DESIGNING INCLUSIVE FUTURES: Embracing Neuro Diverse Youth in Urban Spaces by Professor Anastasios

Professor Anastasios Maragiannis PhD, PFHEA, FRSA, is the Associate Head of the Design Creative and Digital Industries College and Research Professor of Inclusive Design.
Professor Maragiannis' role is to provide academic leadership and strategic direction and, together with the DVC for Global Engagement to lead and enhance the quality of its international, employability, corporate social responsibility, and external public engagement plans and achievements, both within the College and across other Colleges delivering TEF and KEF targets linked to the improvement of institutional performance relating to international recruitment, international student experience and international student employment outcomes.
He previously was the Dean of the School of Design and TNE Director at the University of Greenwich, where he developed the school's academic curriculum focusing on inclusivity and sustainability. He brings expertise in national, international, and TNE innovative partnerships with private and public sector organizations in the EU, North Africa, South / East Asia, and the USA, with an emphasis on fostering external relationships that empower staff and enhance student employability and entrepreneurial skills in the fields of architecture, design, media, business, and visual arts.
Prof Maragiannis was also a Governor of Greenwich University's Board of Trustees and took charge of overseeing the development of the Partnership's Hub and the Professional Practice Framework across the University. He was a member of the working group for the TEF 2021 submission with a particular focus on TNE (Transnational Education) in the creative and digital industries.
An interdisciplinary researcher and an advocate for pedagogic practice, Professor Maragiannis has experience in senior academic leadership roles ranging from product design engineering, sustainable and digital cities, design anthropology, and interdisciplinary design methods to animation, film production, and media. He was one of the five facilitators leading the international research project titled "Design in Space for Life on Earth", organized by the World Design Organization (WDO®) and the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, where he led a diverse team of engineers, scientists, designers, and business innovators, working together to explore co-design solutions (SDGs) that can improve our planet and foster inclusivity in our lives on Earth.
In addition, he was the principal investigator of NWE INTERREG (an EU-funded project with a total €4.2M funding) to support young people through entrepreneurship and innovation.
Professor Maragiannis's practice-research outputs have been showcased in international venues, including the V&A Museum (London), the Serafio Cultural Centre (Athens), the London Design Festival (UK), Exhibition Centre (Hanoi). These outputs played a vital role in his recent multicomponent REF21 submission, accompanied by his Impact Case Study (UoA32) titled "Diversity and Inclusivity by Design: Transforming Co-design Methods to Shape Diversity and Inclusion Policy for Humanitarian and Cultural Organisations in Europe and Africa, and increase inclusion, skills, and confidence for vulnerable young people."
He has also held visiting professorships at esteemed institutions such as the School of Design at Polytechnico di Milano (Italy), the University of Advancing Technology (USA), and the World University of Design (India).
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA), Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA); Deputy Chair of Digital Research in the Humanities and Arts (DRHA); and
he is the author of the book "Design in Action: Reflections on Social and Inclusive Practices" (INTELLECT 2024).