Hello all! I wanted to let you know about a new open-access edited collection which has just been published that may have interest to some of you on this list, and to invite you to a launch event on Tuesday 20th October, at 3pm UK time (UTC+1) which will be held in Lancaster, UK and online. https://lancaster-uk.libcal.com/event/4574001 Bridging Design and Fandom: Design Research and Fan Studies in Conversation, is an open-access collection published by Emerald and edited by myself. It covers a wide range of work which speaks to the fields of Design Research and Fan Studies, which have many links and synergies but have previously been underexplored in tandem. You can access the book here - https://bookstore.emerald.com/bridging-design-and-fandom-pb-9781805926627.ht... Download free PDF or purchase hard-copy https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80592-659-7 Chapter-by-Chapter Open Access link Chapters which may be of particular relevance to AoIR scholars include: * Chapter 3 by D. Rodriguez which describes affordances of the now-defunct VLIVE platform and how it's design shaped K-pop fandom. * Chapter 4 by Christopher Housseaux which explores how BTS fans used creative digital practices on platforms like X/Twitter and Youtube in the #MatchAMillion campaign to fundraise for Black Lives Matter * Chapter 5 in which Atanur Andıç discusses the 3D model sharing platform Sketchfab, and how fanart creators use tagging as sociotechnical boundary work * Chapter 6 byWolfgang J. Weitzl and René H. Kerschbaumer who propose design guidelines for developing Virtual Influencers, exploring how they can responsibly support parasocial relationships from their followers and fans. * Chapter 7 by Qing Xiao, Zilu Wang and Hong Shen on fan-designed LLM chatbots, exploring how fans using iterative, affective design processes to recreate favourite characters. I hope many of you find the book useful and consider attending the launch event, at which several of the wonderful chapter authors will introduce their work. If you would like to know more about design and fan research do please get in touch! All the best, Naomi Jacobs Dr Naomi Jacobs Lecturer in Design Policy and Futures Thinking Co-Director, Imagination Lancaster Design, School of Arts Lancaster University, Bailrigg LA1 4WY Pronouns: She/her Because I work flexible hours, you may sometimes receive emails from me outside of your usual working times, and I may not always reply immediately. Regardless of when I sent this email, please do not feel you have to respond outside your own working hours.