

1st International Conference on Emerging Research at the Crossroads of Design, Biology, Computation, and Sustainability
26-28th of August 2026
TUDelft
1st International Conference on Emerging Research at the Crossroads of Design, Biology, Computation, and Sustainability
26-28th of August 2026
TUDelft
26-28th of August 2026
TUDelft
26-28th of August 2026
TUDelft
26-28th of August 2026
TUDelft
26-28th of August 2026
TUDelft
![biodesign logo Final [white].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f91f29_34e9a204ab1d450887bf2657bedf1d4f~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_3681,y_270,w_4441,h_6276/fill/w_266,h_376,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/biodesign%20logo%20Final%20%5Bwhite%5D.png)
BioDesign
Conference
2026
1st International Conference on Emerging Research at the Crossroads of Design, Biology, Computation, and Sustainability
In partnership with the Cambridge University Press journal Biotechnology Design
Check out the manuscript collection and the media gallery.
26th-28th of August 2026
Delft, Netherlands
About the Conference
In recent years, the field of biodesign has experienced remarkable growth, driven by advancements in biotechnology, computation, and design. As this interdisciplinary domain matures, it is not only addressing pressing technical and methodological challenges but also engaging deeply with critical and social dimensions, from ethics and inclusivity to the broader societal impact of biodesign practice and outcomes. Simultaneously, discussions on the potential of biodesign to contribute to regenerative ecologies have gained significant momentum. These discussions encourage us to adopt holistic perspectives on sustainability, exploring organisms, materials, energies, and relationships across various times and scales. They inspire us to imagine novel ways to design. They prompt us to rethink interactions—not only among humans and machines but also across multi-species systems—while exploring how care and sensibilities for other-than-humans emerge and evolve within reciprocal relationships. This pluralistic perspective recognizes that there is no single approach to biodesign. We embrace this diversity and believe there is so much we can learn from each other as we share the varied approaches to biodesign.
With a growing body of work and a vibrant community of researchers, we believe the time has come to formally claim the existence of biodesign as a distinct, impactful field within the scientific panorama. This is a moment of opportunity. The critical mass of expertise, ideas, and applications is here. It is time to consolidate our efforts, showcase our achievements, and chart the future of biodesign together.
We invite biodesign researchers across Design, Architecture, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to submit their work to BIODESIGN: 1st International Conference on Emerging Research at the Crossroads of Design, Biology, Computation, and Sustainability, the inaugural international conference exploring groundbreaking advances at the intersection of biology, computation, design, and sustainability. This unique forum seeks to showcase interdisciplinary research, novel theory and methodologies, and forward-thinking research artifacts that push the boundaries of design. We welcome submissions of full papers, pictorials and demos that highlight innovative and diverse research across the field.
Join us in Biodesign’ 26 shaping this dynamic and transformative discipline.
Elvin Karana & Martyn Dade-Robertson
February, 2025
Image Credits: Barbara Pollini, Clarice Risseeuw, Dilan Ozkan, INSECT Workshop, Jierui Fang, Jiho Kim, Living Construction Group, Stefano Parisi, Thora Arnardottir, Ward Groutars, Zoë Breed.

Call for Papers
We invite biodesign researchers across Design, Architecture, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to submit their work to Biodesign’ 26, the inaugural international conference exploring groundbreaking advances at the intersection of biology, computation, design, and sustainability. This unique forum seeks to showcase interdisciplinary research, novel theory and methodologies, and forward-thinking research artifacts that push the boundaries of design.
We welcome contributions on a range of topics, including but not limited to:
Methodological Approaches in Biodesign
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Frameworks, tools, and techniques for advancing biodesign research and practice
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Key challenges and best practices in integrating biological and design methodologies
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Emerging techniques and tools for addressing interdisciplinary challenges in biodesign
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Fostering collaborative processes and knowledge exchange across disciplines
More-than-Human Sensibilities in Biodesign
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Ethical considerations in designing with living systems
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Tools, methods, and frameworks for integrating more-than-human perspectives in biodesign
Social Dimensions of Biodesign
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Novel experiences, interactions, and ways of living enabled by biodesign
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Tools, methods, and frameworks addressing human experience and interaction in biodesign
Biodesign and Computation
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The role of AI and machine learning in advancing biodesign
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New interactions between living systems and digital interfaces
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Parametric and generative approaches to biodesign
Regenerative Ecologies and Multi-Species Interactions
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Holistic approaches, methodologies, tools to biodesign for sustainability
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Integrating multi-species approaches into biodesign
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Assessing sustainable impact across temporal and spatial scales
Scaling Up Biodesign
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Overcoming key barriers to scaling biofabrication for real-world applications
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Standardization and reproducibility in biodesign
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Regulatory frameworks and safety considerations in biodesign
Biodesign Education
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Pedagogical strategies and curriculum models for biodesign education
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Hands-on learning, laboratory-based training, and experiential education in biodesign
Biodesign and Living Materials
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Biodesign approaches for shaping living systems as expressive and functional material platforms
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Emerging practices that translate living materials into scalable, real-word design applications
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Material-centered challenges in designing, cultivating, and sustaining living systems
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Social imaginaries, ethical tensions, and regulatory frameworks in living material design
The conference is partnering with the Cambridge University Press journal Biotechnology Design.
All submissions will undergo peer review, and selected papers will be published as
Gold Open Access articles in the journal.
Submission Types & Guidelines
We invite submissions of original research papers and pictorials that explore innovative contributions within the scope of the conference. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure quality and relevance. Accepted works will be presented during the conference and published in the official conference proceedings.
Full Papers have no strict page limit, but their length should align with the scope and significance of their contribution. Typical submissions range from 6,000 to 8,000 words (excluding references, captions, and appendices). Submissions under 4,000 words or over 12,000 words may face desk rejection. Papers should be concise yet thorough, avoiding repetition or verbosity, while ensuring all critical details, relevant prior work, and proper formatting are included. Submissions that deviate significantly from these guidelines may be rejected.
For the Pictorials format we follow Designing Interactive Systems Conference guidelines. Pictorials should combine visual and textual content to effectively communicate research, design processes, or critical insights. Pictorials must be submitted using the templates and not exceed 12 pages, excluding references. On the first page of the submission please keep with the template and include the submission’s title, author(s) and their affiliation(s), and a written abstract of no more than 150 words succinctly describing the background and context of the pictorial as well as its contribution to the Biodesign community. Further written parts known from other conference formats such as Introduction, Conclusion, Discussion, Acknowledgements, and References are optional. The main part of the submission should be an annotated visual composition and we encourage submissions to use the format creatively.
Submissions should adhere to the conference formatting guidelines and provide clear documentation of methods, results, and contributions.
Demos submission should include a title that clearly states the name of the demo, followed by authors and affiliations, listing all contributors and their respective institutions. An abstract (maximum 500 words) should provide a concise summary of the demo, highlighting its purpose, novelty, and key features. The demo description (maximum 2 pages) should include the objective and relevance, its significance; technical details, describing the underlying technology, setup, and requirements; and interactivity, outlining how attendees will engage with the demo. Supporting materials such as links to a short demo video, screenshots, or additional documentation are optional. Lastly, authors should specify any technical requirements, including special hardware or software needs for the presentation.
Extended to 27 February 2026 (AoE)
Full Paper, Pictorial, Demos Submission Deadline
May 2026
Notifications and Opening of Registration
June 2026
Camera-Ready Completion Deadline
26 August -28 August 2026
BIODESIGN2026 Conference
August 2026
Publication of accepted submissions as Gold Open Access articles in Biotechnology Design (Cambridge University Press)
Coordinating management assistant
Mandy van Noortwijk | TU Delft
Volunteers
Dominik Einfalt
Gabriela Farias
Hasfari Nisa Ainnur
Huiqi Deng
Jeff van Gol
Jimena Fuentes Arias
Lars Behnke
Malena González Serena
Maria Mei Bellsolà López
María Luisa Faleh Domínguez
Muhammed Al Timami
Tobias van Grinsven
Willemijn Hutter
Yi Qian
Zuzana Gombosa
Communication and Social Media assistants
Jiho Kim, Verindi Vekemans, Fanzhe Zeng | TU Delft
Communication and production assistants
Tamar van Beusekom, Huiqi Deng | TU Delft
Logo and website design
Thora Arnardottir and Dilan Ozkan | Northumbria University
Video
New Media Centre | TU Delft
Photographer
Willemijn Hutter
Graphic Innovation | Interactive Slime Mould Simulation
Anushka Shinde | Project Biome: Futures of Biodesign & Biofabrication
Communication material production
Creator NL
Catering
Rode Rozen en Tortilla's
Appel
Dinner
Firma van Buiten
Conference venues
Echo Building | TU Delft
The Green Village | Co-Creation Centre
TU Delft Science Centre
X TU Delft
Excursions partners
BlueCity Lab
Loop Biotech
Radius CCA
Workshop Organizers, Facilitators and Invited Experts
Katherine Song | TU Delft
Clarice Risseeuw | TU Delft
Ward Groutars | TU Delft
Iohanna Nicenboim | TU Delft
Joana Martins | TU Delft
Jiho Kim | TU Delft
Yi Song | TU Delft
Thora Arnardottir | Northumbria University
Dilan Ozkan | Northumbria University
Barbara Pollini| | Aalto University
Bahareh Barati | Eindhoven University of Technology
Orkan Telhan | design.bio & Biodesign Challenge
Martyn Dade-Robertson | Northumbria University
Elvin Karana | TU Delft
Henk Jonkers | TU Delft
René Hoonhout | TU Delft
Tim Tabak | TU Delft
Roos Konings | Kroos Wilde Natuureducatie
Speakers, Panelists, and Moderators
Ermi van Oers | Nova Innova
Maurizio Montalti | Officina Corpuscoli & SQIM, Ephea, Mogu
Carole Collet | Central Saint Martins UAL
Dedmer Van de Waal | Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Henk Jonkers | TU Delft
Larissa Pschetz | University of Edinburgh
Orkan Telhan | design.bio & Biodesign Challenge
Phil Ayres | Royal Danish Academy
Rachel Armstrong | KU Leuven
Tom Ellis | Imperial College London
Valentina Rognoli | Politecnico di Milano
Elvin Karana | TU Delft
Emma van der Leest | BlueCity Lab & Fungkee
Martyn Dade Robertson | Northumbria University


































