A new ListLab!  - Open Call for publishing projects within the context of the forthcoming books series' M120 - Meridiano 120,' 'Enter Anthropocene,' and 'The Digital Affairs' by ListLab publisher

ListLab publisher (www.listlab.eu) was established in 2007 and elaborated on the idea of an international editorial laboratory with a multidisciplinary approach to the arts and design. During the last decade, ListLab published more than 150 titles and printed over 60,000 copies, mostly focusing on disseminating new researches and knowledge. Thanks to the two main offices' activities, located in Italy and Spain, ListLab also sparked debate and cultural exchange, activities from which new ideas related to design, architecture, cities, and landscape have later developed in the form of various publications.

While keeping in line with this tradition, in 2020, Listlab has undergone an editorial restructuring, with the appointment of Massimiliano Scaglione as new director of the company and professor Alessandro Martinelli as new editorial director. Along with the longstanding BABEL and BABEL international collections, three new thematic book series will develop. The aim is to catalyze energies and accumulate knowledge on a selection of key contemporary issues and emerging realities.

These new series are named 'M120 - Meridiano 120,' 'Enter Anthropocene,' and 'The Digital Affairs.'

M120 - Meridiano 120 will address how the center of the world has changed. Today, the Far East is no more periphery, and new local identities are rising. Indeed, besides the demographic predominance of the Asia Pacific area, there is more. Due to the latest technologies, globalization, and some distance from the times and actors that made globalization possible, any subordination to the West is today fading away at the Far East. So, we need new ideas, new points of view, and finally, new cartographies to look at today's world. These should avoid comparison with a preconceived standard. They must look at our planet's 'centers' from within the places they describe. 'M120 - Meridiano 120' aims at portraying in this way the chain of countries and territories that surround the broad stretch of water separating Eurasia and the Pacific Ocean. That is to say, the span of space where meridian 120' goes across.

Enter Anthropocene will address the global world in consideration of the Anthropocene. This name refers to a geological epoch dating from the commencement of significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, including, but not limited to, anthropogenic climate change. As of May 2019, the Anthropocene Working Group of the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy of the International Commission on Stratigraphy voted in favor of submitting a formal proposal within 2021 to locate potential stratigraphic markers of the Anthropocene in the mid-twentieth century, finally giving official dimensions to the notion. Acknowledging this imminent revolution of knowledge and those many people today working on aspects of the Anthropocene, 'Enter Anthropocene' will try to shed light on global urbanization and the impact of this condition on the landscapes of Earth.

The Digital Affairs will address what is happening today when three generations eventually passed since we entered the Digital Age, i.e., the historical period initiated in the mid-20th century and defined by the epochal shifts following the development of transistors and semiconductors. These advances made possible the computers, first of all, and then the miniaturization of technology, that enmeshed human life with the collection, exchange, and capitalization of data. Due to this, as we all know and experience every day, our society has changed and keeps on changing in unexpected ways. Since this offers both opportunities and threats, 'The Digital Affairs' will try constituting an atlas of knowledge on both the architectural potentials embedded in the new times and the imminent mutations of the spaces where we live. 

In light of this 'editorial turn,' ListLab announces an international open call for editorial projects. The winning proposal will be published in the form of a printed book during late 2021 or early 2022.

The Call is opened to architects, artists, designers, researchers, curators, critics (individual or teams) of any nationality and country of residence. Submitted projects must consist of a publication project, the content of which is ready or may be completed within July 2020. The applicant must consider that the project must fit a vertical book layout, 170x240 mm, and it may range from 160 to 256 pages.

The editorial project may be of various genres, ranging from the photographic book to the manual, but not limited to these and can include both research and projective content. Anyhow, the project must fall within one of the topics framed by the three new book series and have relevance in terms of the related discourses. That said, original projects that demonstrate not only fresh and innovative ideas, critical and experimental approaches, but also independent thinking are welcome. The language of the application and the project must be English.

The applicant should demonstrate being capable of developing the (A) vision, (B) content, and (C) narrative of the editorial project, and must accompany the proposal with a schedule of project development. In terms of vision, the applicant must clarify the idea of publication, including the 'winning aspects' of the expected book. At the discretion of the applicant, the materials to prove such aspects should be integrated into one and only PDF file together with the basic information that can be found in the form provided by ListLab. In terms of content, the applicant must clarify the expected index and the typology of content for each chapter; the index may be drafted into a separate PDF file and uploaded on the same page as the form. In terms of narrative, the applicant must explain the novelty of the expected book and its content. To complement the submission of the proposal, the applicant may also send up to four reference images. Finally, within the application, the applicant should describe not only the goals and anticipated time-frame of the project but also the support required from ListLab. In respect of this, ListLab can provide (1) editorial consultancy, (2) graphic and layout consultancy, (3) proofreading of textual content, and (4) proof-checking of graphic or visual content.  

The proposals will be reviewed by an international jury composed of selected members of the reviewers' board of ListLab publisher at the time of evaluation of the proposal. Anyhow, the jury will be chaired by the director Massimiliano Scaglione and the editorial director Alessandro Martinelli of ListLab publisher.

- Massimiliano Scaglione is a graphic designer and art director, specialized in art and design at Escola Massana, Barcelona. After many years in publishing and the advertising industry between Italy and Spain, having taught in several institutions, he is the CEO and creative director of ListLab publisher.

- Previously involved in research and didactic activities at the Accademia di Architettura in Mendrisio, the i2a, the Berlage Institute, the Barcelona Institute of Architecture, the Canadian Centre of Architecture, the Archivio Cattaneo, the Shihchien and the Huafan University, today Alessandro Martinelli (Instagram @asma.meetarch) is Assistant professor at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei, editorial director of ListLab publisher, and works with BIAS Architects (www.biasarchitects.com) on architectural and curatorial projects that concern the public space today.

The due date to submit the editorial projects is May 14th, 2021. The jury will take place within one month from this date. The jury will select one single project. The outcomes of the evaluation will be publicly announced on June 25th, 2021.

ListLab will offer to the selected editorial project:

• - editorial support to the finalization of the publication;
• - international communication of winning the Call for editorial projects;
• - financial coverage of publication printing (first edition);
• - financial coverage of international distribution (first edition);
• - PR and digital promotion of the publication (first edition);
• - presentation of the book at international book fairs in 2022;
• - integration of the publication within the catalog of ListLab publisher and associated international distributors.

ListLab will NOT offer to the selected editorial project:

• - more than one free copy of the printed publication;
• - graphic development of the publication, but it will provide consultancy to the authors;
• - graphic development of the publication apparatuses, but it will provide quality control to the authors;
• - copyright check of textural, graphic, and photographic materials.

After the publication, ListLab will hold the copyright of the publication. The authors of the text will own the texts' copyright, and the authors of the images will own the copyright of the images.

The application must be made by means of the interface for submitting new publication proposals to ListLab publisher that can be found on the website: https://www.listlab.eu/pubblica-con-noi-publish-with-us/. In the interface, a PDF with the basic information that must be specified by the applicant can be found. The applicant can request additional information by writing at [email protected]. 

Title of Call: A new ListLab! Open Call for publishing projects within the context of the forthcoming books series' M120 - Meridiano 120,' 'Enter Anthropocene,' and 'The Digital Affairs.'

Type of Call: Call for Submissions of Editorial Projects

Website: https://www.listlab.eu/pubblic...

Organizer: ListLab publisher (www.listlab.eu)

Submission Deadline: May 14, 2021, 12:00 PM CET

Price: Free