WDC Helsinki 2012 Has Published Its Program

Every other year, one city is selected the World Design Capital by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). Only two other cities, Torino (2008) and Seoul (2010), have previously held the title. World Design Capital 2014 will be Cape Town. In 2012, the design capital of the world is Helsinki, together with four other Finnish cities: Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, and Lahti.

The program for the upcoming year has now been published.

Part of the program, under the themes Changing City and New Solutions, is comprised of developmental projects, in which various forms of design will be used to a broad extent. The other part of the program, which is geared toward both citizens and tourists, include open cultural events, some 250 projects, and approximately one hundred exhibitions.

ICSID's justification for the choice of the world's design capital is that the chosen city makes exemplary use of design toward cultural, social, and economic development. The goal of the year is to develop that city through design, to inspire everybody to participate in improving their own environment, and to demonstrate the possibilities of design in enhancing the common well-being.

The opening celebrations of the Design Capital year will take place on Senate Square, Helsinki on New Year's Eve December 31st, 2011. The evening is hosted by the Mayor of Helsinki, Jussi Pajunen, and the high point of the festivities is the Cathedral coming alive with special lighting.

World Design Capital 2012 Helsinki is on Facebook and Twitter:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=203027634578&v=wall
http://twitter.com/#!/wdchelsinki2012 (@wdchelsinki2012)
Their website: http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/en

© Photo Copyright Valtteri Hirvonen - Lauri Eriksson Company.