COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 13, 2010

HEADED ITEM NO. 13

HEADED ITEM: E. Conroy, Abe Jacob

REPLY:

WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL 2014 Bid

World Design Capital is a biennial designation awarded on foot of a competition held by The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID), www.worlddesigncapital.com.

The inaugural WDC was Turin in 2008, Seoul is this year’s capital and Helsinki will be WDC in 2012. The winning city hosts a programme of events over the course of the year. The award is not a ‘status’ designator but a recognition of innovative cities that have most effectively and creatively used design as a tool for social, cultural and economic progress.

A call for bids for 2014 is expected in the coming months (likely in November based on previous years) with a submission date likely to be required in March 2011. Making a bid for this designation would have significant benefits for Dublin– not only through winning the designation but through the work which would need to be done in order to make a credible bid. While a bid would formally be submitted by the four Dublin local authorities, it is clear that the bid will involve the co-ordination of inputs from a range of stakeholders to make a compelling and well-designed submission.

 In advance of a public launch, the various elements of the city region’s design professions were consulted and a series of workshops was held across the four local authorities. There was an extremely positive response. The outcome of this process concluded that making a bid for this designation would have significant benefits for Dublin.

Dublin would benefit from the bid preparation in itself regardless of outcome through building the city’s design capacity and infrastructure, raising awareness of the potential of design to drive innovation and communicating the value of good design.  Dublin is neither recognised as a centre for world-class design nor can it claim to be. However, it has the ambition, imagination and resources to become one. Dublin’s bid must incorporate a bid strategy that is unique yet authentic to Dublin.   It must also be pragmatic.  This means accepting that we have much to learn but also realising that we have much to give. 

 The attached document gives details of the bid, the process do far and the next steps. The bid requires to be supported by Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council.