Sergio Cereda’s Design Legacy Highlighted at MIDO as Emerging Eyewear Designers Take the Stage

Wednesday, February 4 2026 | 07 h 26 min | News

In early February, MIDO once again served as a global platform for emerging design talent, as the Sergio Cereda Eyewear Design Award 2026 was presented on the Vision Stage in Milan.

Held in the lead-up to Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympics, the award ceremony brought together students, educators, industry leaders, and international media to showcase sports-inspired eyewear concepts developed by design students from Italy, Germany, and the United States. This year’s brief challenged participants to explore the intersection of sport, movement, performance, and design, reflecting both the cultural moment and the evolving role of technical innovation in eyewear.

Founded by Harvey Ross and supported by MIDO, the Viva Ross Family Foundation, and the Cereda Family, the award was created to preserve and extend the design philosophy of the late Sergio Cereda, whose work was widely recognized for bridging creative vision with real-world manufacturing expertise.

Award Recipients and Finalists

The 2026 Grand Prize was awarded to Giada Tosana of LABA | Libera Accademia di Belle Arti di Brescia, followed by Elisa Albertini (second prize) from the same institution, and Mahra Mustafa of Istituto Marangoni Milano (third prize). Two Special Recognition Awards were also presented to Megan Broad Merkel (Savannah College of Art and Design, USA) and Alessio Accardi (IED Torino), selected for creativity and written submissions.

Designs were evaluated by an international jury that included Lorraine Berton, David Friedfeld, Giovanni Vitaloni, and representatives of the Cereda family, among other industry leaders.

The Sergio Cereda Eyewear Design Archive

A key element of the ceremony was renewed attention on the Sergio Cereda Eyewear Design Archive in Varese, Italy. Housed in Cereda’s former design studio, the archive preserves original sketches, prototypes, and conceptual work, and serves as an educational resource for students, designers, and brands seeking insight into design grounded in manufacturing realities.

Applications for the next Sergio Cereda Eyewear Design Award cycle are expected to open in April 2026.

Click HERE for the press release.

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