Professor Anastasios Maragiannis BA Hons, PGCE, MA, PhD, FRSA, PFHEA

Head of School of Design & Professor of Inclusive Design

Key details

Anastasios Maragiannis

Professor Anastasios Maragiannis

Head of School of Design & Professor of Inclusive Design

An international awarded researcher with significant knowledge in design practice, research and Knowledge Exchange, has formed EDI strategies and curriculum development in higher education and Creative industries nationally and internationally. He holds a PhD from Goldsmiths University in Inclusive Design and Readability; his research introduced a new methodological approach to redefine the communication processes.

By combining design diversity and design Inclusion and strategic leadership, Professor Anastasios Maragiannis helps Institutions, academics, students, and creative industries to become inclusive and human-focused, efficient, and more sustainable. Professor Maragiannis has more than 20 years of experience working with leading universities, governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations worldwide to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.  This includes organisations ranging from the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), the Cyprus High Commission, the Greek Forum for Refugees, the World Design Organization, to the International Institute for Information Design (UNESCO partner organisation), the Africa Risk Consulting, the and the International Space Station (ISS) and NASA.

Currently, Professor Anastasios Maragiannis is the Head of the School of Design & Professor of Inclusive design at the University of Greenwich. In addition to his current role has several appointments, including staff Governor at the University of Greenwich Governing Body, Deputy Chair of the Digital Research in the Humanities and Arts (DRHA) (international), Visiting Professor at the World University of Design (India), Non-Executive Director for ECOLUXE (UK), External Expert for BIMM (Global), Research Principal Investigator NWE INTERREG (EU), External Examiner in various HEIs, Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and a Principal Fellow in Higher Education Academy.

He is leading the d+iD – diversity + inclusivity by Design Research Lab focusing on "Designing with and for 'others'" through Interdisciplinary co-design practices and explores how design acts inclusively regardless of disability, gender, ethnicity, vulnerability, language, and age.

Professor Anastasios Maragiannis has been one of the five facilitators on the international research project titled: "Design in Space for Life on Earth", organised by the World Design Organization (WDO)® and the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, where space industry leaders and researchers joined together with designers to explore potential solutions to make our life on earth more inclusive. Over the last few years, he has been acting as a design creative industries consultant in the UK, China, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Greece and served as a Visiting professor at the School of Design at Polytechnico di Milano (Italy), Academic visiting Fellow at the University of Advancing Technology (USA), taught in various international institutions including Kingston University, UEL, University of the Arts, Goldsmiths (UK), Athens School of Fine Arts (Greece), Pari 8 (France), FPT University (Vietnam).

He developed policy documents, curated research exhibitions, inaugural events and public talks. His practice-research work outputs showcased in various places including the V&A Museum (London), the Serafio Cultural Centre (Athens-Greece), London Design Festival (UK), and he has published research and thoughts in various academic journals and books.

He is available for PhD supervision in the areas of Co-design, Participatory Design, Practice research, Interdisciplinary Design, gender, Diversity, Inclusion.

Architecture Design Film, media and sound

Art and design - history, practice and theory

Responsibilities within the university
  • Staff Governor on the university’s Governing Body
  • HEA Mentor and Examiner
  • TNE and Partnerships Art and Design

Awards

2020 - International Institute for Information Design (IIID) awards - Practice Research
The Research project on diversity and inclusivity by design, based in the school of Design and led by Dr Anastasios Maragiannis achieves global recognition by UNESCO partner organisation. The research is recognised by the prestigious International Institute for Information Design (IIID) awards, which celebrate information designers' contribution to society. The awards, which take place every three years, look for evidence of where designers have applied creativity and design thinking to solve complex communication problems with a view to improving aspects of human life.

2019 – NWE IMPACT EU AWARD for the Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurial Skills (EYES)" project, at the latest Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) impact awards in France.

2017 - Highly Commend Research Poster

2013 - Staff member of the year- Recognition Award – University of Greenwich

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIp

IIID Member - International Institute for Information Design
AIGA Member - the professional association for design (USA)
Member of The International Council of Graphic Design Associations, (ICOGRADA)
Member of D&AD, University Network Membership, (UK)

Recognition
  • Visiting Professor World University of Design, New Delhi, India (2020)
  • Visiting Professor Politecnico di Milano, Italy (2019)
  • MISTD - Elected Member of the International Society of Typographic Designers
  • MInstLM - Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management
  • PFHEA - Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy;
  • Deputy Chair DRHA (Research & Enterprise) Digital Research in the Humanities and Arts International Organisation
  • FRSA – Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts

Research / Scholarly interests

Professor Maragiannis is available for Research PhD supervision.

Currently Supervising 3 Students (Design, Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Anastasios is currently the leader for the diversity + inclusivity by design Research lab. Research explores how design inclusively engages people deeply throughout the design process, to share our practices and to amalgamate people's unique knowledge into design interventions, where design acts inclusively regardless of disability, gender, ethnicity, vulnerability, language and age. Through Collaboration Research the lab is exploring the changing digital landscape; the conceptualisation of design practices and redefining the communication process through co-design processes. Find out more at Diversityinclusivity.design

Keywords: Co-design, Participatory Design, Practice research, Interdisciplinary Design, gender, Diversity, Inclusion

Current Funded research projects participation

EYES - The EYES EU funded research project (£4m) brings together 4 bilingual training sites and prepare 25 coaches to run the pilots in the Ruhr area, Greater London, Flemish triangle, European Metropolis of Lille, and Tilburg, supported by a common helpdesk.Diversity+Inclusivity by Design: Empowering Individuals Research Project (Supported by Cyprus Embassy UK

Professor Anastasios Maragiannis has been one of the five worldwide facilitators on the international research project titled: "Design in Space for Life on Earth", organised by the World Design Organization (WDO)® and the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, where in space industry leaders and researchers joined together with designers to explore potential solutions to make our life on earth more inclusive.

Key funded projects

EYES - The EYES EU funded research project (£4m) brings together 4 bilingual training sites and prepare 25 coaches to run the pilots in the Ruhr area, Greater London, Flemish triangle, European Metropolis of Lille, and Tilburg, supported by a common helpdesk.Diversity+Inclusivity by Design: Empowering Individuals Research Project (Supported by Cyprus Embassy UK

Dr Anastasios Maragiannis has been one of the five worldwide facilitators on the international research project titled: "Design in Space for Life on Earth", organised by the World Design Organization (WDO)® and the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, where in space industry leaders and researchers joined together with designers to explore potential solutions to make our life on earth more inclusive.

Media activity

Press/ Media activity:

Recent publications

Article

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , Ashford, Rain (2019), Diversity and inclusivity in the age of wearables: A buzzword, a myth, an uncertain reality. Open Library of Humanities. In: , , , . Open Library of Humanities, Body, Space & Technology, 18 (1) . pp. 198-214 1470-9120 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.16995/bst.320).

Conference proceedings

Maragiannis, Anastasios , Kennedy, Stephen, Rehal, Kamalveer, Maffioletti, Catherine (2019), Co-Design Methods towards Inclusive design in Diverse Communities: Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurial Skills.. Lancaster University. In: , , In: Paul A. Rodgers (ed.), Design Research for Change 2019. Lancaster University, Design Research for Change . pp. 118-119 . ISBN: 9781862203631 (doi: https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/design-research-for-change-showcase-2019-at-london-design-fair/) NB Item availability restricted.

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , Jefferies, Janis (2015), ‘Twitter’: Practice in writing: A recipe for creativity & creative interpretation. ISEA2015: International Symposium on Electronic Art. In: , , , Proceedings of the 21st Symposium on Electronic Arts. ISEA2015: International Symposium on Electronic Art, Vancouver, Canada . ISBN: 9781910172001ISSN: 2451-8611 (Print), (doi: http://isea2015.org/publication) NB Item availability restricted.

Edited book

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , (2015), 2014 Digital Rsearch in the Humanities and Arts (Full (DRHA): Full paper proceedings. DRHA2014 & University of Greenwich, UK. In: , , , . DRHA2014 & University of Greenwich, UK, (1st ed.) . ISBN: 9781326388584 (doi: http://www.drha2014.co.uk).

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , (2015), Book of Abstracts DRHA2014. Lulu. In: , , , . Lulu, (1st) . ISBN: 9781291978780 (doi: http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/anastasios-maragiannis/book-of-abstracts-drha2014/paperback/product-21872480.html?showPreview=true) NB Item availability restricted.

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , (2015), DRHA2014 Proceedings / Full Papers. LuLu. In: , , , . LuLu, London, UK (1st) . ISBN: 9781326388584 (doi: http://www.lulu.com/shop/anastasios-maragiannis/drha2014-proceedings-full-papers/paperback/product-22328491.html) NB Item availability restricted.

Exhibition

Maragiannis, Anastasios , Marios, Psaras, Siamptani, Mala, High Commission of The Republic of Cyprus (2019), “d+iD Empowering individuals” international research project exhibition and research publication (multi-component output, 2019-ongoing). In: “d+iD Empowering individuals”, 14 Sept - 26 Oct 2019, London Design Festival 2019 - Stephen Lawrence galleries , . , . ISBN: 9780244173500 (doi: http://www.greenwichunigalleries.co.uk/diversity-and-inclusivity-by-design-empowering-individuals/)

Maragiannis, Anastasios , FABRICA Communication research Centre IT, American Institute of Graphic Arts, USA, Technological Educational Institution Athens, Greece , Ogilvy NY, USA (2017), Diversity + inclusivity by design: what is enabled when designers design with and for others?. In: Diversity + inclusivity by design, 19 Sept-21 Oct 2017 and March 2019, London, UK and Athens, Greece , . , . ISBN: 9780244173500 (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , (2017), Diversity and inclusivity by design exhibitions: what is enabled when designers design with, and for others?. In: diversity + inclusivity by Design, 19 Sep - 21 Oct 2017, University of Greenwich, London, UK , . , (doi: http://www.greenwichunigalleries.co.uk/diversity-inclusivity-by-design/)

Other

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , (2021), Diversity and inclusivity by design. In: , , , . , (Unit of Assessment 32) (doi: ).

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , Cyprus High Commission (Embassy of Cyprus) Ministry of Culture,London (2019), Diversity and inclusivity by design research portfolio. Various Publishers. In: , , , . Various Publishers, London (First) (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.

Maragiannis, Anastasios and , (2015), Digital Grand Challenge Innovative Multidisciplinary Research Projects and collaborations to redefine problems outside ordinary boundaries.. University of Greenwich. In: , , , . University of Greenwich, (1st) (doi: http://blogs.gre.ac.uk/digitalgrandchallenge/files/2015/11/GDC.pdf).

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