Shanghai, 28 September 2026 — Under the theme “When AI Meets Design: Challenge and Practice,” the UNESCO Creative Cities Design Forum was held during the World Design Cities Conference (WDCC). Co-hosted by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Forum brought together 17 speakers from 30 cities across 11 countries to exchange experiences on how artificial intelligence and design can contribute to cultural and creative development, education, industry and more sustainable urban futures.
A central focus of this year’s Forum was the first cycle of the multi-year “Call for Good Practice Cases: When AI Meets Design,” initiated by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia in collaboration with partners in Shanghai. Launched in May 2026, the Call sought concrete practices demonstrating how AI, together with design approaches, can support culture, creativity, learning, sustainability and social inclusion. The selected cases reflected practices from 15 countries and 40 cities across areas including cultural heritage, visitor experience, creative industries and design education.
Opening the Forum, Prof Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, emphasized that as AI increasingly shapes how culture is created, accessed and shared, technological development must remain human-centred, ethical and inclusive. He noted that “the important question is therefore not simply what AI can do, but how it is designed, governed and applied in real cultural contexts,” highlighting the role of design in connecting technological innovation with people, cultural meaning and social priorities.
The Forum also featured a keynote by Dr Ai Sugiura, Programme Specialist and Head of Sciences Unit at the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia. Linking perspectives from science, culture and urban development, she addressed the importance of openness, public understanding, trust and responsible governance in the age of AI. She also situated the discussion within the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia’s continuing engagement with AI and culture, highlighting ongoing regional work that promotes evidence-based and culturally grounded dialogue on how AI is reshaping cultural creation, heritage and the wider cultural and creative sectors.
Across the day’s exchanges, representatives of UNESCO Creative Cities, cultural and design institutions, universities and industry shared practical experiences of AI-enabled design and discussed emerging challenges around responsible innovation. The exchanges highlighted the importance of moving beyond technological capability alone and considering how AI interacts with cultural contexts, creative processes, education, communities and public life.
The selected Good Practice Cases were also presented during the Forum, providing basis for further exchange among practitioners, Creative Cities and other partners. Conceived not as a competition, the initiative provides a platform for identifying, documenting and learning from practices already being implemented on the ground.
Since joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Design in 2010, Shanghai has continued to advance design-led innovation and international cooperation. Through WDCC and the UNESCO Creative Cities Design Forum, the city provides an important platform for exchanges among cities, institutions and practitioners, while strengthening connections between design, creativity and sustainable urban development.
As the first year of a multi-year initiative, the 2026 Call marks the beginning of a longer process of knowledge-building and international cooperation. Building on this year’s exchanges, UNESCO and its partners will continue to document emerging practices, broaden participation and foster a growing community of practice around responsible, inclusive and culturally grounded approaches to AI and design.
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