Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) – The second of seven Signature Events for the World Design Capital® Taipei 2016 year, the International Design Gala, is to be held on Friday 18 March.
Preparations are well under way for this prestigious event, which will take place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Two awards will be given on the night: the World Design Impact Prize, and a special award for the Golden Pin Design Award. Both awards bring awareness to projects and products that have been designed with the environment and society in mind, and that have a positive impact on our world.
A panel of nine local and international design industry specialists has chosen four innovative social design projects for the new special annual Golden Pin Award for Social Design. The winner, to be revealed at the Gala, will epitomise design as a tool for solving social problems or challenges and creating a more liveable city. Entries were open to international designers and companies whose products and projects relate to Taipei City.
The winner of the 2015–2016 World Design Impact Prize will also be revealed at this gathering of the local and international design community and presented with a trophy. Designed exclusively for the winner by respected Taiwanese designer Kevin Chou, this one-of-a-kind trophy represents the interconnection of people, society, and the environment.
The three Prize finalists will also have an opportunity to present their projects at a workshop to be held the morning of the Gala. This event will feature Icsid President Dr. Mugendi M’Rithaa and is open to the public on a first-come first-served basis. More information on how to register for the workshop will be provided on the www.wdc2016.taipei website in February.
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 recognise 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. Past cities to hold the WDC title include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, and Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014. Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) holds the title for 2016, and Mexico City was named WDC 2018.