Shortlisted Cities Announced
Following deliberations on 17 July 2009, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) announced today on behalf of the members of the WDC Jury that the City of Eindhoven (The Netherlands) and the City of Helsinki (Finland) have been selected for the shortlist of cities that will move on to the next round of evaluation in the hopes of becoming World Design Capital in 2012.
The World Design Capital (WDC) is a biennial designation appointed to cities based on their accomplishments and commitment to design as an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development. Upon careful consideration, these two applications were retained based on their ability to demonstrate their relevancy to the WDC mission and vision.
As the central city in the Brainport region, Eindhoven offers an international stage to promote the design profile, creating new cooperative ventures, projects and innovations that contribute towards a better, more sustainable and caring society.
Helsinki has a vibrant design tradition and design has a key role in the city's strategy.
In August 2009, representatives from Icsid will visit the shortlisted cities to further evaluate the applications. The final jury deliberation will take place in September 2009 in Montreal, Canada. The official announcement of the WDC 2012 designated city will occur during the Icsid World Design Congress in Singapore on 25 November 2009.
www.worlddesigncapital.com
Source: Icsid