Design Observer publishes work on “design and its role in shaping culture, commerce, society, and the planet”. They’re seeking pitches on The Design of Horror | The Horror of Design theme. “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. Read the rest of this pitch guide for more on what types of stories will make us bite. Also check out some of our archival horror coverage for inspiration.” Rates start at $1.50 a word for commissioned short pieces featuring original reporting and sourcing (typically, 500-900 words); longer reported pieces will be commissioned on a case-by-case basis. And they pay $150 for art-eds, op-eds, and essays (~800-900 words) by design leaders, practitioners, thinkers, and writers. Pitches on The Design of Horror theme are due by 22nd September 2025. Details here and see the pitch call here.
(Design Observer is also looking for pitches on other themes on an ongoing basis: The perils and promise of AI; Travelin’ thru; and How are you imagining your future?)

Deadline: September 22nd, 2025