Gameology 2.0

Artifact is a new international, peer-reviewed academic journal treating the impact of computerization on design.

VISION
The computer has had a profound impact on the look, feel, and function of our everyday world. As a tool, the computer has become indispensable for the design professional, profoundly changing the design process. As a design material, the computer is extremely versatile, enabling intelligent objects and processes. As a medium, the computer transforms our understanding and stores our experiences. The combined impact of these forces is changing the relations between humans and our technology in unprecedented ways.

Artifact does not draw an artificial line of demarcation between the virtual and the physical. It strives to illuminate the problems and possibilities in their interaction. The journal does not frame digital design as a design discipline such as industrial design or graphic communication. The unique role of the computer as tool, material, and medium, makes digital design an integrated element of almost any design project today, with designers in all fields and disciplines using digital design in some way.

Artifact assumes an open position. The journal strives to promote transdisciplinary design research. It will not create or maintain disciplinary boundaries. Rather, Artifact will encourage cross- fertilization, interconnections, and crossbreeding among different scientific disciplines, the design industry, and the arts.

PUBLICATION
The journal appears in both a print version and a digital version. The journal is published using a 'Web first' concept. Each issue is first published on the web. The year's issues are gathered together into a full paper volume published at the end of the year. In some cases, web technology will mean that the web version supports special interactive features and links that can only appear in the print volume as illustrations and references.

SUBMISSION
We welcome contributions which seek to understand and reflect the different aspects and impacts of virtuality within the field of design from theoretical or applied perspectives. Artifact brings contributions in the form of academic articles, book reviews, design case post mortems, and design company profiles.

To point to possible directions, we have selected themes for the first four issues of Artifact:

* Volume 1, issue 1: What is an artifact?
* Volume 1, issue 2: Soft artifacts. Tracing 'soft movements' in several creative domains, notably architecture and digital film.
* Volume 1, issue 3: The third place? The ontological status of objects and events in computer games.
* Volume 1, issue 4: Digital design processes. What impact has digital technology had on the design process?

The themes are not meant to be exhaustive. We hope they will trigger ideas and encourage submissions from a range of disciplines.

Deadline for the first issue of Artifact is 18 November. Articles will be published 1 March 2006. However, contributions addressing the theme of the first issue may be published on-line at a later date and appear in the print volume. Please send submissions and queries by e-mail to Ida Engholm at ida.engholm@karch.dk or to Charlie Breindahl at hitch@hum.ku.dk.

Articles should be sent as attachments in Microsoft Word .doc format or as PDF files. Please send articles with a cover letter containing full author information. Articles should be prepared for double-blind review using anonymous format and full references in APA style. In addition, we welcome suggestions for design case post mortems, book reviews and designer profiles.