2025 World Design Cities Conference Kicks Off in Shanghai: Celebrating 15 Years as a UNESCO City of Design

Shanghai Hosts 2025 World Design Cities Conference, Celebrating 15 Years as a UNESCO City of Design

SHANGHAI, Sept. 28, 2025 — The vibrant city of Shanghai officially kicked off the 2025 World Design Cities Conference (WDCC2025) on September 25, marking a significant milestone in its journey as a UNESCO Creative City of Design. This year not only celebrates the 15th anniversary of Shanghai’s designation but also highlights the city’s commitment to innovation and creativity in urban development.

Since joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2010, Shanghai has emerged as a beacon of design excellence, leveraging its unique cultural heritage and modern advancements to influence industries worldwide. As the city accelerates its transformation into a modernized international metropolis, the role of design in driving economic growth and enhancing quality of life has never been more critical.

During the opening ceremony, attendees were presented with the report titled “Shanghai 2010-2025: 15th Anniversary as a UNESCO City of Design – Results and Achievements.” This comprehensive document outlines the city’s strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering the cosmetics industry and promoting a series of innovative projects in creative design and fashion consumer goods.

The event also recognized emerging talent in the design field, awarding the 2025 Shanghai Youth Design Talent U35 Certificates and the prestigious 2025 “Shanghai Design 100+” Global Competition Annual Awards, alongside the 2025 “Frontier Design Prize.” These accolades underscore Shanghai’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of designers.

WDCC2025 serves as a pivotal platform for global design innovation, aiming to foster collaboration and explore how design can catalyze new productive forces. This year’s conference introduces the “U35 Program,” aimed at empowering young designers, and emphasizes ecological design as a guiding principle for future projects.

The conference features a lineup of esteemed academicians, industry leaders, and design representatives from around the globe, engaging in forums that seek to establish a new framework for international design cooperation. As Shanghai showcases its innovative practices, the city invites the world to witness its design propositions and the transformative power of creativity.

As the conference unfolds, it promises to be a landmark event, reinforcing Shanghai’s position as a global design hub and inspiring a new wave of innovation that resonates far beyond its borders.