World Design Capital

Location: International

Website: www.worlddesigncapital.com

Since its inception in 1957, Icsid has strived to increase the social significance of design in an attempt to influence global leaders to recognise the various merits of design. In support of this mandate, the initial concept for the World Design Capital initiative was first introduced to the Icsid Executive Board with the ambitious, yet imperative goal to impress upon cities, the importance and recognition of design as a leading development tool.

With the intent to identify and develop a project of international appeal that would leverage global collaboration and advocacy for design, Icsid worked towards the development of this initiative, in the hopes that it would facilitate interaction among the global design networks and would provide governments with a platform not only to raise the global awareness of design, but more importantly, to showcase the importance of design as an actor to enhance social, cultural, economic and environmental quality of life.

By exemplifying and honouring those cities that strive towards a common goal – to communicate the prolific and important role of design as a social and cultural stimulator, as well as depict how design has been used as a viable tool for economic growth – the WDC designation’s primary objective was established.

The evolution of the creative industries, their impact and contributions to the global economy, have helped Icsid to position the WDC project as an outlet for design to be recognised as a significant accelerator in city development.

By mobilising an entire city to advocate on behalf of the creative industries, we can engage the world in a dialogue that truly helps us to accomplish our goal to recognise the impact of design on quality of life.

With more than half the world’s population now living in urban areas, cities are facing dramatic changes in how they adapt to their rising populations and effectively provide for the businesses that feed their economic growth. The future success of each city is therefore largely reliant on those who plan, design and manage the shared spaces and functions of their city.

Design has therefore become an increasingly fundamental tool in all levels of public and private development. For cities, design is at their very core and is utilised in business, with citizens, as well as in government to make cities more attractive, more liveable and more efficient.

The World Design Capital is a city promotion project that celebrates the merits of design. Held biennially, it seeks to highlight the accomplishments of cities that are truly leveraging design as a tool to improve the social, cultural and economic life of cities, throughout a yearlong programme of design-related events.

The WDC project seeks to maximise opportunities arising from multidisciplinary design collaboration. As such, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) leads the World Design Capital programme in a major step for the global design community. Through the WDC, Icsid aims to:

- Recognise innovative cities for the use of design as an effective tool for social, cultural, environmental and economic development,

- Showcase a designated city and its achievements on the international forum,

- Promote global understanding of design as an economic development tool,

- Create an international network where cities and municipalities can learn and share innovative design programmes and strategies,

- Present international examples for enhancing economic growth, innovation, public safety, quality of life and social interactions,

- Promote outstanding education and research institutions in the field of design, and

- Share municipal design-led project between developed countries and emerging economies.