Dublin has been shortlisted to become World Design Capital 2014, now competing with only two other cities – Bilbao and Cape Town – for the designation.
The winning city will be announced this autumn.
The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) announced the shortlist today.
The prestigious designation is awarded biannually to cities that use design to benefit people socially, culturally and economically.
The Dublin bid showcases Irish designers at home and abroad; working across established design disciplines such as product, fashion, architecture, graphic design, animation, film, gaming and interaction design.
A successful World Design Capital designation for Dublin could provide a legacy of significant job opportunities, as the design sector is growing rapidly.
Dublin’s bid, ‘Pivot Dublin – Turn Design Inside Out’ is supported by the Irish Government as an opportunity to retrieve Ireland’s international reputation and to engage with and embed the idea of good design with Dublin and Ireland to benefit everyone socially, culturally and economically.
“Dublin is honoured to be one of the three cities shortlisted for World Design Capital 2014,” said Lord Mayor of Dublin, Gerry Breen.
“On behalf of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin and Fingal County Councils and Dublin City Council, I welcome the opportunities the World Design Capital project will give us. Our bid celebrates ambiguity, diversity and difference and tells a story of a city where there is much talent, a solid tradition of great Irish design and a vibrant informal design scene. We look forward to sharing that experience with the world – come what may – now, in 2014 and beyond.”
Cities who have hosted WDC are Turin in 2008 and Seoul in 2010. Turin received more visitors in 2008 than when it hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics.
