What is WDC2014?

This prestigious status is designated biennially by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to cities that are dedicated to using design for social, cultural and economic development.

The following from the World Design Capital Bid 2014 site:

What is World Design Capital?

The World Design Capital title is awarded bi-annually by the International Council for Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to give global prominence to cities that use design for their social, economic and cultural development. Founded in 1957 and active in 50 countries, ICSID has awarded the World Design Capital designation three times – to Torino, Italy (2008); Seoul, South Korea (2010) and Helsinki, Finland (designated for 2012).

The World Design Capital title is awarded in advance, allowing winning cities sufficient time to plan, develop and promote a year-long programme of World Design Capital-themed events for their designated year.

World Design Capital for 2014 will be announced in October 2011.

Who is coordinating Cape Town’s bid?

Cape Town’s bid to be World Design Capital 2014 forms part of a broader vision to position Cape Town as a leading global city – a hub of creativity, knowledge, innovation and excellence (for further information have a look at the Creative Cape Town Annual 2010) – and to build on the City’s World Cup success.

The City of Cape Town has mandated the Cape Town Partnership, under the auspices of theCreative Cape Town programme, to coordinate Cape Town’s bid on its behalf, both in terms of producing the official bid book, and to ensure widespread support for the bid. Already, a vital network of partners from local and provincial government, creative industry organisations and institutions, academia and the media, as well as local design leaders and citizens from all walks of life, have pledged their support, as demonstrated at Design Indaba 2011.

Why Cape Town for World Design Capital 2014?

Cape Town’s World Design Capital 2014 bid concept, “Live Design, Transform Life”, focuses strongly on socially responsive design.

Our bid recognizes and mobilises Cape Town’s considerable design resources towards addressing the legacies of our City’s apartheid past. It is aimed specifically at dealing with the vast imbalances that exist in our society and is organized into three broad themes: Rebuild Cape Town through community cohesion; Reconnect Cape Town through infrastructural enhancement, and Reposition Cape Town for the knowledge economy.

The global landscape has changed irrevocably in recent years. Devastating economic and natural disasters have had a sobering effect on all aspects of life, including design. There is a growing need for practical design thinking, participatory methods and people-centred solutions to real problems. In this context, Cape Town has much to inspire the world. Ours is a proudly African bid, with the ultimate goal of achieving a sustainable, inclusive and more liveable African city, rooted in the strengths of our people and communities – to ‘Live Design. Transform Life.’

Cape Town’s Design Legacy

The year 2014 represents a significant milestone for Cape Town and South Africa, marking 20 years since we embraced freedom in 1994. For this reason, 2014 will be a momentous year, as we take stock of the challenges and gains of our transformation, and celebrate the achievements of the past two decades, both as a City and as a country.

Since the advent of democracy in 1994, Cape Town has undergone a process of reconstructing and reconnecting a City that had been physically, socially, economically, culturally and emotionally divided for many decades. As part of this City-led process of reunification and transformation, a large number of public and private programmes and projects have, since 1994, been geared towards delivering the type of innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit and successful implementation that will ultimately transcend boundaries to reconnect Cape Town in structure and spirit, for the benefit of all citizens.

In 2010, we proved that we as a City (and a country) are able to compete on a world stage, hosting one of the most successful World Cups in recent years and the first on African soil. The World Cup has provided Cape Town with the backbone of significant infrastructural enhancements and a renewed sense of civic pride. Our aim is to build on this legacy through our World Design Capital 2014 bid, to celebrate our successes and showcase them on a world stage.

Cape Town’s World Design Capital 2014 Countdown

Cape Town’s 465-page World Design Capital 2014 bid book was officially handed over to City of Cape Town Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, on 30 March 2011, a day before the formal ICSID submission deadline of 31 March 2011.

In July 2011, 3 shortlisted cities for the World Design Capital 2014 title will be announced, followed by an ICSID site visit to each of these cities in August 2011 and the announcement of the winning city in October 2011.