Design Observer is “a leading platform offering thought-provoking content on design, culture, and social innovation.” As Spooky Season creeps ever closer, they’re looking for “pitches from design practitioners and journalists on The Design of Horror | The Horror of Design.” Their pitch call states: “Whether you’re seduced by the scary or shy away from it, we want your take on the most chilling and thrilling ways that horror and design intersect. What cursed objects, theories, trends, policies, or people are haunting today’s designers? What horrors from history, and harbingers of frights still to come, should we be paying attention to? How can we dredge up enough final-girl energy to confront these resident evils? We welcome art-eds, op-eds, criticism, reported articles, and multimedia work from professional designers and journalists.” They offer a $150 honorarium for art-eds, op-eds, and essays (around 800 to 900 words). Rates begin at $1.50/word for commissioned short pieces that include original reporting and sourcing (usually 500 to 900 words). To learn more, refer to their editor’s post, their call for pitches, and this page.

Deadline: September 22nd, 2025