Design Informatics 2026 research showcase: fab*
The Institute for Design Informatics is opening the doors to Inspace for a one-day pop-up showcase of our research.
This year the University of Edinburgh is hosting one the largest design research conferences in the world – DRS – with 1000+ delegates on campus for a high programme of talks, workshops, and research experiences.
As part of the DRS 2026 Fringe Friday on the 12th June, the Institute for Design Informatics is opening its doors for a one-day pop-up showcase of our research exploring the future of design, data and its implications on society and the world.
The Institute for Design Informatics brings design and data together to create a world that is socially just, where people live well, have agency and autonomy, and are able to adapt and transition how they live to ensure the planet flourishes.
The theme for our pop-up showcase is fab* – fab* speaks to the ways our research seeks to fabricate (we make things), fabulate (we use design to speculate and tell stories with communities) and we’re aiming to make visible the fabric of our work and the connections between us all. There will be over 30 projects on show from our institute’s members; from emergent works-in-progress to situated experiences and polished demos from larger projects.
fab* will be open from 0930 until the end of the day and there is no need to register if you intend to just drop in. However, we will also be hosting a reception-lunch with food and drink at 1300 and to help with planning we’re asking you to register below if you would like to attend this:
SHOWCASE DETAILS
Dates: Friday, 12 June, 2026
Times: 9:30 – 17:00 | Drop-in
Location: Inspace, 1 Crichton St, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB
Venue Access features: Accessible toilets, Assistance dogs welcome, Baby changing facilities, Seating, Step-free access, Wheelchair accessible
We will be hosting a reception with food and drinks at 13:00, please register below if you would like to attend this:
You do not need to be registered for the main DRS 2026 to attend this – it is a free event and open to all. Families, friends and children welcome (we will have a corner for the kids!).
Alongside the showcase and public reception, we will be hosting another DRS Fringe Friday event at 11:00 in Inspace – DRS P.S. Organised by the folks behind Design HOPES and Design Research Works, this poses to be a fun and interactive discussion, where design researchers will be getting provoked and poked by a comedian on their thoughts on the value and real-world significance of design research.
DRS P.S. will also be a public event – which you can sign-up for here:
