About the Journal

Open Access Policy
The Strategic Design Research Journal (SDRJ) is committed to making scholarly knowledge freely accessible to all. Our open access policy aligns with the highest international standards to ensure transparency, accessibility, and reuse.
 
Licensing and Rights
Authors who publish with the Strategic Design Research Journal (SDRJ) retain the copyright of their work without restrictions. Authors grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

All articles published in SDRJ are open-access articles distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0). This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Authors retain full rights to reuse their work for future academic purposes (such as books, lectures, or institutional repositories), provided that the original publication in SDRJ is properly cited.

 
Compliance with DOAJ Standards
•SDRJ fully meets the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) definition of open access, providing:
•Immediate, free access to the full text of all published articles.
•Clearly defined user rights and licensing terms.
•Transparent copyright information.
 
Accessibility
•No embargo period: All articles are instantly available online upon publication—there are no delays, restrictions, or waiting periods.
•No registration required: Anyone can access, read, and download the journal’s content without registration, subscription, or payment.
•Global reach: These policies ensure equitable access to knowledge and support the free exchange of ideas among researchers, practitioners, and the public worldwide.
 
SDRJ is dedicated to fostering a truly open and inclusive scholarly community by removing all access and permission barriers to its content.

Focus and Scope
The Strategic Design Research Journal (SDRJ) is a triannual, peer-reviewed, and open-access academic publication issued every four months by the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos). As an international journal, SDRJ is dedicated to advancing scholarship on the design process, supporting the ongoing development of both design theory and practice.

SDRJ’s mission is to explore how design can drive strategy and foster innovation within diverse organizational contexts. These contexts include:
• Corporations and the private sector
• Governmental and non-governmental organizations
• Educational institutions
• Cooperatives
• Informal associations and social movements

The journal emphasizes the strategic impact of design in a wide range of domains, such as:
• Product and service development
• Communication
• Fashion
• Social and cultural innovation
• Technology

SDRJ serves as a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary platform for academic discussion, constructive debate, and critical analysis. It welcomes contributions from researchers and professionals worldwide and actively promotes dialogue between academia and the creative industries.

Language and Accessibility
Since its inception, SDRJ has played an active role in disseminating cutting-edge research in strategic design globally. The journal initially accepted manuscripts in several languages—including Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian, and French—to reflect the diversity of its readership and its collaboration with the Latin Network for the Development of Design Processes. As SDRJ’s audience has grown internationally, English has become the primary language of publication to maximize accessibility to a wider community.

Submission and Publication Policies
• Submissions: SDRJ accepts articles year-round. Occasionally, the journal announces special calls for papers.
• Fees: There are no article processing charges (APC) or submission fees.
• Timelines: Authors typically receive initial feedback within six months of submission.

Peer Review Process

All manuscripts undergo a rigorous selection process:

  1. Editorial Screening: The Editorial Board reviews submissions for suitability.
  2. Double-Blind Peer Review: Each article is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers, ensuring impartiality.
  3. Final Decision: Acceptance is based on:
  • Reviewers’ recommendations
  • Satisfactory completion of recommended revisions by authors
  • Final approval by the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board may recommend one of the following outcomes:

  • Accept submission
  • Revisions required
  • Resubmit for review
  • Resubmit elsewhere
  • Decline submission
  • See comments

SDRJ is committed to maintaining high academic standards and fostering a global community of design scholars and practitioners.