Cape Town (South Africa) – The Design Gala, a WDC Cape Town 2014 Signature event takes place on Friday, 28 February 2014 in the world-class setting of the Guild Fair, where the bi-annual winner of the World Design Impact Prize 2013-2014 for design will be announced before a prestigious audience comprising international and local dignitaries.

The highly anticipated WDC Design Gala is one of six signature events that Cape Town Design NPC will host as part of the programme for World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 (WDC 2014). Celebrated chef Reuben Riffel will prepare the “designer feast” for the evening and the guests will be seated amongst the beautiful collectibles of the international artists and galleries that will be part of the Guild Fair (#WDC219).

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) awards the World Design Impact prize every two years as part of the World Design Capital programme in the designated city at the time.

In a move to celebrate local designers and design-thinking during Cape Town′s year of being the World Design Capital, the trophy which will be handed to the winner on the evening was modelled on the now famous “dolosse” which was designed by East London draughtsman Aubrey Kruger in 1966 to protect the harbour breakwater from stormy seas. Harbour engineer, Eric Merrifield liked the concept and design and it was further developed, cast in concrete and successfully placed along the seaward edge of the breakwater.

Local design gallery Bronze Age, in collaboration with Porky Hefer, was tasked to create a trophy that would show off the dolos design and after some initial challenges on how best to represent the unique shape of the dolos, were more than pleased with the finished product. The trophy features a cluster of six dolosse; one will be attached to the base, the others will be loose to allow for dynamic change in the overall design.

Launch of Western Cape Design Awards

The Design Gala will also see the launch of the Western Cape Design Awards, set to become an annual feature on the local events calendar and part of the legacy for WDC 2014. Emanating from the Western Cape Design Strategy (#WDC303), the  “… by DESIGN” Awards will provide for a range of categories that recognise excellence, reward innovation, stimulate change and encourage development in South Africa through concerted application of design processes.

The Awards will be categorised as follows:

  • INNOVATE – using materials and technology in new ways
  • TRANSFORM – quality of life
  • SUSTAIN – our resources with green and clean product life cycles
  • COLLABORATE | through partnerships that generate interesting solution
  • TALENT | is developed through smart educational tools
  • EXPAND | our economy by growing local production and exports
  • INSPIRE | new kids on the block

Nominations will open on 1 August and close on 31 October 2014, with the inaugural awards taking place in February 2015.

For more information about WDC 2014 please visit www.wdc14.com or contact:

Natalie Dutil,
Icsid Communications Officer
t: + 1 514 448 4949 ext. 223
e: ndutil@icsid.org

Priscilla Urquhart
PR and Media Manager WDC 2014
e: Priscilla@wdccapetown2014.com

WDC Cape Town 2014 Press Office
e: WDC2014@Eclipsepr.co.za

About World Design Capital® (WDC)

While there are many awards that recognise individual accomplishments in design, the World Design Capital designation is unique as it aims to focus on the broader essence of design’s impact on urban spaces, economies and citizens. The designation provides a distinctive opportunity for cities to feature their accomplishments in attracting and promoting innovative design, as well as highlight their successes in urban revitalisation strategies. The World Design Capital is an initiative established and managed by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design. Past cities to hold the title include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010 and Helsinki (Finland) in 2102 whilst preparations for Cape Town (South Africa) are underway for 2014. 

About the World Design Impact Prize

The World Design Impact Prize is a biennial award whose objective is to elevate industrial design driven projects that are producing examples of best practices that are socially responsible and yield a positive impact on quality of life.

An initiative of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), the biennial award builds on Icsid’s vision of “designing for a better world”, by encouraging initiatives that are pushing the boundaries of design in general and industrial design in particular by incorporating human-centred research, design thinking and co-design lenses into their projects. By recognising and empowering grassroots projects that utilise emerging practices such as social entrepreneurship, micro-financing, eco-design, and designing for the bottom of the pyramid, the World Design Impact Prize stimulates discussions around design policy, reverse innovation, universal design, and designing for resilience. Projects that use design and/or design thinking to make a positive impact on our social, economic, cultural and/or environmental quality of life that fit the Prize criteria have been nominated by Icsid Members and can be viewed at 

About Cape Town Design NPC

Cape Town Design NPC is the implementation company of World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 appointed by the City of Cape Town. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, the implementation company is responsible for ensuring the requirements of the WDC 2014 host city agreements are met, and that the programme delivery is aligned with the vision of bridging historic divides and repositioning the city for a sustainable, inclusive future through design.