World Design Capital® (WDC), designated every two years by the World Design Organization® (WDO), recognizes 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, Mexico City (Mexico) in 2018, Lille Metropole (France) in 2020 and Valencia (Spain) in 2022. The cities of San Diego (USA) and Tijuana (Mexico) will jointly hold designation in 2024, while the region of Frankfurt RheinMain (Germany) will assume the title in 2026.
Is your city or design community thinking about applying for WDC? The bid process for World Design Capital 2028 is now underway until 28 February 2025. Download the application form now to get started on your WDC journey.
