San Diego and Tijuana celebrate a year of design achievements as the first cross-border World Design Capital 2024

San Diego (United States), 18 November 2024 — World Design Capital^® (WDC) San Diego Tijuana 2024 welcomed both local and international visitors last week as part of the World Design Policy Conference, one of three WDC Signature Events that took place in the region from 12-16 November 2024. The events also included the Network of Cities meeting, and Convocation Ceremony that concluded with the title handover to Frankfurt RheinMain as the next World Design Capital in 2026.

Designers, municipal and community leaders from across the United States and Mexico, as well as countries including the Philippines, United Kingdom and Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), were present to explore design-led strategies shaping the future of urban living.

Hosted in collaboration with UC San Diego Design Lab and the City of San Diego, the World Design Policy Conference gathered international design leaders and policy experts under the theme of Beyond Boundaries. Over the course of two days, the conference highlighted contrasting experiences from around the globe and showcased how design has and continues to play a key role in uplifting the vitality of cross-border communities.

“Being the first cross-border World Design Capital has been an incredible honor for San Diego and Tijuana,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Our partnership with our contemporaries in Tijuana is stronger, and the achievements we’ve celebrated this year will continue to inspire collaboration and innovation in our region. We’re grateful for the opportunity to lead by example and highlight the power of design to bring cities closer together.”

“It has been an incredible honour for Tijuana to be recognized as the World Design Capital alongside our sister city San Diego. This designation has provided an extraordinary opportunity to show the world the cross-border collaboration so unique to our region,” said Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño. “It has also provided a platform to celebrate the design talent and achievements of our creative community. I look forward to promoting the creative and cultural industries that strengthen our cultural identity and drive the economic and social growth of our binational region.”

The community also gathered for the WDC Convocation Ceremony to celebrate the region’s achievements as the first binational World Design Capital, and to mark the upcoming transfer of the WDC title from San Diego and Tijuana to Frankfurt RheinMain. The event brought together key government representatives from all three regions, including Mayor Todd Gloria of San Diego, Illya Haro, Director of IMAC (Tijuana’s Municipal Institute of Art and Culture), representing Mayor Ismael Burgueño of Tijuana and Lord Mayor Mike Josef of Frankfurt, who joined the ceremony virtually.

“Being the World Design Capital 2026 has the potential to initiate change in our society. We are looking forward to receiving and carrying on the flame from San Diego and Tijuana,” stated Lord Mayor Josef. “To us, World Design Capital is not just a title: it is a state of mind. Let us design how we want to live.”

The week was punctuated with the Network of Cities meeting, where representatives from past, present and future WDCs and other design-forward cities gathered to discuss the role of design in shaping the future of urban living. A series of interactive sessions explored the impact of WDC legacy programmes, as well as future opportunities for collaboration and design-based solutions to the many civic and environmental challenges faced by cities around the globe.

Reflecting on the week’s activities as “a platform for the exchange of global insights, ideas and best practices”, WDO President Dr. Thomas Garvey stated that “for the first time in WDO’s history, we have had the opportunity to experience the design journey of two cities, united under one World Design Capital. Over the past 300 days or so, we have witnessed the unique cultural, economic and physical ties that define the San Diego Tijuana region and hope the WDC designation will continue to be a beacon that empowers this community in their pursuit of design-led solutions that transcend borders.”

San Diego and Tijuana’s World Design Capital programme will continue through to the end of the year. For more details about the remaining events, visit wdc2024.org.

About World Design Organization

World Design Organization (WDO)^® is an international non-governmental organization and the international voice for industrial design. The organization advocates for Design for a Better World, promoting and sharing knowledge of industrial design-driven innovation that enhances the economic, social, cultural, and environmental quality of life. Today, WDO services over 215 member organizations, representing thousands of industrial designers around the world. wdo.org

About World Design Capital

Designated every two years by the World Design Organization, World Design Capital^® (WDC) 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 have reinvented their city and improved quality of life. Previous WDCs include Torino (Italy) in 2008, followed by 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) jointly hold the designation for 2024, while the region of Frankfurt RheinMain (Germany) will assume the title in 2026. Bids are now being accepted for the 2028 designation. wdo.org/wdc

About World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024

The selection of the San Diego Tijuana joint bid makes it the first cross-border World Design Capital in history. While the designation is for both cities as one connected community, San Diego is the first U.S. city ever to receive the designation. Tijuana is the second city in Mexico to hold the title, following Mexico City in 2018. WDC 2024 has hosted a series of events, exhibitions and summits including six signature events and supported over 300 public events and initiatives that address the region’s most pressing challenges through design, and create a unified force for regional transformation. The region’s designation reflects the collective efforts of founding partners UC San Diego Design Lab, Design Forward Alliance, Burnham Center for Community Advancement, City of San Diego and City of Tijuana, and numerous community supporters. wdc2024.org

About World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026

As a global hub within Europe, Frankfurt RheinMain was designated World Design Capital^® 2026 as a result of their demonstrated commitment to design that is rooted in social cohesion, urban transformation and the empowerment of more democratic futures. Building on years of all-encompassing social transformation in the area, the Frankfurt RheinMain bid was put forth by Design FRM gGmbH under the theme of ‘Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life.’ In 2026, the region is looking to showcase how design can act as a tool for collective good through which citizens can more fully participate in the preservation of democratic spaces. wdc2026.org