“At a symbolic handover of the World Design Capital 2014 bid book from Cape Town Mayor, Patricia de Lille to Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, on Monday 13 June 2011, the Mayor said; “We are building an inclusive city, one based around five pillars: the opportunity city, the safe city, the caring city, the inclusive city and the efficient city. Design is a tool for all of these areas of building a truly inclusive city. It is able to inform us as to how we can best provide employment and upliftment to improve the quality of life of our citizens.”
Cape Town will know by 21 June 2011 whether the city has been shortlisted as one of the top three contenders for the title of World Design Capital 2014. A record 53 cities from 24 countries are in the running, and Cape Town’s bid is particularly significant in that it is the first by an African city.
The World Design Capital bears a prestigious status. The title is designated biennially by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (CSID) to cities that are dedicated to using design for social, cultural and economic development. The World Design Capital designation gives the winning city a global focus, both in the lead up to and during a year-long programme of design-led events.
It’s fitting that the World Design Capital 2014 short list will be announced in the month that marks the first anniversary of the 2010 World Cup. Just as with the World Cup, the World Design Capital accolade promises to boost citizen pride and transform perceptions of the city, country and continent. Says Managing Director of the Cape Town Partnership, Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana; “A win for Cape Town is a win for Africa. An international spotlight on Cape Town’s contribution will highlight Africa’s contribution to cutting edge transformative design and will also pique the interest of the international design community, allowing us to play host to the world, yet again.”
The bid process has already enhanced Cape Town’s reputation as a destination that has adopted design for transformation and social cohesion. Design as a principle for changing lives began with the end of apartheid and, increasingly, has become a guiding philosophy in the repositioning of Cape Town as a sustainable city; committed to a journey to improve the quality of life for all its citizens.
At a symbolic handover of the World Design Capital 2014 bid book from Cape Town Mayor, Patricia de Lille to Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, on Monday 13 June 2011, the Mayor said; “We are building an inclusive city, one based around five pillars: the opportunity city, the safe city, the caring city, the inclusive city and the efficient city. Design is a tool for all of these areas of building a truly inclusive city. It is able to inform us as to how we can best provide employment and upliftment to improve the quality of life of our citizens.”
The Cape Town Partnership was given the mandate by the City of Cape Town to coordinate the bid for World Design Capital 2014. Says Cape Town Partnership Managing Director Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, “The creation of the World Design Capital Bid has, of itself, succeeded in putting design firmly on the City Development Agenda through clear and tangible examples of how design-led interventions and planning can have a positive impact on lives. Design also has an essential role to play in positioning Cape Town for the knowledge economy.”
Makalima-Ngewana explained that Cape Town is working towards a new brand position as a destination that is open for business, as well as leisure. “We are more than a leisure destination; Cape Town is a place where innovation, creativity and inspiration meet.”
With predecessors such as Seoul, Korea (2010) and Helsinki, Finland (2012 reaping significant benefits from their World Design Capital status, Cape Town’s short-listing as a top three contender would shift the city onto a new world platform and into a new era. The World Design Cpital2014 short list will be announced on 21 June 2011.
The public is invited to get behind the World Design Capital Bid by downloading a supporter button from the website www.capetown2014.co.za and joining the Facebook fan page ‘Cape Town for World Design Capital’.
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[...] by an African city and we are running against 53 cities from 24 countries. To show your support download the button, or wear one. With each PPC CEment Laptop Bag purchased from the Wren Design from next month you [...]
[...] by an African city and we are running against 53 cities from 24 countries. To show your support download the button, or wear one. With each PPC CEment Laptop Bag purchased from the Wren Design from next month you [...]