Cyprus represented at the Founding Conference of the World Industrial Design Association (WIDA) in Shanghai

April 15, 2026

Cyprus and Greece represented in the Founding Council of the World Industrial Design Association (WIDA)

The Founding Conference of the World Industrial Design Association (WIDA) took place in Shanghai, China, from April 16 to 19, 2026, marking the official launch of a new global organisation dedicated to advancing industrial design through international collaboration, research, and innovation.

The conference was hosted at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and at the Fuxing Cloud Hall in Shanghai, and included the First General Assembly and the First Council Meeting of WIDA, establishing the organisation’s governance structure at its founding stage.

WIDA is a leading global organisation in the field of industrial design, bringing together academia, industry, and research institutions. Its mission is to advance the global development of industrial design while contributing to human culture and socio-economic growth. Its founding members span 15 countries, and the organisation is active across more than 20 interdisciplinary fields.

Cyprus and Greece were represented by Angeliki Athanasiadi and Miltiades Karras, co-founding members of WIDA and co-founders of Graphic Stories Cyprus, an international cultural and educational organisation in visual communication, with extensive activity in conferences, exhibitions, and international collaborations.

Aggeliki Athanasiadi, an award-winning visual communication designer, academic, and Founder & Creative Director of Graphic Stories Cyprus, participated as a keynote speaker at the International Academic Salon of Industrial Design, presenting: “Designing the Future: Human-Centred Innovation, Education and Responsibility in the Age of AI”, highlighting the role of human-centred design, education, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

She was also elected as a First Council Member of WIDA, taking part in the organisation’s founding governing body and contributing to shaping its international direction.

Miltiades Karras, Physics and Robotics educator, co-founder and General Coordinator of Graphic Stories Cyprus, with long-standing experience in education, technology, robotics, and international collaboration, as well as significant distinctions and first-place awards in robotics competitions in Cyprus and abroad, also participated in the founding assembly, contributing to the connection between design, education, innovation, and applied technologies.

Through their participation, and through the broader international activity of Graphic Stories Cyprus, Cyprus and Greece were placed on the global map of WIDA, gaining representation in a new international institution that contributes to shaping the future of design from its founding stage.

“Our participation in WIDA is not only about design, but about positioning Cyprus and Greece within the global creative dialogue and contributing to the future of design,” said Angeliki Athanasiadi.

This development strengthens the international presence of Cyprus and Greece, opens new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange, and contributes to promoting the creativity, cultural identity, and values of both countries within a global network.

In a time of rapid transformation, WIDA promotes collaboration across borders and disciplines, with the shared goal of a more sustainable, human-centred, and meaningful future. The topic is of particular interest to the fields of education, creative industries, technology, and cultural development.