, after Kyoto in 2006, Hamamatsu in 2010 and Fukuoka in 2012, will be held in Tokyo in 2014. At this conference we will transmit, from Japan to the world, the results of the further advances that have taken place in UD-related research and practices, and also share information and carry out interpersonal exchanges, thereby aiming to realize a higher-quality UD society.
The theme of the next conference is “Glocalized Development for Universal Design — Toward Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” Plenary or sub-sessions and other forums will be presented during the conference, where we expect lively exchanges of opinions to take place.
To encourage the widest possible range of activity reports, essays, research papers, etc., from people active across industry, government, academia, design practice, civic activities, and other areas, and to facilitate a dynamic debate around key issues of participation, inclusion and design-for-all we are asking for abstracts by May 31st prior to submission of full papers by July 31st. Abstracts should specify subjects / activities and the nature of any proposed presentation, workshop theme etc. The intention is to facilitate feedback from the Scientific Committee prior to the submission of full papers in order to ensure the best possible subject coverage and workshop / session structure for the conference.
Contributions are sought from people active in any relevant field, and we are particularly interested in reports of ongoing UD activities and the results of recently completed projects, along with themes and proposals for the further development of UD in the future. We hope to receive papers from a diversity of people, including researchers, educators, design practitioners in all disciplines, product planners and developers, consultants, people involved in NPOs and other civic activities, students, and others. The 5th International Conference for Universal Design in Fukushima & Tokyo 2014 could thus be an opportunity for you to present your research results, or your efforts in product creation or practical affairs, to an international audience of experts and leaders in the field of UD.