In 2007, WDO partnered with WDO Educational Member University of Brighton (United Kingdom) to re-catalogue its archives, which had previously been housed at the University of Compiègne (France). This significant undertaking ensured the preservation and accessibility of materials that trace the organization’s history back to its founding in 1957 as the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid). 

Housed alongside more than twenty other archives of designers and design organizations at the University of Brighton Design Archives, WDO’s collection includes historical records, publications and documentation from pivotal moments in the organization’s development. 

Actively used today by academics, researchers and students worldwide, WDO’s archive offers valuable insights into the emergence of the design profession from the mid-twentieth century onwards, encouraging perspectives that diversify global design histories and allow designers to engage with their disciplinary heritage. 

Since 2007, WDO has continued to collaborate with the University of Brighton to maintain and expand its archive. This ongoing relationship not only connects these resources with practitioners and their communities around the globe, but also ensures their relevance for future generations. 

To browse WDO’s archival materials, or for more details on accessing the collection, visit the University of Brighton Design Archives website.