This year’s edition explores how archival classifications shape – but also limit – our understanding of design heritage. How do we categorise objects, disciplines, and forms of authorship and what blind spots are produced through these systems? How can we consider practices that elude, transcend, or contest conventional institutional and historical classification? What to do with practices hors catégorie?

To get a better understanding of these issues we invite researchers, designers, archivists, collection professionals, and heritage specialists to respond to our call for presentations. We welcome presentations that focus on the following interrelated questions:

What does it mean to shift the focus from object to process?

Can we rethink conventional but rigid notions of authorship through the more versatile lens of role-playing?

What opportunities and challenges do digital tools offer in addressing these issues?

Do you want to contribute to the research day? Proposals for presentations can be sent to janno.martens@vai.be before 24 May 2025. Submissions should contain a short biography and an abstract of about 300 words. Proposals may be submitted in either English or Dutch. Notification of selection will be communicated by 20 June. Please note that presenters are expected to cover their own travel and lodging costs.

The programme of the research day will be published on 26 June 2025. Visitor registration will open the same day.