Description

In the last three decades, the design field has undergone significant transformations, marked by diversification, complexity, and integration with various sectors, including technology. Initially focused on form and function, design has since expanded to drive social, ecological, cultural, and digital innovations. Two major revolutions—digital and service—have reshaped the discipline. Today, faced with environmental challenges and advancing AI, designers are at a critical juncture, necessitating the reevaluation of practices and theories. This includes adopting multidisciplinary, innovative, and ethically responsible approaches.

The 2025 Spring Cumulus Conference in Nantes will explore new design ethics through six tracks: Care, City, Food, Digital, Media, and Design & Entrepreneurship.

Conference Activities

Join the Cumulus Working Groups meetings at the Cumulus Nantes 2025 conference!

Ethical Leadership: A New Frontier For Design
Time: June 3-7, 2025, Nantes Atlantique, France
On-site: L’ecole de Design Nantes
Online: Zoom (free for all interested representatives of Cumulus member institutions), see the links with the groups below.
https://cumulusnantes2025.design/
Conference programme.
All times are local. (UTC+2) Nantes, France

CWGs are communities of practice created by and for our members to share expertise and engage on a diversity of topics that matter to our disciplines.

Through an evolving process of knowledge development and sharing, CWGs create a year-round space for virtual and in-person focused sessions to regularly increase engagement and communication on a variety of relevant and timely interests.

Wednesday June 4, 2025

2:00 – 3:30 PM
Design for Placemaking WG (join on Zoom)
Women in Design WG (join on Zoom)
CirroCumulus Student WG (join via Zoom)
Global X International Affairs WG (join via Zoom)

4:00 – 5:30 PM
Design Education for Social Change WG (on-site only)
P-R-E AI Digital Culture WG (join via Zoom)
Leadership & Strategy WG (join via Zoom)
Global X International Affairs WG (join via Zoom)

Thursday June 5, 2025

11:00 AM – 12.30 PM
Creative Competencies WG (join via Zoom)
Food Think Tank WG (join via Zoom)
Design Cultures for Peace WG (join via Zoom)

2:00 – 3:30 PM
Contemporary Art WG (join via Zoom)
New Spaces/New Interiors WG (join via Zoom)

4:00 – 5:30 PM
Systemic Design in Design Education WG (join via Zoom)
DEsign for Health, wellbeing and Aging (DEHA) WG (join via Zoom)
Fashion and Textile WG (join via Zoom)

Friday June 6, 2025

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Service Design WG (join via Zoom)
ReVeDa: Research Vectors in Design and Art WG (join via Zoom)
Intellectual Property WG (join via Zoom)
XtraTerrestial WG (join via Zoom)