SD/TJ - World Design Capital 2024?

Every two years a city is selected to be designated the World Design Capital® (WDC), by the World Design Organization™ The WDO recognizes cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. Through a year-long program of events, the designated city showcases best practices in sustainable design-led urban policy and innovation innovation that improve quality of life. Previous WDCs include Torino, Seoul, Helsinki, Cape Town, Taipei and Mexico City. Lille France holds the title for 2020 and Valencia has been awarded the designation for 2022.

San Diego / Tijuana have been shortlisted along with Moscow for the 2024 designation. Our 300 page comprehensive proposal, led by Maelin Levine and The Design Forward Alliance, highlighted the unique challenges and innovations present when two major cities with different cultures share a common border. As an AIGA/SD founder and small contributor to the bid proposal, I’m tracking the final decision closely. A WDC designation gives the SD/TJ region an opportunity to update the world on the significance of design and culture in the region. Stay tuned! View the first Binational World Design Capital bid video here.