Special Issue for the Journal of Interior Design

CALL FOR PAPERS: Special Issue for the Journal of Interior Design

The Journal of Interior design is seeking submissions for a Special Issue entitled "Pushed to the Edge? Marginalization and the Constructed Interior," guest-edited by Jennifer Web.

Many humans live on the edge each day, pushed to where the possibility of success or simply a small step forward is unattainable. For these individuals, families, and cultures, life on the edge or in the margin does not represent the thrill of stepping into the unknown but is instead simply the unknown. Where will they sleep, when will the next meal occur, what violence might they face?

Marginalization is an outcome of discrimination, social stigma, and stereotype, resulting in “persistent inequality and adversity” (NDI, 2018). The World Health Organization further explains that marginalization as “dynamic, multi-dimensional processes driven by unequal power relationships interacting across four main dimensions - economic, political, social and cultural - and at different levels including individual, household, group, community, country and global levels. It results in a continuum of inclusion/exclusion characterised by unequal access to resources, capabilities and rights” (WHO, 2018). It is significant to our broader understanding of marginaliation to identify two distinctly different perspectives. First, marginalization is the intentional outcome arising from discriminatory attitudes and beliefs. Second, and most often overlooked, marginalization is born in a vacuum where the attitudes and beliefs fostering inclusion have not been intentionally incorporated.

Framed by both historic and contemporary social values, marginalization is entrenched such that victims find themselves unable to engage in community activities, participate in political

processes, or achieve parity in matters such as educational attainment, home mortgage rates, and quality healthcare access. The people impacted are as diverse as the limitations themselves. Women, children, immigrants and migrants, individuals with different political or religious views, victims of human trafficking or having different sexual orientation, people with developmental, physical or mental differences, and individuals who are incarcerated or unemployed are just a few of those impacted by these laws and practices. Many individuals find themselves, because of the intertwined nature of these demographic characteristics, confronting double or triple exclusion (APA, 2018).

There is no better time to explore issues of marginalization in the made environment. Though the topics of design activism, social design, and public interest design among others have been discussed for over a half century, the need for thoughtful, responsive, and visionary design has never been stronger (Lasky, 2013). Economic divides, political unrest, cultural conflict, and gender-based abuse continue to feed existing power inequities around the world. This Special Issue of the Journal of Interior Design challenges you to explore the margins of human existence and to imagine where individuals, families, and entire cultures can live, work, and play without fear or discrimination. Visual essays, research papers, design education projects, or case studies that advance understanding about the inclusion or marginalization of people in the constructed interior are welcome. Examples of themes for submissions include, but are not limited to:

• Analyses of constructed interiors fostering inclusion or perpetuating exclusion for individuals and cultures.
• Ethical responsibilities of interior designers in professional firms, educational settings, and communities to promote inclusion.
• Studio-based or service learning projects informed by new ways of learning, knowing, and making that unite the designer/s with the community served.
• Visual essays exploring the inclusion or marginalization of people in constructed interiors.
• Investigations of building codes and standards or institutionalized practices that perpetuate marginalization.

Submissions should expand and question our understanding of constructed interiors as economic, political, social and cultural constructs limiting or expanding opportunity and equality. All work must demonstrate exceptional rigor in the search for new knowledge and ideas. Papers must be original work of the author or authors and are not being considered for publication in other journals. Submissions may be checked for originality using plagiarism-detection software.

Please click here for complete information about the Special Issue topic, submission requirements and due dates, author guidelines, and the Special Issue Guest Editor.

DUE DATES FOR SPECIAL ISSUE:

May 1, 2018        Call for papers
July 1, 2018         Registration of Interest
March 1, 2019     Full submissions are due
March 2020         Publication of JID Special issue