Mexico City (Mexico) – Mexico City has now officially joined the network of World Design Capital cities following a signing ceremony held at the Museum of the City of Mexico on Tuesday 8 March.

Dr. Miguel Ángel Mancera Espinosa, Mayor of Mexico City, and Prof. Mugendi M’Rithaa, Icsid President addressed the 300-strong crowd, which included members of the Mexico City government and diplomatic corps, members of the media, as well as representatives of the local and international design community.

WDC Mexico City 2018’s signature colour was also unveiled during the ceremony. Already used as an identifying colour by the Mexico City government, Mexican Pink is a colour seen throughout traditional Mexican clothing and culture. This vivid and saturated tone, similar to magenta, represents well the dynamic and creative nature of the upcoming WDC city.

In addition to the Mayor and Prof. M’Rithaa, the Mexico City Secretary of Tourism Mr. Miguel Torruco Marqués and Design Week Mexico’s Honorary President María Laura Medina de Salinas both addressed the crowd before Director of Design Week Mexico Mr. Emilio Cabrero Higareda took the podium.

From left to right: International Affairs Coordinator for the City of Mexico Mr. Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano, President of Mexico City’s School of Architects Mr. José Luis Cortés Delgado, Mexico City Mayor Dr. Miguel Ángel Mancera Espinosa, and Icsid President Prof. Mugendi M’Rithaa.

Collectively, they noted that the World Design Capital designation presents Mexico City with a global stage to promote their work and achievements. It also enables greater interaction with national and international creative communities, leading to strategic alliances that will allow this megacity to widen the scope and strengthen the legacy of government initiatives.

In his speech, Icsid President Dr. Mugendi M’Rithaa stated: “We at Icsid believe Mexico City has a powerful story to share on the world stage, as a model for other megacities around the world tackling the challenges of urbanization and using design as a tool to ensure a safer, more liveable city.”

The City of Mexico looks forward to leveraging their WDC year to share the diversity of their vibrant creative community. It will be the basis for a deep reflection and allow citizens to search for a new way of thinking—responsible yet without limitations—that considers ideas, creates consent, and grants a new attitude of optimism for the future by improving the human experience in the city. The official theme for WDC Mexico City 2018 will be revealed later this year.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Carla Sofía Elizundia
Mexico Design Week – Director of Communication and Strategic Alliances
t: + 52 55 2591 9491
e: carlasofia@designweekmexico.com

Ms. Augie Van Biljouw
Icsid – Communications Director
t: + 1 514 448 4949 ext. 228
e: avanbiljouw@icsid.org


About World Design Capital® (WDC)

With more than half the world’s population now living in cities, design has become an increasingly fundamental tool for making cities more competitive, attractive, liveable and efficient. The World Design Capital® (WDC) is designated by Icsid every two years to recognize a city’s innovative use of design for economic, social, and cultural development and to showcase effective design-led revitalization strategies and projects that other cities can benefit from. Torino (Italy) was the first WDC in 2008, followed by Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, and now Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) in 2016. Mexico City (Mexico) has been named WDC 2018.

About the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid)

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) founded in 1957 that promotes the profession of industrial design. Icsid recently approved a name change, World Design Organization, to be implemented in 2016 and celebrated during its 60th anniversary in 2017. Icsid advocates industrial design driven innovation that creates a better world, engaging our more than 140 member organizations in collaborative efforts and carrying out international programming—World Design Capital®, World Design Impact Prize, World Industrial Design Day, and Interdesign. Icsid has United Nations Special Consultative Status.