Senses Matter: The value of sensory approaches to the domestic sphere
- Region: International
- Type: Conference
- Cost: Free
Location: KLC School of Design, London
Organised by Vanessa Vanden Berghe (UAL) & Rosamund Lily West (KLC School of Design)
Senses Matter examines the domestic sphere through sensory-led approaches in art, architectural, and design history. Addressing the senses, the conference seeks to explore methods for accessing domestic experiences, interpreting diverse sources, and challenging visually dominant narratives through interdisciplinary perspectives.
Senses Matter is conceived as a scoping conference that aims to create a space for exploratory, provisional and work-in-progress research. By shifting the focus to the often overlooked domestic sphere, this conference seeks to ask pressing methodological questions, including:
- How can we access and interpret experiences that leave little material trace?
- How might visual sources be used to infer experiences of sound, touch, or smell?
- How do we avoid projecting present-day assumptions onto past sensory worlds?
We invite proposals for 15-minute papers that engage with the conference’s themes, encouraging multi-disciplinary approaches.
We particularly welcome contributions that present work in progress, tentative research questions, or emerging methodologies. Submissions are encouraged from scholars working in design history, architectural history, cultural studies, geography, and related fields, as well as from practitioners, including GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) professionals, practising artists, and designers. The organisers intend to publish a special issue in a relevant journal arising from selected papers presented at the conference.
How to apply
Read the expanded details and proposal requirements on the conference website.
Proposals of a 250-word abstract, five keywords and a short bio must be submitted via the conference webpage by Friday, 3 April 2026 https://www.westdean.ac.uk/senses-matter