Business Model Statement and Price Policy
JDSSI Business Model Statement
Funding Model / Revenue Sources
The Journal of Design Service and Social Innovation (JDSSI) operates under a sustainable Open Access (OA) publishing model. Authors are required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) of USD [500] per accepted article. The APC covers:
- Editorial processing
- Peer review management
- Copyediting and typesetting
- DOI registration and online hosting
- Long-term digital archiving
APC revenue supports the peer-review process, editorial management, typesetting, DOI registration, online hosting, and long-term maintenance of the journal platform.
Additional revenue sources include:
- Registration fees from MSPL-organized academic activities and affiliated conferences (e.g., the International Forum on Design Service & Social Innovation). Peer-reviewed papers from these events, submitted by registered participants, are independently evaluated and selected through the journal’s editorial and peer-review process.
- Optional editorial and language support services, which are clearly separated from the peer-review and editorial decision-making process.
- Print Edition: The online version is fully open access and free to read, while a print version is available for institutional or individual subscription and purchase.
- Other channels: Limited revenue from reprints, permissions, sponsorships, or institutional partnerships.
All editorial decisions are made independently of financial considerations, ensuring academic integrity, transparency, and fairness.
APC, Waivers & Discounts Policy
To promote inclusivity and equitable access, JDSSI offers full or partial APC waivers and discounts based on the following criteria:
- Authors from low-income and lower-middle-income countries (based on World Bank classification)
- Early-career researchers, student authors, or authors without sufficient institutional funding
- Authors from middle-income regions may be eligible for partial discounts
Waiver and discount requests are evaluated independently, transparently, and without influence on editorial decisions. Application Process:
- Requests for waivers or discounts must be submitted during manuscript submission.
- Each request is evaluated independently and transparently by the editorial office.
- Approval of waivers or discounts is strictly independent of editorial decisions, ensuring that peer review and acceptance are based solely on academic merit.
Key Features of This Business Model
- Combines moderate APCs with a flexible waiver and discount policy to ensure both financial sustainability and broad accessibility.
- Supports high-quality scholarly publishing in design services, social innovation, and related fields without imposing undue financial burden on authors.
- Aligns with the journal’s mission to foster cross-cultural academic exchange between Eastern and Western research communities.
This transparent and author-friendly model reflects MSPL’s commitment to equitable and sustainable open access publishing.
Free Online Access for Readers
All articles published in JDSSI are freely available online immediately upon publication. Readers can:
- Read, download, and share articles without any cost.
- Access complete content without registration or subscription.
- Use articles for educational and research purposes according to the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
Print Subscription
For those who wish to receive print copies of the journal, JDSSI offers an optional print subscription service.
Print Subscription Details
The subscription/printing for the Journal of Design Service and Social Innovation is being managed/handled by AkiNik Publications, New Delhi, India.
Subscription charges: ₹3,500 or $120 per year
Subscription Terms
- All subscriptions are payable in advance
- All rates include postage and taxes
- Issues will be sent on receipt of payment
- Subscriptions are entered on an annual basis
- Subscriptions are subject to renewal in subsequent years
Print Subscription Contact
AkiNik Publications
H. No. 169, Pocket C-11, Sector-3, Rohini, New Delhi-110085, India.
Ph.:+91-9711224068; E-mail: info@akinik.com; Web Site: https://www.akinik.com
Note: Print subscription is entirely optional. All content remains freely accessible online regardless of subscription status.
What This Means for Authors
Authors submitting to JDSSI benefit from:
- APC and waiver policy - Request a full or partial waiver of the APC
- Equitable access - Researchers from all countries and institutions can publish regardless of funding
- Merit-based review - Editorial decisions based solely on scientific quality
- Maximum visibility - Free online access ensures wide readership
- Citation advantage - Open access articles typically receive more citations
Optional Services
Authors may purchase optional services from independent third-party providers. These services are not required for publication and do not influence editorial decisions:
Language Editing Services
Authors whose first language is not English may wish to use professional language editing services before submission. These are optional and provided by independent third parties.
Other Optional Services
- Print subscription - Personal print copies through AkiNik Publications
- Illustration services - Professional figure preparation
- Translation services - For supplementary materials
Note: These optional services are entirely voluntary and have no connection to JDSSI's editorial process or publication decisions.
Comparison: Online vs. Print
| Feature | Online Access | Print Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | ₹3,500 / $120 per year |
| Access | Immediately upon publication | Mailed upon issue completion |
| Availability | Available to everyone worldwide | Physical copy for subscribers |
| Searchability | Fully searchable online | Physical browsing |
| Archiving | Permanent digital archive | Personal physical collection |
Author Rights and Licensing
JDSSI is an open-access journal, providing immediate, free access to all published content to readers worldwide. All published articles are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), allowing users to read, download, copy, and distribute the work with proper attribution.
Under JDSSI's open access model:
- Authors retain copyright of their work
- Articles are published under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
- No fees required for authors to retain or exercise these rights
- Authors can reuse their work freely for non-commercial purposes
Quality Assurance
JDSSI's online publication model does not compromise quality:
- Rigorous peer review - Double-blind peer review by field experts
- High editorial standards - Experienced editorial board
- Professional production - Professional copyediting and formatting
- Ethical oversight - Strict adherence to COPE guidelines
- Plagiarism screening - All submissions checked with detection software
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are authors eligible to apply for an APC waiver or discount at the time of manuscript submission to JDSSI?
A: Yes, authors may apply for a full or partial waiver of the APC. Our Open Access (OA) model is supported by the publisher to ensure that all authors have the opportunity to disseminate their research through JDSSI.
Q: Do I need to subscribe to the print version to publish in JDSSI?
A: No. Print subscription is entirely optional and separate from the publication process. All authors may apply for APC waivers or discounts.
Q: What is included in the print subscription?
A: Print subscription (₹3,500 or $120 per year) includes all quarterly issues delivered by post, including postage and taxes.
Q: Can readers access articles without subscribing to print?
A: Yes. All articles are freely accessible online. Print subscription is only for those who want physical copies.
Q: Will I be charged for long articles or many figures?
A: No. There are no charges associated with page count, number of figures, or manuscript length for online publication in JDSSI.
Q: How do I order a print subscription?
A: Contact AkiNik Publications in New Delhi, India, for print subscription orders.
Contact Information
For Editorial and Publication Inquiries:
JDSSI Editorial Office
Email: jdssi@michelangelo-scholar.com
Tel: +86 186 1235 9672
For Print Subscription Orders:
H. No. 169, Pocket C-11, Sector-3, Rohini, New Delhi-110085, India.
Ph.:+91-9711224068; E-mail: info@akinik.com; Web Site: https://www.akinik.com
Publisher:
Michelangelo Scholar Publishing Limited
Email: mspl@michelangelo-scholar.com
Tel: +852-66761250
JDSSI provides free online open access to all published research, ensuring that knowledge is freely available to the global community. Optional print subscriptions are available for those who prefer physical copies of the journal.
