How to Start an Online Arts, Architecture and Design Research Journal: A Complete Guide for Universities and Design Institutions

Starting a journal, however, requires more than creating a website and inviting papers. A credible research journal needs a distinct academic purpose, an accountable publisher, qualified editorial leadership, transparent policies, a structured peer-review system, reliable technology, publication continuity and accurate article metadata.

These requirements are especially important in arts, architecture and design publishing. Research may include conventional manuscripts, architectural drawings, photographs, artworks, visual essays, design prototypes, audiovisual material and practice-based investigations. The journal must accommodate this creative diversity without weakening academic rigour.

This guide explains how universities and design institutions can plan, launch and manage an online arts, architecture and design research journal. It also outlines how ScholarJMS, OJSCloud, GetDOI and Scholar9 can support different stages of journal development.

Why Start an Arts, Architecture and Design Research Journal?

A well-managed journal can become an important part of an institution’s research infrastructure. It can connect scholarship, professional practice, creative experimentation and public knowledge.

Strengthening Institutional Research Culture

A journal creates a visible destination for scholarly activity. It encourages faculty members and researchers to document methods, situate creative work within existing literature and communicate their findings in a structured form.

It can also support conversations across departments. Architecture researchers may collaborate with material designers, fine-art scholars with digital-media practitioners, and communication designers with social scientists.

Creating a Platform for Practice-Based Research

Creative disciplines frequently generate knowledge through making, performance, visualisation, spatial experimentation and material testing. A specialist journal can provide suitable formats for presenting this work alongside critical analysis and methodological explanation.

A design journal may publish:

• Original research articles
• Architectural case studies
• Visual essays
• Practice-based research
• Material and prototype studies
• Exhibition or performance research
• Design pedagogy papers
• Critical commentaries
• Book and exhibition reviews
• Short communications
• Technical notes
• Media-based supplements
• Special thematic issues

Building Academic Identity and Visibility

A journal can communicate an institution’s areas of expertise to researchers, collaborators, prospective faculty members and students. It may become a recognised platform for subjects such as sustainable architecture, cultural heritage, social design, digital arts, textiles, fashion, visual communication or design education.

Credibility grows gradually through editorial quality and consistent publication. The journal should therefore be treated as a long-term academic programme rather than a short promotional project.

Supporting Interdisciplinary Exchange

Contemporary creative challenges do not fit neatly within one discipline. Climate-responsive architecture, AI-assisted creativity, inclusive product design and digital heritage require knowledge from several fields.

An interdisciplinary journal can connect researchers who might otherwise publish in separate disciplinary communities.

Step 1: Establish the Journal’s Institutional Purpose

The planning team should first determine why the journal needs to exist. A clear purpose guides decisions concerning scope, governance, audience, technology and publication frequency.

Questions to discuss include:

• What academic gap will the journal address?
• Which disciplines will it cover?
• Will it be national, regional or international?
• Will it publish only institutional research or accept global submissions?
• Will it focus on scholarly theory, professional practice or both?
• Will it support conventional and practice-based research?
• Who is the principal readership?
• What distinctive contribution will it make?
• Can the institution support it for at least several years?

The journal should not be created only because another university has one. Its purpose must arise from a genuine academic need.

Prepare a Journal Concept Note

A formal concept note can include:

• Proposed journal title
• Rationale
• Aims and scope
• Target readership
• Manuscript categories
• Publication model
• Proposed frequency
• Editorial structure
• Peer-review model
• Financial plan
• Technical requirements
• Launch timeline
• Long-term institutional responsibility

Approval from appropriate university authorities should be documented before public launch.

Step 2: Select a Distinct and Credible Journal Title

The journal name should be distinctive, accurate and appropriate for long-term use. It should not be confusingly similar to an existing publication.

Before finalising the title:

1. Search the ISSN Portal.
2. Search library catalogues and academic databases.
3. Check Crossref and Google Scholar.
4. Check domain-name availability.
5. Review existing journals in the same subject area.
6. Confirm that the title does not imply an affiliation the publisher does not hold.
7. Consider whether the title will remain suitable if the scope expands.

Transparency principles developed by COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME state that a journal title should not mislead authors or readers about its origin, scope or relationship with other organisations. Principles of Transparency and Best Practice.

Use a Clear Abbreviation

If an abbreviation is required, ensure that it is easy to distinguish from other journals. Use it consistently across the website, article PDFs, correspondence and metadata.

Secure an Appropriate Domain

A university subdomain can reinforce institutional ownership. An independent domain may provide flexibility if the journal is managed by a scholarly society or publishing unit.

The domain should be:

• Easy to type and remember
• Protected with HTTPS
• Registered under institutional control
• Renewed well before expiry
• Used consistently in journal metadata
• Supported by reliable hosting and backups

Step 3: Define the Aims and Scope

The aims and scope determine which manuscripts belong in the journal. A scope that is too broad makes editorial positioning weak. A scope that is too narrow may make it difficult to attract sufficient high-quality submissions.

An arts, architecture and design journal might include:

• Fine and visual arts
• Architecture and urban design
• Interior and spatial design
• Industrial and product design
• Fashion and textile design
• Graphic communication
• Photography, film and video
• Animation and game design
• Digital and interactive arts
• User-experience design
• Design history and theory
• Cultural heritage
• Design education
• Sustainable and social design
• Creative technologies
• Practice-based research

The journal should explain whether it welcomes interdisciplinary work and how such manuscripts will be evaluated.

Identify the Target Audience

Potential audiences include:

• Academics and researchers
• Architects and designers
• Artists and performers
• Design educators
• Research students
• Heritage professionals
• Museum and cultural-sector professionals
• Policymakers
• Creative-industry practitioners

Writing the audience into the journal’s positioning helps authors understand whether their work is suitable.

Define Manuscript Types

Each category should have a clear purpose and approximate requirements. A full research article should not be evaluated in the same way as an exhibition review or visual essay.

Possible categories include:

• Research article
• Review article
• Case study
• Visual essay
• Practice-based research paper
• Critical commentary
• Book or exhibition review
• Short communication
• Technical note
• Letter to the editor

For visual submissions, specify image resolution, file types, captions, copyright documentation and supplementary-media requirements.

Step 4: Choose a Realistic Publishing Model

The institution must decide how the journal will provide access and meet operating costs.

Open Access

An open-access journal makes scholarly content available without reader subscription barriers. The website should state the applicable copyright and licensing model clearly.

Subscription or Hybrid Access

Some institutions may choose subscription access or a mixed model. The access conditions for each article must remain transparent.

Article Processing Charges

If authors are charged, the website should state:

• The exact fee
• The currency
• What the fee covers
• When payment becomes due
• Whether editorial decisions are independent of payment
• Waiver and discount conditions
• Whether taxes apply
• Whether any other charges exist

Do not hide fees until after acceptance. DOAJ’s transparency guidance expects author charges and waiver arrangements to be clearly described. DOAJ Guide to Applying.

Institutionally Funded Publishing

A university may fund the journal through a research office, library, faculty or publication division. This can allow authors to publish without charges, but the institution still needs a documented annual budget.

Costs may include:

• Journal platform and hosting
• Website setup and maintenance
• DOI registration
• Copyediting and proofreading
• Typesetting
• Graphic and PDF production
• Long-term archiving
• Editorial assistance
• Similarity checking
• Marketing and communication
• Training and technical support

Step 5: Create a Responsible Governance Structure

A journal needs clear ownership and decision-making responsibility.

Publisher

The website should identify the legal or institutional publisher, including its address and contact information. The publisher is responsible for continuity, governance, infrastructure and policy support.

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief provides academic leadership and should have appropriate subject expertise, publication experience and institutional standing.

Responsibilities commonly include:

• Protecting editorial independence
• Overseeing journal quality
• Approving editorial policies
• Managing conflicts of interest
• Assigning manuscripts
• Making or supervising final decisions
• Developing the editorial board
• Responding to ethical concerns

Managing and Section Editors

Managing editors coordinate operational tasks. Section editors can handle submissions in architecture, fine arts, design, digital media or other specialist areas.

Editorial Board

Board members should contribute real academic expertise. Their names, affiliations, countries and roles should be published with consent.

Avoid listing prominent scholars only for decorative credibility. Board members should understand what is expected of them.

Advisory and Review Panels

A journal may establish advisory and reviewer panels, but these should not replace manuscript-specific reviewer selection. Reviewers must be chosen based on the subject and method of each submission.

Step 6: Develop Editorial and Publication Policies

Policies should be completed before submissions open. Adding them only after a dispute creates inconsistency and reputational risk.

Essential policies include:

• Peer-review policy
• Publication ethics
• Authorship and contributorship
• Conflicts of interest
• Plagiarism and similarity checking
• Duplicate and redundant publication
• Complaints and appeals
• Corrections, retractions and expressions of concern
• Copyright and licensing
• Data and supplementary materials
• Image and artwork permissions
• Participant consent
• Use of artificial intelligence
• Manuscript withdrawal
• Editorial independence
• Privacy and data protection
• Archiving and preservation
• Advertising and sponsorship
• Fee and waiver policy
• Special-issue governance

COPE’s Core Practices provide an important foundation for responsible journal management, covering areas such as peer review, authorship, conflicts, data, misconduct and corrections. COPE publication ethics guidance.

AI Use in Arts and Design Submissions

Creative journals need a particularly clear AI policy. It should address:

• Disclosure of generative AI use
• AI-generated or modified images
• Authorship restrictions
• Copyright and training-data concerns
• Fabricated references or content
• Confidentiality during peer review
• Human accountability for submitted material
• Use of AI by editors and reviewers

A journal should distinguish between routine technical assistance and AI use that materially shapes the research or creative output.

Image Rights and Cultural Materials

Authors should confirm that they have permission to reproduce photographs, artworks, plans, archival documents and other protected materials.

Research involving community heritage, indigenous knowledge or culturally sensitive objects may require additional consent and ethical consideration.

Step 7: Design a Credible Peer-Review Workflow

Peer review is not simply an approval step. It is a structured quality-control process that must be transparent, fair and documented.

Select the Review Model

Common models include:

• Single-anonymised review
• Double-anonymised review
• Open peer review
• Transparent peer review
• Post-publication review

Double-anonymised review may be appropriate where the journal seeks to reduce identity-related bias, although full anonymity can be difficult in specialised fields or practice-based research.

Scholar9 can complement a journal’s conventional workflow when the publisher wants to explore transparent peer review, recognition of research contributions and stronger trust signals.

Recommended Editorial Workflow

A typical manuscript should pass through the following stages:

1. Submission
2. Administrative completeness check
3. Editorial scope screening
4. Similarity and ethical checks
5. Assignment to a handling editor
6. Reviewer invitation
7. Independent peer review
8. Editorial assessment
9. Author revision
10. Review of revised manuscript
11. Final decision
12. Copyediting
13. Typesetting and proof production
14. Author proof approval
15. Metadata validation
16. DOI registration
17. Online publication
18. Preservation and post-publication maintenance

Establish Clear Decision Categories

Decision options may include:

• Accept
• Accept subject to minor revisions
• Major revisions required
• Resubmit for fresh review
• Reject

Editors should not issue decisions that are unsupported by reviewer comments or the journal’s academic criteria.

Build a Reviewer Database

Record reviewer expertise, affiliation, contact information, previous assignments, response times and conflicts. Avoid repeatedly overloading a small group.

Reviewers should receive:

• The journal’s review criteria
• A confidentiality statement
• Conflict-of-interest requirements
• A realistic deadline
• Guidance for constructive feedback
• Ethical expectations

CTA Block 1: Launch Your Journal With a Complete Publishing Setup

Need help launching an arts, architecture or design research journal?

We can support your institution with:

• ScholarJMS journal website and manuscript-submission setup
• Editorial and peer-review workflow configuration
• OJS hosting, support or migration through OJSCloud
• Journal policy and launch guidance
• ISSN consulting and website-readiness support
• Crossref DOI planning through GetDOI
• Transparent peer-review options through Scholar9

WhatsApp: +91 82003 85143
Email: inquiry@ojscloud.com

Step 8: Choose the Right Journal Management Platform

A journal website should do more than display articles. It should support the entire publishing workflow.

Essential capabilities include:

• Author registration
• Online manuscript submission
• Role-based user accounts
• Editor assignment
• Reviewer invitation and tracking
• Revision management
• Decision communication
• File-version control
• Issue creation
• Article publication
• Metadata management
• DOI fields
• Search and archives
• Email notifications
• Responsive website design
• Security and backups
• Administrative reporting

ScholarJMS for an Integrated Modern Journal

ScholarJMS combines a professional journal website with manuscript submission, editorial workflow and structured article publication.

For institutions that want a unified system, ScholarJMS can support:

• Journal-branded website design
• Author submission
• Editorial dashboards
• Peer-review management
• Article and issue organisation
• Policy pages
• Metadata presentation
• Online archives
• Mobile-responsive access
• Role-based journal administration

This integrated approach reduces dependence on disconnected email threads, spreadsheets and manually organised folders.

OJS and OJSCloud Support

Open Journal Systems remains widely used in scholarly publishing. Institutions already working with OJS may need secure hosting, updates, troubleshooting, theme development or workflow support.

OJSCloud can assist with:

• Managed OJS hosting
• OJS installation and configuration
• Version upgrades
• Technical support
• Journal launch planning
• ISSN consulting
• Metadata and policy readiness
• OJS migration
• Publishing consultation

OJS to ScholarJMS Migration

A migration should preserve more than PDF files. It may need to transfer:

• Volumes and issues
• Article titles and abstracts
• Keywords
• Author names and affiliations
• Publication dates
• Page ranges or article numbers
• References
• DOI records
• Supplementary files
• Article URLs or redirects
• Editorial and policy content

Before migration, prepare a content and metadata audit. DOI landing pages must remain functional, and registered DOI URLs should be updated when necessary.

Step 9: Build a Trustworthy Journal Website

The website is usually the first place where an author evaluates a journal. Poor navigation, incomplete policies or unclear ownership can immediately weaken confidence.

Essential Website Pages

The journal should publish:

• Home
• About the Journal
• Aims and Scope
• Editorial Board
• Peer-Review Process
• Publication Ethics
• Author Guidelines
• Submission Checklist
• Copyright and Licensing
• Fee and Waiver Policy
• Privacy Statement
• Current Issue
• Archives
• Announcements
• Contact Information
• Online Submission

Essential Homepage Information

The homepage should communicate:

• Full journal name
• Publisher
• Subject focus
• Open-access status
• Publishing frequency
• Current issue
• Submit-manuscript link
• ISSN once assigned
• Contact details
• Important announcements

Avoid unsupported claims such as “world’s leading journal” or “guaranteed indexing.” Credibility is stronger when the website presents verifiable information.

Accessibility and Security

A design journal’s website should demonstrate sound design practice. It should be responsive, readable, logically organised and accessible.

Use:

• HTTPS
• Strong colour contrast
• Descriptive headings
• Alternative text
• Keyboard-friendly navigation
• Clear button labels
• Responsive typography
• Compressed images
• Secure authentication
• Regular backups

Transparency guidelines recommend that journal websites be properly maintained, use HTTPS, disclose key journal information and avoid misleading content. Transparency and Best Practice.

Step 10: Prepare Author Guidelines for Creative Research

Generic manuscript instructions are often inadequate for arts, architecture and design.

Author guidelines should address:

• Article structure
• Word limits
• Referencing style
• Abstract and keyword requirements
• Author affiliation and ORCID
• Tables and figures
• Architectural drawings
• Artwork reproduction
• Image resolution and colour mode
• Captions and credits
• Copyright permission
• Supplementary audiovisual files
• Practice-based research documentation
• Research ethics
• AI-use disclosure
• Anonymisation for peer review

Visual Quality and Accessibility

Images should be academically informative rather than decorative. Captions should explain what the image shows and why it matters.

Where appropriate, authors should provide:

• Alternative text
• Scale and orientation
• Location and date
• Photographer or creator credit
• Copyright status
• Permission documentation
• Explanatory captions

Practice-Based Research Requirements

A creative output alone is not necessarily a research article. Authors should explain:

• The research question
• Context and relevant scholarship
• Creative process
• Methods of enquiry
• Documentation
• Criteria for analysis
• Findings or insights
• Contribution to knowledge
• Limitations

Step 11: Plan for ISSN Readiness

An ISSN is an eight-digit identifier for serial publications such as journals. It identifies the continuing publication rather than individual articles. What is an ISSN?.

An ISSN does not certify article quality and does not automatically lead to indexing. It is nevertheless an important part of a journal’s formal publishing identity.

Prepare Before Applying

The journal should have:

• A final and distinct title
• Confirmed publisher details
• Publisher address
• A functioning journal website
• Aims and scope
• Editorial information
• Published or sufficiently prepared content
• Consistent title presentation
• Clear publication frequency
• Required supporting evidence
• Appropriate online access

The exact process depends on the responsible national ISSN centre and the journal’s publication medium. Online publications are not always assigned ISSNs before publication. Publishers should confirm the current requirements applicable to their jurisdiction rather than assuming that the process is identical everywhere. ISSN request guidance.

How OJSCloud Can Help

OJSCloud can provide ISSN consulting and readiness support by helping an institution organise its website, publisher details, editorial pages, policies and application materials.

Consulting support can improve readiness and reduce avoidable omissions, but the final assignment decision always remains with the relevant ISSN authority.

Step 12: Plan Crossref DOI Registration

A DOI provides a persistent identifier for digital scholarly content. It helps readers and systems identify an article even if its landing-page URL later changes.

A DOI should resolve to a complete public landing page containing the article title, authors, abstract or citation information, publication details and access to the full text.

Crossref Membership and Sponsorship

A journal may register content through direct Crossref membership or through an appropriate sponsorship arrangement.

Crossref explains that members receive a DOI prefix and create suffixes for their content. The DOI becomes active when it and its associated metadata are registered. Crossref content registration.

Metadata Required for DOI Registration

Journal article metadata commonly includes:

• Journal title
• ISSN
• Article title
• Author names
• Affiliations
• ORCID identifiers
• Abstract
• Publication date
• Volume and issue
• Page range or article number
• Article type
• DOI
• Landing-page URL
• References
• Licence information
• Funding information where applicable

A DOI is only as useful as the metadata maintained behind it. Crossref allows metadata records to be updated, while the DOI itself remains persistent. Updating Crossref metadata.

GetDOI Support

GetDOI can assist journals with Crossref DOI setup, sponsorship routes, metadata preparation and ongoing DOI workflow guidance.

Institutions should establish the DOI workflow before releasing articles. Adding DOIs retrospectively is possible, but early planning produces more consistent identifiers, landing pages and metadata.

Step 13: Build Articles for Discoverability

A journal becomes discoverable through accurate metadata, stable pages, meaningful content and consistent technical structure.

Each article should have:

• A unique landing page
• Full article title
• Complete author information
• Abstract
• Keywords
• DOI
• Publication date
• Volume and issue
• Citation format
• Full-text PDF or HTML
• References
• Copyright and licence statement
• Download information
• Supplementary files where relevant

Search Engine Optimisation for Journal Articles

Academic SEO should improve clarity rather than manipulate rankings.

Good practices include:

• Descriptive article titles
• Accurate abstracts
• Relevant keywords
• Logical heading structure
• Searchable PDF text
• Meaningful file names
• Descriptive alternative text
• Internal links
• Fast and mobile-friendly pages
• Structured metadata
• Stable URLs

Do not insert unrelated keywords or create multiple duplicate pages for the same article.

Step 14: Plan for Preservation and Continuity

A journal is part of the scholarly record. Its content should remain available even if staff members, hosting providers or institutional priorities change.

The journal should maintain:

• Regular backups
• Copies stored in separate locations
• Documented restoration procedures
• Domain-renewal responsibility
• Platform-update procedures
• Exportable article metadata
• Preservation arrangements
• A succession plan for editorial leadership

Long-term preservation should be treated as part of launch planning, not postponed until the archive becomes large.

Step 15: Publish a Strong First Issue

The first issue establishes expectations for academic quality and presentation.

Build a Genuine Submission Pipeline

Potential approaches include:

• An open call for papers
• A themed inaugural issue
• Invited contributions combined with independently submitted papers
• A conference-linked issue with full peer review
• A special issue led by qualified guest editors

Invited manuscripts should undergo the same declared editorial and review process unless the website transparently identifies a different content type.

Do Not Rush the Issue

It is better to publish a smaller, credible first issue than a large issue containing weak or poorly reviewed work.

Before publication, verify:

• Author names and affiliations
• Article titles
• Abstracts and keywords
• References
• Image permissions
• Ethical declarations
• PDF consistency
• Page ranges or article numbers
• DOI accuracy
• Landing-page URLs
• Copyright and licences
• Table of contents
• Publication date

Step 16: Build Indexing Readiness Gradually

No technology provider can guarantee acceptance into an independent academic index. Indexing bodies make their own decisions based on stated criteria and journal performance.

A new journal should first establish:

• Consistent publication
• Transparent policies
• Functional peer review
• Qualified editorial leadership
• Complete article metadata
• Stable website access
• Ethical publishing practices
• Original scholarly content
• A credible publication history

DOAJ requires eligible journals to be actively publishing research, maintain a dedicated and accessible homepage, provide individual full-text article pages and clearly disclose important policies and fees. DOAJ application guidance.

Institutions should avoid applying prematurely. A rejection resulting from incomplete policies or an insufficient publication record may delay progress.

CTA Block 2: Upgrade or Migrate an Existing Journal

Is your journal still managed through email, spreadsheets or an outdated OJS installation?

We can help with:

• New ScholarJMS journal website setup
• OJS hosting, upgrades and support
• OJS to ScholarJMS migration
• Metadata and archive transfer
• Editorial workflow configuration
• ISSN consulting
• Crossref DOI support
• Journal launch and publishing guidance

WhatsApp: +91 82003 85143
Email: inquiry@ojscloud.com

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Launching Without a Clear Scope

A journal that accepts every subject struggles to develop academic identity and recruit appropriate reviewers.

Treating the Website as the Entire Journal

The platform supports publishing, but editorial leadership, peer review and ethical governance create credibility.

Copying Policies From Another Journal

Policies must reflect the journal’s actual workflow, ownership and responsibilities.

Using Unverified Editorial Board Names

Every member should consent to being listed and understand their role.

Promising Unrealistic Review Times

Very short guaranteed acceptance or publication periods can damage trust. Review timelines should be realistic and presented as typical rather than guaranteed.

Confusing ISSN With Indexing

An ISSN identifies a serial. It is not an impact metric, quality certificate or indexing approval.

Assigning DOI Text Without Registering Metadata

Displaying a DOI-format string does not make it active. It must be registered through an authorised Crossref workflow and resolve correctly.

Publishing Without Image Permissions

This is particularly risky for art, architecture and design journals, where manuscripts may contain copyrighted artworks, plans and photographs.

Relying on Personal Email Accounts

Use official journal-domain email addresses and role-based accounts wherever possible.

Losing Metadata During Migration

A migration that transfers only PDFs can damage author records, search visibility, DOI resolution and article discoverability.

Recommended Journal Launch Timeline

A realistic launch may be organised in phases.

Phase 1: Strategy and Approval

• Prepare the concept note
• Confirm institutional responsibility
• Finalise the title
• Define aims, scope and audience
• Approve the budget and publishing model

Phase 2: Editorial Foundation

• Appoint the Editor-in-Chief
• Form the editorial board
• Define manuscript types
• Draft author and reviewer guidelines
• Develop publication policies

Phase 3: Technology and Website

• Select ScholarJMS, OJS or another suitable platform
• Configure the domain and email
• Create journal pages
• Configure submission and review workflows
• Test user roles, notifications and backups

Phase 4: Submission Development

• Publish the call for papers
• Invite appropriate contributions
• Build a reviewer database
• Screen submissions
• Conduct peer review and revisions

Phase 5: Publication Readiness

• Copyedit and typeset accepted papers
• Prepare article landing pages
• Confirm permissions and licences
• Complete ISSN-related requirements
• Establish the DOI workflow
• Verify metadata

Phase 6: Launch and Continuous Improvement

• Publish the first issue
• Promote articles responsibly
• Monitor site and workflow performance
• Collect feedback
• Prepare the next issue
• Maintain the declared publishing schedule

The time required depends on the institution’s readiness, editorial availability, manuscript pipeline and approval processes. A technically functional website can be prepared much faster than a credible peer-reviewed issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a university start its own academic journal?

Yes. A university, college, research institute, professional society or academic department can establish a journal if it can provide responsible governance, editorial expertise, transparent policies, suitable infrastructure and long-term continuity.

How much does it cost to start an online journal?

Costs depend on the platform, website design, hosting, editorial services, DOI arrangements, copyediting, typesetting and technical support. Institutions should request a scope-based quotation rather than relying on a single generic price.

Does a new journal need an ISSN before publishing?

Requirements vary by medium and responsible ISSN centre. Online journals are often expected to demonstrate actual publication before assignment. Institutions should review the current rules applicable to their jurisdiction and prepare the website accordingly.

Is an ISSN the same as journal indexing?

No. An ISSN is an identifier for a serial publication. Indexing is a separate evaluation performed by databases or directories according to their own criteria.

How can an institution obtain Crossref DOIs?

A publisher may join Crossref directly or use an appropriate sponsorship route. It must establish a DOI pattern, prepare article metadata, register each DOI and maintain the landing-page URLs.

What is the best journal management platform?

The right platform depends on workflow, internal technical capacity, migration needs and support expectations. ScholarJMS is suitable for institutions seeking an integrated modern journal website and editorial workflow. OJS may suit organisations already committed to the OJS ecosystem, with OJSCloud providing hosting and technical support.

Can an existing OJS journal migrate to ScholarJMS?

Yes. A properly planned migration can transfer issues, articles, authors, metadata, DOI information and policy content. The project should include link management and metadata validation, not only PDF transfer.

Should an arts and design journal use peer review?

A scholarly research journal should use a clearly described and consistently applied review process. Reviewer expertise should match both the research method and the relevant creative discipline.

Can the journal publish artworks, videos and visual essays?

Yes, if the platform and policies support them. The journal should define requirements for file formats, captions, permissions, academic context, peer review and long-term access.

Can a service provider guarantee indexing?

No credible provider can guarantee acceptance into independent indexes. A service provider can improve technical and policy readiness, but the indexing body retains complete decision-making authority.

How can a new journal attract quality submissions?

Develop a clear scope, appoint respected and active editors, publish a credible call for papers, communicate transparent policies, provide a professional author experience and maintain a rigorous peer-review process.

How can ScholarJMS support a new journal?

ScholarJMS can provide a branded journal website, online manuscript submission, editor and reviewer workflows, issue organisation, article publishing, metadata presentation and administrative tools within one integrated environment.

Conclusion

Starting an online arts, architecture and design research journal can strengthen an institution’s scholarly identity, support interdisciplinary collaboration and provide a lasting platform for creative and practice-based knowledge. Its success, however, depends on decisions made before the first call for papers is released.

The institution must define a distinctive purpose, establish accountable governance, appoint credible editors, publish transparent policies and implement a fair peer-review process. It must also choose technology capable of supporting authors, reviewers, editors, article metadata and long-term archives.

ISSN and DOI planning should form part of the journal’s publishing strategy. OJSCloud can assist with journal launch planning, OJS support, migration and ISSN readiness. GetDOI can support Crossref DOI setup and metadata workflows. Scholar9 can strengthen transparent peer-review and research-trust initiatives. ScholarJMS can bring the journal website, submissions, editorial workflow and article publication together in one professional system.

Most importantly, the journal must publish valuable work consistently. Credibility is built issue by issue through editorial independence, research quality, ethical practice, accurate metadata and respect for authors and readers.

Ready to start or upgrade your research journal?

Contact us for a complete journal setup, OJS migration, ISSN consulting, Crossref DOI support or editorial-workflow consultation.

WhatsApp: +91 82003 85143
Email: inquiry@ojscloud.com