The World Design Capital 2014 judges will be welcomed in Cape Town next week, from 24 to 26 July, on an official visit. They will be exploring the city as part of the final selection process, when Cape Town will be assessed alongside two other short-listed cities, Bilbao in Spain and Dublin in Ireland, for the 2014 title.
The judges will be keeping a low profile on their whirlwind tour of several sites and significant design-led projects. Says host and Cape Town Partnership MD Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, “This is a big moment for Africa – being the first time that a city from the continent has made it through as a finalist for World Design Capital.
“We hope to inspire the judges with our innovation, passion and humanity. Cape Town has an important story to be told; the tale of a city that is using design to overcome our historic problems of disconnection, inequality and urban sprawl to create a more inclusive and liveable city for all citizens. Our bid theme is ‘Live Design. Transform Life’ and we will be demonstrating to the judges how Africa is leading the way when it comes to socially responsive design. ”
As part of a full city welcome, Cape Town will decked out in celebratory yellow – the official colour of the city’s World Design Capital campaign – starting with Table Mountain. Watch the mountain glow, for the first time ever in yellow light, from 18h00 on the night of Wednesday 20 July. The trunks of 100 trees in Heerengracht Street will be wrapped in World Design Capital colours, and a fleet of Green Cabs’ low carbon emission vehicles will be going temporarily yellow, as they ferry the judges around town.
Join Cape Town by flying your World Design Capital colours and go yellow wherever you are:
Visit www.capetown2014.co.za, download your World Design Capital button, and use it in the spirit of the city’s bid – on your email signature, your company website, your personal blog. Then join the Cape Town for World Design Capital 2014 group on Facebook and the Creative Cape Town Twitter feed.
Cape Town will know in October 2011 whether it has been named World Design Capital 2014, an accolade that brings with it international exposure, creative exchange and further development through design.
ENDS
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ABOUT THE WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL
The World Design Capital title is awarded bi-annually by the International Council for Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to give global prominence to cities that use design for their social, economic and cultural development. Founded in 1957 and active in 50 countries, ICSID has awarded the World Design Capital designation three times – to Torino, Italy (2008); Seoul, South Korea (2010) and Helsinki, Finland (designated for 2012). The World Design Capital title is awarded in advance, allowing winning cities sufficient time to plan, develop and promote a year-long programme of World Design Capital-themed events for their designated year. World Design Capital for 2014 will be announced in October 2011.
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Shafeeka Anthony
RABBIT IN A HAT COMMUNICATIONS
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