SCCI-2026-CFPDownload

Overview of Symposium

The Symposium on Communicating Complex Information (SCCI) explores how the design and presentation of complex information affects how humans use it. Information complexity arises from the inherent relationships between context, content, and people using the information.

​SCCI seeks to examine these relationships by exploring how design and content choices influence people’s behavior when they interact with complex information in different contexts. As such, SCCI is of interest to fields as diverse as computer science, visual design, technical communication, mass communication, communication studies, and library sciences.

Objective of Symposium

The objective of the Symposium is to bring together researchers and educators in usability studies, user experience design, and information and communication design to:

  • Discuss the current state of research in these areas
  • Present the results of recent research in these areas
  • Collect comments and suggestions on ongoing or future research projects
  • Explore opportunities for research partnerships with colleagues working in these areas  
  • Map prospective research trends in these areas 
  • Plan research trajectories and discuss conference and publication venues for participants’ work

This focus allows attendees to re-think and address challenges in usability and user experience design.

Structure of Symposium

This two–day symposium is designed to maximize the exchange of information and ideas among the participants. To do so, the symposium consists of short (15-minute) presentations followed by 15-minute group discussion as well as opportunities for poster presentations. The objective is to share ideas and seek opportunities to collaborate on or expand research that examines communicating complex information in different contexts. In essence, the Symposium brings together teachers, practitioners, and scholars to address the over-arching questions of: (1) How can individuals collaborate to devise new approaches to the design and evaluation of complex information systems? and (2) How can individuals work together to define what is meant by usability/user experience and what constitutes usable information in complex systems?

In addition to the presentations and posters that take place on Monday and Tuesday of the Symposium, social events on Sunday and Monday evenings allow participants to network as well as to continue discussions started during Symposium sessions.

Steering Committee

The SCCI Steering Committee consists of the following members:

  • Daniel P. Richards, Old Dominion University (Chair)
  • Michael Albers, East Carolina University (co-founder; retired)
  • Lisa DeTora, Hofstra University
  • Huiling Ding, North Carolina State University
  • Quan Zhou, Metropolitan State University