Designing Human Technologies 12.0
Rochemolles (Bardonecchia), Italy, 10-12 June 2026
Rochemolles (Bardonecchia), Italy, 10-12 June 2026
DHT 12.0 is the 12th doctoral summer school course offered to PhD-students working with, or having an interest in, Participatory Design, that is, PhD-projects conducted in close collaboration with users, citizens, or other external stakeholders.
The doctoral course is a great opportunity for PhD students to discuss their PhD project with peers and senior academic staff and gather feedback on any improvement for their research. We meet to discuss our experiences in relation to doctoral work in the rich and diverse field of Participatory Design and of designing human technologies. The course is a blend of lectures and discussions in small groups. Invited lectures by senior academic staff present key theories, methodological reflections and novel approaches within the field.
The course takes place from June 10 to 12, 2026 in Val di Susa, Italy, a historic Alpine valley which is suitable for shared discussions and reflections. It is organized by University of Trento in collaboration with Tallinn University, Politecnico di Torino, Roskilde University, Reykjavik University, University of Oulu, Carleton University, and University of Bolzano. Meals, shared rooms, and local logistics will be provided for up to 20 participants to the doctoral course at no cost (external funding is used to cover expenses).
Designing Human Technologies is a broad Participatory design-oriented research approach with a central human principle of participation and ethical concerns. Common goals of research activities in this field include being constructive and solution-oriented in close dialogue with citizens and users. Deep analysis of how designs are used and enter the daily life of their users as well as innovative design solutions are the core of this course. The human principle includes involving users and main interest groups in the design and evaluation of the ability of design artefacts to meet the goals. Technology is understood in a broad sense including information and communication technologies, sustainable environmental technologies, energy technologies, and technologies for design in urban, nature, or other spatial settings.
Curious about what it is like to participate? One of the participants wrote a report on their experience after participating in DHT 10.0 (the course from two years ago). You can find it here: https://usher.ed.ac.uk/advanced-care-research-centre/designing-human-technologies-event-report
In order to participate to DHT 12.0, interested students are expected to complete an application form by April 20, 2026 (LINK).
Once the application is accepted, the student has to submit by May 18 a Position Paper following a template (available soon). The template requires: clear definition of research questions, methodological reflections, theories, relation to Participatory Design, and/or preliminary research outcomes (maximum 6 pages).
To complete the Position Paper, the student must read at least the Introduction and a Chapter of their choice from one of the Participatory Design Handbooks (International Handbook of Participatory Design, 2012, or International Handbook of Contemporary Participatory Design, 2025). The template includes a section for the student to reflect on how the chosen Handbook Chapters may inspire their own PhD project.
Small group activities will take place in groups of five doctoral students and one or two faculty members, discussing the Position Papers of the students. The group will dedicate one hour to each Position Paper: divided into 10 minutes of informal presentation and 50 minutes of discussion. Students will present each other’s papers, not their own.
In addition, the course provides opportunities for networking with other doctoral students and senior faculty in the field of designing human technologies, thereby enriching relations among those who also attended last year’s editions and providing an entry point for those who did not.
Students must read and prepare comments for all position papers in their group. To promote a rich and useful discussion, students are also invited to read the position papers of the other groups before summer school.
The course gives a credit of 3 ECTS.
The course takes place in the Val di Susa area of Italy. The exact location of the venue and related information will be provided to attending participants: it is highly recommended to arrive at the Torino Aeroporto di Caselle (TRN) at least one day in advance. The pickup point will be at the train station of Bardonecchia, Italy at 8:45am on June 10.
Please note that accommodation is basic: students sleep in shared rooms, and students are responsible for transporting themselves to the pickup point (train station of Bardonecchia, Italy at 8:45AM on June 10).
We expect to start the Program at 10AM on June 10 and to end around 4PM on June 12. Meals will be provided from lunch on the 10th until lunch on the 12th (inclusive); for students who wish to arrive early or late we can attempt to arrange for accommodation for an additional fee. The course is held right before the PDC 2026 conference, and the PDC venue can be accessed via train travel (3-4 hours) from the course venue.
Transportation details will be provided shortly.
Applications are to be submitted online. The application form consists of your contact data, short description of your research topic, a short explanation of your motivation for participating in the course, and the connection of your PhD with Participatory Design. Priority will be given to PhD students belonging to the organizing universities as well as PhD students who have been participating to an earlier DHT edition.
Link to the application form: LINK
Notifications will be sent by email, and, if accepted, you’ll be given the full programme and further instructions. Up to 20 PhD students will be admitted to the course.
All participants are expected to submit a position paper (up to 6 pages maximum) elaborating on their research problem, research questions, theories, methods and a selection of achieved and/or expected outcomes.
Artificial intelligence (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc) may not be used to write or brainstorm the text of the position paper: we ask that you express your own concerns, questions and ideas in your own style (even with difficulties) so that the discussion is more personalized and useful.
Registration, accommodation, and meals during the doctoral course are fully covered by the University of Trento. Participants must arrange and pay for their own travel to the site (see information above in section Venue).
Vincenzo D’Andrea, University of Trento
R.X. Schwartz, Politecnico di Torino
Jesper Simonsen, Roskilde University
Chiara Del Gaudio, Carleton University
Mati Mõttus, Tallin University
Lorenzo Angeli, University of Trento
List in progress...
If you require any further information, feel free to contact: vincenzo.dandrea+DHT@unitn.it
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Designing Human Technologies 10.0 - 2024, TRENTO, ITALY
Designing Human Technologies 9.0 – 2023, TRENTO, ITALY
Designing Human Technologies 8.0 – 2022, TALLINN, ESTONIA
Designing Human Technologies 7.0 – 2019, VIIRELAID, ESTONIA
Designing Human Technologies 6.0 – 2018, TRENTO, ITALY
Designing Human Technologies 5.0 – 2017, PÄRNU, ESTONIA
Designing Human Technologies 4.0 – 2016, ROSKILDE, DENMARK
Designing Human Technologies 3.0 – 2015, ROSKILDE, DENMARK
Designing Human Technologies 2.0 – 2014, ROSKILDE, DENMARK
Designing Human Technologies 1.0 – 2013, ROSKILDE, DENMARK
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