Designer Arsh Raziuddin in dialogue with the city’s World Cup Czar Maya Handa

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, New York City has become part of a worldwide stage—welcoming the energy, movement, and spectacle of the international sporting event while defining what that moment looks and feels like locally. Beyond designing logistical systems, the city has commissioned a visual campaign that reflects its spirit: a colorful mix of graphic systems, street-level expression, merchandise, and digital storytelling shaping how millions of people encounter the event.

Join NYC World Cup designer Arsh Raziuddin in dialogue with the city’s World Cup Czar Maya Handa as they share how New York’s identity for the tournaments has taken shape and why. From wayfinding and access to visuals featuring the Big Apple, they’ll share how design operates at the scale of the city—connecting audiences, communities, and global attention in real time.

SPEAKERS

Arsh Raziuddin is a creative director, designer, and artist whose work spans publishing, culture, and public life. Her collaborators and clients have included The New York Times, The Atlantic, Condé Nast, Nike, Bloomberg, A24, New York City Hall, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and Simon & Schuster. She most recently served as VP of Global Creative at Christie’s. Previously, she was Art Director of Sunday Opinion at The New York Times, was part of the team behind The Atlantic’s 2019 redesign, and later led the 2021 redesign of Bon Appétit. Most recently, Raziuddin led the creative direction and design of New York City’s official FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in partnership with New York City Hall. Her work has been recognized by the National Magazine Awards, the Society of Publication Designers, the Art Directors Club, Monocle, Print, and The New York Times. She previously taught publication design in MICA’s MFA program and continues to explore how design can shape culture, participation, and collective memory.

Maya Handa serves as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s World Cup Czar, responsible for carrying out the Mayor’s vision for an affordable, accessible, and joyful World Cup summer. She is a progressive Democratic political strategist who most recently managed Mayor Mamdani’s winning general election campaign. She previously worked as a management consultant, in international development and emergency response, and on Democratic campaigns at the national, state, and municipal levels across the country. She has a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

AccessibiliTy & What to Expect

Format: The program will begin with a brief welcome, then the speakers will engage in a presentation and moderated conversation. It will end with an optional Q&A with the audience.  The audience will remain seated for the program.
About the space: This program will take place in Cooper Hewitt’s Lecture Room on the Ground floor of the museum. It is fully wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible restroom on the Ground floor. Read more about  accessibility at Cooper Hewitt.
Accommodations: The program will have live CART captioning. We welcome questions and accommodation requests that support your participation. Email us at CHEducation@si.edu or let us know when you register. Please make your request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least ten days before the program date.