The World Design Capital® (WDC) project is
a biennial international designation created to identify and recognise
cities that have effectively used design to revive the city and improve
its quality of life.
Under the direction of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), the WDC will promote the importance of good design strengthening and empowering cities to use design to position their competitive advantages from a social, cultural and economic point of view.
World Design Capital Torino 2008
As the first municipality to hold the title, the City of Torino officially accepted the designation as the 2008 Pilot Project for the WDC competition.
Find out more about World Design Capital Torino 2008.
World Design Capital Seoul 2010
During the Icsid Congress in San Francisco in October 2007, the City of Seoul was officially announced as the winner of the WDC 2010 designation. A programme of events will be delivered throughout the 2010 calendar year.
Find out more about World Design Capital Seoul 2010.
World Design Capital Helsinki 2012
Appointed as the third city to hold the WDC designation in 2012, the City of Helsinki has for decades leveraged design as 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.
Find out more about World Design Capital Helsinki 2012.
The bid process
The
World Design Capital designation is not reserved to national capitals.
All cities are encouraged to participate in the call for entry for the
2014 designation, which will be launched in the Fall of 2010.
There are many benefits for cities to become a World Design Capital. The list includes:
Under the direction of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), the WDC will promote the importance of good design strengthening and empowering cities to use design to position their competitive advantages from a social, cultural and economic point of view.
World Design Capital Torino 2008
As the first municipality to hold the title, the City of Torino officially accepted the designation as the 2008 Pilot Project for the WDC competition.
Find out more about World Design Capital Torino 2008.
World Design Capital Seoul 2010
During the Icsid Congress in San Francisco in October 2007, the City of Seoul was officially announced as the winner of the WDC 2010 designation. A programme of events will be delivered throughout the 2010 calendar year.
Find out more about World Design Capital Seoul 2010.
World Design Capital Helsinki 2012
Appointed as the third city to hold the WDC designation in 2012, the City of Helsinki has for decades leveraged design as 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.
Find out more about World Design Capital Helsinki 2012.
The bid process
The
World Design Capital designation is not reserved to national capitals.
All cities are encouraged to participate in the call for entry for the
2014 designation, which will be launched in the Fall of 2010.There are many benefits for cities to become a World Design Capital. The list includes:
- Gaining visibility as a creative city
- Attracting investors and creative people
- Strengthening economic development
- Positioning itself as a leading city of design
- Improving the quality of life within the city
- Building a global image
- Taking part in an international network of design
The
application process will require each city to highlight the importance
of design and collaborate with local, national and international
partners to promote local design activities to a global audience for a
period of one year.
Visit the World Design Capital website to find out more about the bid process.
Visit the World Design Capital website to find out more about the bid process.