Upcoming Surface Design Journal Themes for 2026

WINTER: Nordic Noir
In collaboration with Norwegian Crafts and Nordic Textile Art

Scandi and Sámi cultures are steeped in warmth and wellbeing, with material-based artistic traditions woven into daily life. As the days grow shorter and a winter chill settles in, we invite you on a journey across the Nordic regions—Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, and Sápmi—to celebrate contemporary fiber arts and textiles in Scandinavia.

This Journal will be led by Guest Editor, Monica Obniski, who writes, lectures, and maintains a curatorial practice that engages critical social issues and is rooted in architecture and design history. Currently, she is Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the High Museum of Art. Her love of Nordic textiles (and beyond) stems from the project Scandinavian Design and the United States (2020–2023), a wide-ranging publication and exhibition with four international venues.

• Proposals Due: August 17, 2026
• Submission Form
• In Print: late December

*Please note dates are subject to change*

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Proposal Requirements

• Abstract: 500 words max,  word document
  • This should be a pitch to the Journal team of what the proposed article will be about, who/what it will cover,  and why it matters to the overall theme of the Journal
  • Label your file: FirstNameLastName_Title.doc
• Images: 4-6 representative images, jpg, tiff, or png format
  • Label your images: FirstNameLastName_Number.jpg

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Full Articles: (what to expect if your proposal gets accepted!)

• Full article
  • Word count varies depending on department (see below examples for word count)
• Images
  • All images must be High Resolution, 300 dpi, jpg, tiff, or png, minimum 6 inches on the shortest side, shared via Google Form (we will send the form to you once your article is accepted)
• Caption sheet
  • Name, Title, Year, materials, techniques, dimensions, photo credit (all are required for every image).
• Example: Nádia Taquary, O Mundo/Ifá,  2019. Old iron ball, shell, cowrie shells, coastal marsh grass, wooden beads, 29 x 31.5 x 31.5 inches. Photo: Andrew Kemp.

• Bios: 50 words max (for authors and included artists)
• Any relevant links (artist website, Instagram handles, Vimeo/YouTube videos)

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Guidelines

• Submissions received after deadline will not be accepted.
• All articles will be reviewed for consideration but not guaranteed for publication.
• Please allow up to 2 weeks for a response. Our staff is working very hard on multiple deadlines and projects, and will require sufficient time for review.
• All submissions must be original, and exclusive to Surface Design Journal. We will not consider articles that have already been published, in any form, in print or online.

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Journal Departments & Examples

Unsure of what department your article idea fits into? Here’s a breakdown of the Surface Design Journal departments, including final word counts and some examples from past Journals.

FEATURES

• In-depth article on an artist or project, and scholarly or technical concepts within the field of fiber

IN REVIEW

• Exhibition or conference review focusing on execution of themes, techniques, and/or installation

IN CONVERSATION

• Interview or conversation from one artist/critic to another about a specific project

SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION

• An article highlighting an innovative or interesting project done by a college institution, studio school, or other educational facility

IN THE STUDIO

• A first person account of an artist’s studio practice, highlighting techniques, materials, and concepts utilized by the artist

FIRST PERSON / EMERGING VOICES

• A first person account of an established or emerging artist’s concepts, inspirations, and background

MADE AWARE

• Article that focuses on various forms of textile and fiber art including (performances, workshops, collaborations, etc.) as demonstrations of social practice and sociopolitical activism

INFORMED SOURCE

• A first person account of any fiber/textile-based artist, curator, or collector who has a certain expertise or focus in their creative practice and makes compelling work

IN PRINT

• Review of a textile-themed book

Other departments include: Visual Essay, Artist-In-Residence, On Display, Legacy, Fiber in Film, By Design, Collaboration, Restoration, and more. While we don’t always feature every department in a Journal issue, we welcome proposals from any category

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Contact

– Lauren Sinner, Interim Editor