Hyphen Issue 2: Call for Papers

—Issue no. 2: Emergence

Looking around the built-unbuilt environment, we encounter elements that initially seem trivial—small details, forgotten techniques, or mundane materials and objects. Once relegated to obscurity, they begin to take on new meaning as they are repurposed and redefined. This process of rediscovery emphasizes the importance of continuous reflection, adaptation, and the repurposing of the overlooked trinkets around us.  

For the second issue of hyphen, we invite you to engage with the theme of ‘Emergence’ by identifying, rethinking, and unveiling constructs that call for our renewed attention.  Your paper could be about spatial practices, an unpopular opinion, or an innovation in building materials or techniques. Whether it’s a tangible object with historical significance or an intangible concept with future potential, these constructs are open for reinterpretation.  

We ask: What are the overlooked facets that could transform our understanding of space, design, or community? How might focusing on these emerging ideas lead to new insights, applications, or ways of thinking in design fields? How can re-emerging elements, whether they are mass-produced or unique, influence the future of our discipline? Your submission could be a thought-provoking commentary on global challenges, an unconventional critique of societal norms, a critical inquiry into pressing concerns, or an innovative solution to enduring problems. 

We welcome papers that speculate on the potential of these emerging and re-emerging ideas to inspire multidimensional perspectives within our field. Uncovering and unveiling these items is not just about finding new uses but also about redefining their role and significance within architecture and design. Whether your approach is theoretical, practical, or speculative, we invite papers that highlight the significance of the underappreciated in the built environment.

—Submissions Instructions

All content should be submitted electronically to hyphen@psu.edu.

Paper Submission Extended Deadline: November 30, 2024 (Midnight Eastern Time)
Submissions should be bundled as a single hi-res PDF file, including text (English, approx. 2,500-4,500 words for essay submissions, plus footnotes, works cited, etc.) and visual content (PDF layout should indicate the general sequence of images, and include captions and credit lines). Submissions should adhere to APA Style guideline. All submissions will be double peer-reviewed. Authors whose work is selected will be contacted to provide final files.

In keeping with the interdisciplinary and speculative spirit of this new publication, the editors welcome and encourage the submission of interviews, photographic essays, experimental drawings, and other alternative mediums. These will be assessed based on their relevance to the issue’s core theme(s). The length and format of such submissions will be approached on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that Hyphen does not pay for intellectual property rights for material appearing in the journal. Contributors must provide proof of all permissions for reproducing images and other content upon selection.

In the body of your submission e-mail, please include a 100-word summary that contextualizes the content of your proposed contribution in relation to the theme of Emergence, as well as a brief bio (approx. 150 words) for inclusion in the final publication.

—hyphen Editorial Team