The first of many World Design Capital (WDC) 2014 events kicks off on Wednesday, 18 September 2013, with the City of Cape Town promoting Cape Town as the WDC2014 to the global design audience at the Design Week Forum in London.
Cape Town will assume the coveted title in just over 100 days and the world’s media and global creative community will turn their gaze to the city over the next 18 months, starting with the event in London.
“The WDC designation is an opportunity to improve the lives of all Capetonians. The City is using the WDC status to help residents re-imagine their communities by hosting co-design workshops, covering all 111 Wards across the city,” says Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Councillor Grant Pascoe.
To date, successful pilot co-design workshops have been held in Mitchells Plain, Hanover Park, Durbanville and the Bo-Kaap, and 34 more workshops – 10 between this month and November, and 24 next year – are being scheduled at various venues across the city.
“Design can change the way people live in Cape Town and address the challenges we have
in sustainable and innovative ways. People can use design to change the way they live,
the way schools and clinics are built, and how and where new development takes place,”
says Cllr Pascoe.
The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) actively encourages World Design Capital cities to interpret the designation to be relevant within their own contexts.
“Cape Town will bring its unique vision to the project using WDC2014 as an opportunity to harness the problem-solving powers of design and designers, and the creativity and resourcefulness of communities, to transform the city into one of the most inclusive, sustainable and productive cities on the African continent,” says Cllr Pascoe.
The second signature event will be the New Year’s Eve of Design, planned for the Grand
Parade on Tuesday, 31 December 2013, which will mark the official launch of Cape Town’s WDC programme.
Other events next year include a Design Gala in February, a Design Policy Conference focusing on Africa, as well as a Design House Exhibition, which will see international exhibitors showcase the best designs from their cities, in November.
To round off the year’s events, a Convocation Ceremony – a symbolic event highlighting the official “hand-over” of the WDC title from Cape Town to the next host city in 2016 – will be held in December 2014.
Alongside the signature events, Cape Town Design and the City will implement a public engagement programme which is to be finalised and announced in November.
