Contemporary social, ecological, technological, and existential crises compel a rethinking of what it means to exist, to coexist, and to take form in a posthuman world. Drawing on diverse strands of posthumanism, this CFP approaches existence not as an exclusively human condition but as a relational, distributed, and more-than-human process. The notion of (in)forming central for this conference, is understood simultaneously as giving form and to give information, being formed and informed, while remaining open to transformation. (In)forming thus offers a critical lens through which to interrogate posthuman modes of existence, processes of regeneration and refashioning, and ontological design, in the recognition that the worlds we design in turn design us. 

Along this line, this CFP invites contributions that explore posthuman coexistence as an ongoing process of refashioning and regeneration of relations, bodies, environments, information, and ways of living, beyond human exceptionalism, anthropocentrism, and fixed ontologies. Rather than seeing form as closed or complete, (in)forming also emphasizes relations, process, adaptability, and the capacity for continual regeneration and refashioning - key topics within posthumanist thought. It highlights how nature and culture, material and meaning, human and nonhuman agencies are inseparable, and shows how our actions shape and reshape the worlds we inhabit alongside other beings and systems. From the perspective of ontological design, form is never neutral: infrastructures, images, garments, algorithms, habitats, and institutions configure possibilities of being and becoming for humans and more-than-humans alike. In this sense, (in)forming is not merely descriptive but performative and world-making: it actively participates in processes of regenerating and refashioning how life is lived, cared for, contested, and sustained, even under persistent conditions of conflict, extraction, and planetary disruption.

The CFP is particularly interested in practices of refashioning and regeneration: conceptual, material, aesthetic, artistic, technological, ecological, and ontological practices that re-envision and transform inherited forms of life, opening new possibilities for co-existence. We especially welcome contributions grounded in critical and affirmative posthumanism, as well as related approaches such as new materialism, that rethink agency, embodiment, temporality, and responsibility beyond the autonomous human subject. We invite engagements with ontological design as a way of understanding how designed artifacts, systems, and imaginaries structure subjectivities, ecologies, and forms of coexistence, and how they might be refashioned and regenerated otherwise. Such practices may include experimental modes of design; fashion as existential refashioning; artistic interventions that imagine regenerative ways of existing; technological assemblages oriented toward ontological regeneration; multispecies care practices; speculative imaginaries; or philosophical reconfigurations of how to inform, how to form, and how to be-with in more-than-human worlds. Here, refashioning and regeneration do not imply mastery or control, but rather a situated responsiveness to vulnerability, interdependence, and planetary entanglement. 

Specific interest will be offered to the question of how practices of war can be transformed into practices of co-existence, in dialogue with the open workshop “The Dis/Ease of War” organized by the Global Posthuman Network, which explores the possibility of war as a collective dis/ease.

We invite scholars, artists, designers, scientists, journalists, and practitioners, among others, to consider questions such as:

• How can posthumanism reconceptualize coexistence beyond hierarchical or extractive models, toward regenerative relations grounded in interdependence, care, and ontological plurality? How might such thinking support practices of refashioning and regeneration?

• In what ways does (in)forming illuminate the mutual shaping of humans, non-humans and more-than-human, nature and culture, matter and meaning, across deep temporalities that include prehistoric forms of coexistence as well as contemporary assemblages? How might these temporalities be approached as processes of ongoing regeneration and refashioning, rather than linear progress or decline?

• How might design practices - encompassing material, product, fashion, visual and exhibition design, as well as experimental, discursive, responsible, and ontological approaches to design - participate in the ethical designing of existence in a more-than-human world, fostering regeneration and refashioning rather than optimization, extraction, or militarization of life?

• What forms of co-existence emerge through multispecies, technological and planetary entanglements when viewed through a posthumanist lens, and how might these forms be sustained through practices of regeneration?

• What might it mean, from a posthuman perspective, to approach war as a form of dis-ease - a condition of relational, ecological, informational, and ontological breakdown - and how could processes of regeneration and refashioning open pathways toward renewed coexistence?

• How do practices of refashioning and regeneration challenge dominant human-centered narratives of progress, autonomy, sustainability, or innovation?

Possible themes include, but are not limited to:

• Posthumanism (critical, cultural, decolonial, existential, philosophical, etc.), new materialism, affirmative ethics and regenerative relational ontologies

• From Prehistory, Paleolithic and Neolithic to Near and Far Futures: Deep Time, and more-than-human coexistence as processes of regeneration

• Nature–culture entanglements, multispecies relations, and practices of refashioning

• Design, technics, fashion, and existential performativity in posthuman and regenerative contexts

• Ecological aesthetics, speculative practices, and regenerative imaginaries

• Ethics of care, vulnerability, interdependence, and more-than-human responsibility

• Temporalities of becoming, decay, conflict, regeneration, refashioning, transformation, and ontological reconfiguration

• Technology–organic and AI assemblages, bio-digital ecologies, synthetic and artificial agencies, and posthuman technics—engaging contemporary developments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, bioengineering, synthetic biology, neural interfaces, and regenerative biotechnologies—as active participants in processes of ontological design, regeneration, and refashioning.

 At this conference, we will host dialogical keynote sessions in person, with leading experts in the field including: Francesca Ferrando (New York University) and Roberto Marchesini (SIUA), Manuela Macelloni (IUAV) and Stefano Rozzoni (University of Bergamo). This event will be in person only. The language of shared communication will be English and Italian (with translations). The sessions will be offered in four formats. Please specify in Your abstract whether You wish to participate:  (1) in a panel session (with the option of proposing a full panel with other 4 speakers);  (2) present a workshop, lab, or practical seminar; (3) a poster; (4) or contribute a performance/art exhibition;

Please consider the following info before applying:

  1. Paper Presentation Each presenter will have 5–8 minutes for a brief, focused presentation in a “flash” style. Following the presentations, there will be a 20-minute moderated dialogue among the presenters. After this discussion, the session will open to the audience for questions, reflections, and engagement. This format is designed to ensure that each session is dialogical, interactive, and dynamic.Presenters are encouraged to submit a short paper (1,500–2,000 words) expanding on their ideas. Papers must be submitted prior to the event (date TBD) and will be shared with all participants for the duration of the conference. Chairing: Panelists may also indicate interest in serving as a session chair. Chairs will receive brief guidance to ensure fair timekeeping and to support a smooth, balanced, and respectful discussion. Optional Panel Sessions: Presenters may choose to join with others to form a panel.

• Minimum number of panelists: 3 for a 1-hour session, or 5 for a 1-hour 30-minute session.

• Each panelist follows the same 5–8 minute flash presentation format.

 2. Workshops, Labs, and Practical Seminars Participants are invited to propose hands-on or interactive sessions designed to engage attendees in practical exploration and skill-building. These sessions can range in length from 15 to 30 minutes, offering concise yet immersive opportunities for active participation.Additionally, groups of presenters may collaborate on co-led workshop sessions lasting up to 45 minutes, allowing for a richer, more diverse exchange of ideas and methods. These formats encourage experimentation, collective learning, and the application of posthumanist concepts through creative and experiential approaches.Proposals for these sessions should clearly outline the intended activities and learning outcomes. Participants must also provide any necessary materials and specify if particular types of space or equipment are required. The aim is to create dynamic, inclusive environments where theory meets practice, fostering deeper understanding and transformative experiences.  3. Posters Participants are also invited to offer poster presentations. Poster sessions provide an excellent opportunity to share work-in-progress, visual projects, or research that benefits from interactive discussion and visual engagement. Presenting a poster allows authors to receive direct feedback from participants in a more informal, dialogic setting, fostering meaningful scholarly exchange. Posters may feature conceptual frameworks, case studies, methodologies, or creative projects aligned with the conference theme. Submissions for posters will undergo the same review process, and accepted presenters will receive detailed guidelines regarding size, format, and display arrangements. Accepted poster presenters will receive detailed guidelines regarding size and format. Posters will be displayed throughout the entire conference, with a dedicated poster session during which each presenter will have approximately three minutes to introduce their work. 4. Performances Proposals for performances should describe creative or artistic presentations that engage the audience meaningfully in relation to the conference themes. These may include, but are not limited to, theatre, dance, music, multimedia art, spoken word, or experimental formats that explore posthumanist ideas through experience. Short performances (up to 5 minutes) are welcome, as are longer ones, which should be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.Please outline how it connects to the conference’s focus, as well as the nature of the performance, its duration, any technical or spatial requirements (conference facilities are limited; organizers will try to accommodate the requests but cannot guarantee them). Performances should foster reflection, dialogue, or affective engagement, enriching the conference through diverse expressive forms.  How to submit your proposal?Please submit an abstract between 150 and 200 words, along with a brief biographical note and all other required information,  by completing the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfP4auE25JHMEvdGlpu1MHrkHWRh0Bl...

Deadline for submissions: May 31st 2026

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Registration Fees 

This is a non-profit event, and all registration fees are used exclusively to cover the costs of organizing the conference, including catering, logistics, and related expenses. No profit is generated from participant contributions, and every effort is made to ensure that fees remain as accessible as possible while supporting a high-quality experience for all attendees.

• Presenters: €150 > Presenters are participants whose proposals have been accepted through the submission process (including: paper presentations, workshops, labs, and practical seminars, posters and performances). Their names will be listed in the official program, and they will take part in the Colloquium and all related activities. This fee provides full access to all events, including catering, snacks, and beverages. Selected participants will receive a certificate of participation for educational and professional purposes.

• Auditors: €50 > Auditors are participants who attend and listen to the sessions without presenting a paper. This fee provides full access to all events, including catering, snacks, and drinks. Registered attendees will also receive a certificate of attendance for educational and professional purposes.

• Students enrolled at the Università Iuav di Venezia have free access to the event as Auditors.

Registration includes access to all conference sessions, as well as refreshments at the opening and closing of the event. Lunches and dinners are not included. Accommodation costs are not included. A limited number of subsidized accommodations may be available for interested attendees.

For furthr info, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/third-existential-posthumanism/home