Above: Finnish delegation, including Mr Jussi Pajunen, Mayor, City of Helsinki and Mrs Marketta Kokkonen, Mayor, City of Espoo following the announcement in Singapore

For the City of Helsinki, design has for decades been a pivotal enabler to building an open city. The concept of 'Embedded Design' has tied design to innovation and has enabled desirable solutions that have addressed the needs of its inhabitants. Helsinki Design is also part of world design - it is created together with the international design community and the people of the world.

Mr. Jussi Pajunen, Mayor of the City of Helsinki stated, "The decision to designate Helsinki as WDC 2012 brings great responsibility and we accept this title with an open mind and with great enthusiasm. It is an important accomplishment for the metropolitan region, as well as for Finland and will be celebrated with the consortium of municipalities and partners that supported our bid."

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