Cumulus South Africa 2025 | Design Intelligence and 5IR
26–28 November 2025 | Johannesburg, South Africa
Cumulus South Africa 2025 will feature a dynamic and thought-provoking academic programme built around three key themes. These tracks will guide double-blind peer-reviewed paper presentations, panel discussions, and keynote addresses across the three-day conference.
There are six keynote speaker slots available—two per day. Each day will pair a keynote by a leading academic with one from a community- or industry-driven voice, creating a rich, multi-perspective dialogue on the evolving role of design in the age of 4IR and 5IR.
Ubuntu
The Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu (loosely translatable as ‘humanity’) shapes how people engage with each other and the world, emphasizing care, compassion, and mutual sustenance within communities and between humans and nature. This relational ontology highlights the interconnectedness of all beings, fostering a sense of collective responsibility as we navigate new realities. As M’Rithaa, Moalosi, and Rapitsenyane (2023) describe, Ubuntu promotes tolerance and deep respect for others, enriching society through the shared gift of humanity.
This theme invites exploration of how Ubuntu influences design, particularly when integrating data-driven decision-making, technology, and artificial intelligence into design thinking and problem-solving. Revisiting Ubuntu and similar forms of indigenous knowledge is crucial in fostering life-affirming and culturally sustainable approaches in the face of technological advancements.
Metaverse
The Metaverse embodies the convergence of physical reality and digital virtuality, creating a multi-dimensional universe where augmented reality and artificial intelligence facilitate seamless interactions and collaborations between humans and machines. This integration serves various purposes, from meeting specific needs to producing innovative material solutions.
As an expansive realm that transcends traditional boundaries of interactive and virtual realities, the Metaverse enables designers to explore new frontiers. By leveraging the synergy between human and artificial intelligence, designers can craft visionary futures that reflect both human and post-human experiences. This sub-theme invites an exploration of the Metaverse as a transformative space, encouraging designers to rethink the possibilities and responsibilities of their craft in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
New Materiality
In the context of 4IR and 5IR, materiality—the exploration of the tangible—takes on new dimensions within virtual spaces. Historically driven by capitalism and economic expansion and exploitation, the concept of materiality now requires re-examination through the lens of design intelligence to realign meaning-making with the imperative to sustain life on Earth.
We invite papers that address design theory, practice, and education in response to this evolving landscape.
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