Helsinki takes over the World Design Capital mantle

The World Design Capital mantle was officially transferred to Helsinki on Wednesday, December 8, at a ceremony organized in Seoul and presided over by Oh Se-hoon, the Mayor of Seoul. Accepting a plaque symbolizing the mantle were Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen and Lahti Mayor Jyrki Myllyvirta on behalf of all five participating cities (Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, in addition to Helsinki and Lahti).

Seoul has been World Design Capital for the year 2010, so designated by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid). Helsinki will hold the title in 2012.

The ceremony in Seoul was preceded by a conference that examined the results and effects of the World Design Capital year on Seoul’s social, cultural and economic development. Through the use of design, Seoul is striving to reinvent itself as a new type of city – one that emphasizes the quality and content of life and where the problems arising from, for example, population growth and traffic can be reliably solved.

The World Design Capital title is conferred by Icsid to one city every two years for merits in using design for social, cultural and economic advancement. The designated city sets a global example of broad-based utilization of design in society and acts as a meeting place for the global design community.

International Design Foundation, the management organization for World Design Capital Helsinki 2012, is currently compiling the programme for Helsinki’s Design Year. Anyone can make proposals for programme items at the project’s website www.wdchelsinki2012.fi.