Valencia: World Design Capital 2022
The World Design Organization (WDO)® today announced that Valencia (Spain) has been named World Design Capital®(WDC) 2022 as a result of its longstanding design legacy, which has become a leading example of a city’s effective and strategic use of design on the development of public policy and its impact on industry. Valencia is the eighth city to hold this biennial designation.
According to WDO President and member of the WDC 2020 Selection Committee, Luisa Bocchietto, “Valencia’s bid, articulated a compelling proposal that clearly demonstrates the effective application of Mediterranean design, of design for change and design as a key reference point to improve citizen’s quality of life.” The city’s strategic positioning on the Spanish coast, as well as its well-established design expertise was clearly reflected in its bid and promises to deliver a programme that reflects the city’s aspirations and commitment at local, regional, national and international levels. “We also hope that this designation could motivate other regional and Ibero-American cities to bid for a future WDC cycle,” stated Bocchietto.
Located on the south east of Spain, Valencia is a strategic portal city located on the Mediterranean coast. Their impressive urban infrastructures are directed towards coexisting with the natural and built environment.
With a committed team, a strong municipal support and unprecedented private sector involvement, the bidding entity has everything required for developing a strong programme for 2022. The designation is also a unique opportunity to improve sustainable design approaches at regional and local levels.
Shortlisted candidate Bengaluru (India) also mounted an unprecedented bid with the hopes of using the WDC programme as a platform to increase design integration in the city’s governing practices. Regarding the selection process, WDC Selection Committee member Dr. Anne Stenros stated, “It was a true tale of two cities and an example of the polarization of urban progress that will continue to happen over the course of the next 30 years.” A comparatively new design city with design capabilities still in development, WDO aims to build on Bengaluru’s existing potential to develop its bid into a new pilot programme aimed at emerging cities that aspire to apply design in transformative city projects.
World Design Capital is a biennial designation celebrating cities that use design to improve economic, social and cultural life. Previous designations include Torino (2008), Seoul (2010), Helsinki (2012), Cape Town (2014), and Taipei (2016), Mexico City (2018). Lille Metropole will hold the WDC title in 2020.
About WDO
The World Design Organization (WDO)®, formerly the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1957 to promote the profession of industrial design. WDO advocates industrial design driven innovation that creates a better world, engaging more than 150 member organizations in collaborative efforts and carrying out international programming—World Design Capital®, World Design Talks™, World Design Impact Prize™, World Industrial Design Day™, and Interdesign™. WDO has United Nations Special Consultative Status.
About World Design Capital®
World Design Capital® (WDC), designated every two years by the World Design Organization® (WDO) and is awarded to recognize cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. Through a year-long programme of events, the designated city showcases best practices in sustainable design-led urban policy and innovation that improve quality of life. Previous WDCs include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) in 2016 and Mexico City (Mexico) in 2018. Lille Metropole (France) has been awarded the designation for 2020.
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