World Design Protopolis (WDP)™ supports the creation of solutions-based design projects to address key development issues globally. The programme empowers a selected city or community with the design knowledge and resources required to initiate targeted and transformational projects that improve civic quality of life. 

Derived from the idea of prototyping a metropolis, the term Protopolis was first introduced as part of the City of Bengaluru’s 2019 bid for World Design Capital®. With the goal of making design methodologies more accessible across a variety of social and economic contexts, the programme supports cities with both established and developing design acumen to implement projects that:

Use design as a driver for positive change within a community, neighbourhood or borough

Align with one or many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

Engage methods and resources to measure the increase of civic well-being

World Design Protopolis projects can vary in both duration and scope depending on the challenges to be explored, but in each case, the Protopolis platform connects a city with local, national and international partners to facilitate the transfer of design knowledge that has the power to improve the long-term well-being of a city and its citizens.

The pilot World Design Protopolis project will take place in Bengaluru (India) from 2023 to 2028.

Read the press release 

Get in touch

For more information about World Design Protopolis, please contact:

Eric Lauwers
WDO Programmes Manager

eric@wdo.org