There have been four international Transition Design Symposia.
Since 2015, the Transition Design Institute has hosted and participated in international symposia that bring together leading thinkers and practitioners working in systems change and sustainability transitions. These gatherings provide a platform for cross-disciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange, addressing a broad range of themes including cosmopolitan localism, regenerative economies, participatory democracy, and the role of design in large-scale societal transitions. The symposia emphasize the importance of diverse cultural perspectives in shaping pathways toward sustainable and equitable futures, drawing on insights from different global contexts to enrich the discourse on transition-related challenges and opportunities.
Past Symposia
TDI hosted its first international Transition Design Symposium at Carnegie Mellon University in 2015, followed by a second symposium at Dartington/Schumacher College in the UK in 2016. In 2017, TDI faculty participated in a third symposium, Southern Perspectives on Transition Design, hosted by EINA University in Barcelona, Spain. A fourth symposium, Transition Together, was held in 2018, again at Dartington/Schumacher College, bringing together a diverse group of scholars and practitioners to explore systems-level change.
Format and Participant Engagement
Each symposium combines presentations and panel discussions with participant-driven sessions. Open Space formats allow attendees to introduce topics, share research, and engage in dynamic exchanges. These events also invite paper submissions, with selected contributions published in printed proceedings: Design Philosophy Papers, 2015; Can Design Catalyse the Great Transition?, 2016; and Transition Together, 2018. This model ensures that the conversations extend beyond the symposium itself, generating resources for ongoing dialogue and scholarship.
Looking Ahead
TDI is currently planning its fifth international conference in collaboration with Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, for the summer of 2026. This gathering will again emphasize Southern perspectives, highlighting place- and culture-based approaches to sustainability transitions and systems-level change.
Contributions to the Field
These symposia have contributed to the growing international network of scholars, practitioners, and researchers working in the area of transitions and systems change. They have strengthened cross-country and transdisciplinary collaborations and fostered partnerships that continue beyond the events themselves. Importantly, they have helped interject diverse cultural perspectives and voices into global conversations about designing for transitions, ensuring that a wider range of lived experiences and approaches shape the discourse on systemic change.
Past speakers and panelists have included: Arturo Escobar, Anne-Marie Willis, Cameron Tonkinwise, Carl DiSalvo, Rob Hopkins, Hilary Cottam, Ezio Manzini, Laura Winn, Michel Bauwens, Andrew Simms, İdil Gaziulusoy, John Thackara, and others.