Writing Rules

These guidelines ensure that manuscripts submitted to DH meet the journal’s formatting and style requirements. Authors are strongly encouraged to follow these instructions carefully to facilitate efficient peer review, production, and publication.

1. General Guidelines

1.1. Language and Spelling

Use American English spelling consistently throughout the manuscript. A notable distinction is the preference for "-ize" over "-ise" (e.g., "organize" rather than "organise").

1.2. Quotations

• Use double quotation marks (“ ”) for direct quotes. Use single quotation marks (‘ ’) only for quotes within quotes.
• Long quotations (40 words or more) should be formatted as indented block paragraphs without quotation marks.
• Use curly (typographic) quotation marks (“ ”) rather than straight quotes.
• Place punctuation inside quotation marks.

1.3. Double-Blind Review

DH employs a double-blind peer review process. Authors must ensure that the main document does not contain any identifying information. Self-referencing that would reveal the author’s identity should be excluded from the manuscript body. Author details should appear only on the separate Title Page.

2. Article Types and Requirements

2.1. Research Articles

Research articles should be written with the following elements in the following order: title page, abstract, keywords, main text (introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion), acknowledgments, declaration of interest statement, references, appendices (as appropriate), tables with captions (on individual pages), figures, and figure captions (as a list).

• Word count: Over 8,000 words, inclusive of tables, references, figure/table captions, and endnotes.
• Abstract: Unstructured, approximately 250 words.
• Keywords: 4 to 6 keywords.

2.2. Literature Reviews

Literature reviews follow the same structural order as research articles.

• Word count: Over 10,000 words, inclusive of tables, references, figure/table captions, and endnotes.
• Abstract: Unstructured, approximately 250 words.
• Keywords: 4 to 6 keywords.

2.3. Book Reviews

Book reviews follow the same structural order as research articles. The manuscript should include the title, author, publisher, and location information for the publication being reviewed.

• Word count: Over 5,000 words, inclusive of references, figure/table captions, and endnotes.

2.4. Special Topics

Proposals for Special Topics should include a 500-word concept statement and a potential contributor list. Special Topics comprise 6–8 research articles, an editorial introduction, and may incorporate alternative formats such as visual essays or interviews.

2.5. Exhibition Reviews

Critical reviews of significant design exhibitions (2,000–2,500 words) should contextualize exhibitions within broader currents in design historical scholarship and curatorial practice.

3. Manuscript Format

Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx) format. Submissions consist of two separate files:

3.1. Title Page Document

1. File designation: "Title Page."
2. Title and running head (short title).
3. Names, addresses, and positions of all authors, plus the email address of the corresponding author.
4. Author biographies (150 words maximum per author).

3.2. Main Document

1. File designation: "Main Document – Anonymous."
2. Title (no more than 20 words).
3. Article category.
4.  
5. Abstract (approximately 250 words for research articles and literature reviews).
6. Keywords (4–6).
7. Main body with appropriate sections and headings.
8. Declarations/Acknowledgments: disclose any conflicts of interest at the end of the text before the references.
9. References (Chicago Manual of Style, CMOS).
10. Appendices (as appropriate).
11. Tables – in tabulated text format. Do not embed tables in the manuscript body.
12. Figure legends – in a list following the references. Figures must be uploaded as individual graphic files. Do not embed figures in the manuscript body.

4. Author Information

4.1. Author Names

Author names should be fully spelled out in the format "Firstname Lastname" (e.g., "John Smith"). Middle names may be abbreviated with a period. The naming format should be consistent throughout the manuscript.

4.2. Affiliations

Affiliations must clearly identify the institution where the work was conducted, formatted as "Department, Institution, City, Country."

4.3. Corresponding Author

Clearly designate the corresponding author and provide their full name and email address on the Title Page.

4.4. ORCID

If any authors have an ORCID account, please provide the corresponding ORCID iD link.

4.5. Authorship and Author Contributions

Every author’s contribution must be recognized in the published article. Individuals who have not made a substantive intellectual contribution should not be listed as authors. DH requires all authors to clarify their specific roles and contributions (e.g., conceptualization, methodology, data collection, analysis, writing, review, supervision).

5. Titles and Headings

The manuscript title should not exceed 20 words. Up to three levels of headings may be used: first-level as 1.; second-level as 1.2.; third-level as 1.2.3. Lower-level sub-headings may utilize letters (A, B, C).

6. Abbreviations

Abbreviations should be spelled out in full on first use, with the abbreviation in parentheses. Each section handles abbreviations separately. Acceptable Latin abbreviations: etc., i.e. (followed by a comma), and e.g. (followed by a comma). Do not use e.g. and etc. in the same list.

7. Punctuation

• Hyphen (-): Connects two words into one concept.
• En dash (–): Indicates a connection or range (e.g., 1850–1920).
• Em dash (—): Introduces phrases for clarification.
• Minus sign (−): Used in equations or for negative numbers.

8. Figures and Tables

All figures and tables must be cited in the body text using full terms (“Table 1,” “Figure 2”). Do not abbreviate. Figures must be uploaded as individual graphic files and not embedded in the manuscript. Tables should be in tabulated text format on individual pages.

8.1. Source Attribution

• Author-created: “Drawn by [Author Names].”
• Reprinted: “Reprinted with permission from [Author Names] ([Year]). Copyright [Year] [Copyright Owner].”
• Adapted: “Adapted from [Author Names] ([Year]).”

8.2. Figure Specifications

• Submit figures in JPEG format at the highest resolution possible.
• Recommended resolutions: 300 dpi (color), 600 dpi (grayscale/combination), 1200 dpi (line art).
• Provide captions separately in the figure legends list. Do not include captions in figure files.
• Name files sequentially: Figure 1, Figure 2. Multi-part: Figure 1(a), Figure 1(b).

9. Statements

• Author Contributions: Describe each author’s specific contributions (mandatory).
• Conflict of Interest: Declare any conflicts or state “The authors declare no conflict of interest.” (mandatory).
• Funding: Acknowledge funding sources, or state “Not Applicable.”
• Acknowledgments: Acknowledge contributors, or state “Not Applicable.”

10. References

DH uses the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) bibliography format for all references. Research articles should include no fewer than 20 references; literature reviews should include at least 30 references.

10.1. General Requirements

• All references must be genuine, verifiable sources.
• References should be numbered in the order of first appearance.
• All references must conform to the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Online links must be fully functional at submission and include an access date.
• For non-English sources, indicate the original language (e.g., "[in Chinese]").
• Non-compliant references will result in the manuscript being returned for revision.

10.2. Journal and Conference Papers

• Publications with a DOI must include the complete DOI link beginning with "https://doi.org/".
• Papers without a DOI must provide an official, accessible source page. Personal cloud storage and unofficial mirrors are not permitted.

10.3. Webpages, Reports, and News Sources

• All webpage citations must include a complete URL and a precise access date.
• Shortened URLs, homepage links, or unverifiable pages are not acceptable.

10.4. Books

Books do not require URLs but must include all publication details per Chicago style: author(s), title, city, publisher, year, edition (if applicable), and specific page range.

10.5. Reference Verification Policy

DH implements a strict Reference Authenticity Verification Policy. The editorial office may conduct random checks of 3–5 references at any stage. Authors must provide original materials within 48 hours. Unverifiable references may result in immediate rejection.

10.6. FAQ

Q1. Why must references follow the Chicago Manual of Style?

CMOS ensures consistent formatting, enables accurate source verification, and reduces citation errors. A unified format improves review efficiency and prevents unnecessary revision.

Q2. Can Google Scholar links be used?

Only as supplementary links. Authors must provide the authoritative source (DOI or publisher page). All verification is based on DOIs or publisher-provided pages.

Q3. What if a book has no page numbers?

Cite chapters, sections, or paragraph numbers and note that the edition lacks pagination. Missing both page numbers and alternative locators will be returned for correction.

Q4. What if a cited webpage becomes inaccessible?

Links must work at submission. If inaccessible later, provide submission-day screenshots, PDF archives, or archived versions during verification.

Q5. May uploaded PDFs contain watermarks?

Yes, provided the content remains clear and readable.

Q6. Why the 48-hour verification window?

This standard practice ensures authors possess cited materials, reduces delays, and effectively detects fabricated references.

Q7. How to cite non-English sources?

Indicate the original language (e.g., "[in German]"). Missing labels are treated as incomplete citations.