As you prepare your proposal, choose a proposal submission type from 1 of 6 options (described below).

  1. Research Paper
  2. Industry Insight
  3. Experience Report
  4. Poster
  5. Panel Session
  6. Workshop

Then, we invite authors of accepted proposals for types 1–5 to write up their work for the peer-reviewed conference proceedings either as full-length papers (1–3) or extended abstracts (4–5); results reported in proceedings must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere.

1. Research Paper

Research papers present integrative reviews or original reports of substantive new work.

Examples: theoretical, empirical, and/or in the design, development and/or deployment of novel systems.

To facilitate connections and conversation, program co-chairs try to thematically group multiple research papers and/or reports.

Proposals: See proposal submission guidelines

Proceedings: Final paper 7–10 pages in ACM SIGDOC conference format, including figures and references. At least one author must register and attend the conference to include the paper in the Proceedings.

Examples: Diversifying Knowledge: Presenting and Applying a Framework for Inclusive Graduate Program Websites by Alexander, Stevens, & Walton (2022)

Experts, Knowledge Making, and Disaster Across Twitter by Baniya & Potts (2022)

2. Industry Insight

Industry insights present lessons learned from an industry-situated experience of interest to scholars, researchers, teachers, and practitioners in communication design, technical and professional communication, UX, or other related fields.

Examples: project, concept, technology, trend.

To facilitate connections and conversation, program co-chairs try to thematically group multiple research papers and/or reports.

Proposals: See proposal submission guidelines and

  • Write from a practitioner’s perspective.
  • Focus on 1–2 key “insights” learned during the process of an experience in industry.
  • Situate within the larger field of practice and highlight specifically why insight is significant for industry moving forward.
  • Include practical steps audience members and readers can take in light of the experience.
  • Avoid solely focusing on promoting proprietary tools.

Proceedings: Final paper 2–3 pages in ACM SIGDOC conference format, including figures and references. At least one author must register and attend the conference to include the paper in the Proceedings.

Example: Maintaining Momentum in your Technical Communication Career During a Leave of Absence, by Hardin (2022)

3. Experience Report

Experience reports present experiential-based reflections on a particular case, methodology, or design idea from projects and deployments.

Examples: technology usage and practice aspects or broad project experience descriptions.

Proposals: See proposal submission guidelines and

  • discuss benefits and drawbacks of approaches
  • clearly describe lessons learned

Proceedings: Final papers 4–6 pages in ACM SIGDOC conference format, including figures and references.

Example: Beyond “Alt-Text”: Creating Accessible Data Visualizations with Code by Strantz (2021)

4. Poster

Posters are a less formal presentation of work in progress, theories, experimental work, new concepts, late-breaking research results, or work that is best communicated visually and in conversation.

Examples: original research or novel designs.

Proposals: See proposal submission guidelines

Successful proposers bring completed posters (up to 3 x 4 feet in size) to the conference where they are displayed during a special session.

Proceedings: Final extended abstracts 1–2 pages in ACM SIGDOC conference format, including figures and references.

Example: Communication and Algorithmic Decision Making in a Virtual Healthcare Context: Extended Abstract by: Campbel, George & Guha (2021)

5. Panel Session

Panels are composed of multiple presenters organized around a specific topic relevant to SIGDOC audiences.

Examples: qualitative methods; anti-racist approaches to conducting research; ethically engaging research participants.

Proposal: See proposal submission guidelines

Proceedings: Final extended abstracts 1–2 pages in ACM SIGDOC conference format, including figures and references. All members of the panel must register for and attend the conference for the extended abstract to be included in the Proceedings.

Example: Breaking the Exclusionary Boundary between User Experience and Access by Palmer, Oswal & Huntsman (2019)

6. Workshop

Workshops provide opportunities for engaged introductions to new developments in the field and participatory discussion of current ideas and practices.

Examples: card sorting, inter-rater reliability, conducting observations, taking field notes.

Proposals: See proposal submission guidelines and

  • explain clearly how attendees participate in workshop activities;
  • include a schedule indicating times, registrant activities, and speakers; and
  • provide evidence of active registrant participation.

Workshops are not accepted for the proceedings.

Questions

Program co-chairs Morgan Banville and Elena Kalodner-Martin invite questions related to the CFP at sigdocconference@gmail.com.

Conference Proceedings Guidelines

Submit to the proceedings

We strongly encourage all authors whose proposals are accepted to submit to the peer-reviewed Conference Proceedings. We review papers by academic standards, relevance, conceptual quality, innovation, and clarity. Yet, be sure to review ACM’s Open Access (OA) changes and its impacts on authorship in our proceedings.

Explore Proceedings from 2025 and 2024.

  • Results and experiences described in proceedings papers and extended and poster abstracts must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere.
  • After peer-review based notification of acceptance, full-length papers and extended abstracts are then reviewed and returned to authors for final edits and ACM formatting.
  • Authors then re-submit papers and abstracts as “camera-ready” submissions. Papers and extended abstracts are published in the Conference Proceedings and in the ACM Digital Library.

By submitting your article to an ACM Publication, you are hereby acknowledging that you and your co-authors are subject to all ACM Publications Policies, including ACM’s latest Publications Policy on Research Involving Human Participants and Subjects. Alleged violations of this policy or any ACM Publications Policy will be investigated by ACM and may result in a full retraction of your paper, in addition to other potential penalties, as per ACM Publications Policy.

Please ensure that you and each of your co-authors obtain an ORCID ID, so you can complete the publishing process for your accepted paper.  ACM has been involved in ORCID from the start and we have recently made a commitment to collect ORCID IDs from all of our published authors. The collection process has started and will roll out as a requirement throughout 2022. We are committed to improve author discoverability, ensure proper attribution and contribute to ongoing community efforts around name normalization; your ORCID ID will help in these efforts.

How Does the ACM Transition to 100% Open Access Publications Impact Authors?

Why the Change?

  • Overwhelming support from the computer science community
  • Open Access (OA) articles are downloaded 100-150% & cited 70% more frequently

What is Changing?

  • All ACM Publications will go fully open access starting on January 1, 2026. All authors will retain copyright through applicable Creative Commons licensing for all papers. 
  • OA fees will be funded through:
    • ACM Open (an institutional subscription that covers fees for faculty), or 
    • Author-paid Article Processing Charges (APCs, individual fees paid by authors)

Is My University an ACM Open Institution? 

What Changes for Authors? 

  • After January 1, 2026, to publish a proceeding paper, the corresponding author must either be affiliated with an ACM Open institution or individually pay the applicable APC. 
  • The APC payment system will allow authors to share the APC cost with co-authors or third parties.
  • Authors can apply for a discretionary waiver from ACM by demonstrating financial hardship and an inability to pay. Please see https://www.acm.org/publications/policies/policy-on-open-access-apc-waivers-and-discounts 

Are there any APC subsidies in 2026?

  • ACM will charge $250 for ACM/SIG members and $350 for nonmembers (reduced from $700 and $1000, respectively) in 2026 before charging the full amount in 2027. 
  • ACM will provide a very small number of Financial Hardship Waiver to authors with demonstrated financial needs.

For more information, please visit: https://www.acm.org/publications/openaccess 

Questions about ACM’s OA? Email: acmopen@hq.acm.org

Questions About Submitting to the Proceedings?

Program co-chairs Morgan Banville and Elena Kalodner-Martin invite questions related to the CFP at sigdocconference@gmail.com.