Brazil and Mexico battle it out for World Design Capital title
Brazil and Mexico are set to battle it out to host the World Design Capital 2018 after The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) revealed the two countries have been shortlisted for the mantle.
Curitiba (Brazil) and Mexico City were evaluated by the WDC Selection Committee which said both had distinguished themselves by "illustrating the ways in which their citizens have benefitted and will continue to benefit from their city's achievements" in using design for city development.
Curitiba aims to build on its legacy in design and urban planning, developing multidisciplinary and innovative projects that continue to effect positive change, while Mexico City said it would use World Design Capital 2018 help to build bridges from Latin America to the world, promoting international exchanges on design and urban planning.
"The WDC designation showcases design's inextricable role in the solutions economy," said Icsid president and member of the WDC Selection Committee, Mugendi M'Rithaa. "Both Curitiba and Mexico City have demonstrated innovative, design-led city development plans to address urban challenges and create a better world for their citizens."
A series of city visits will now be conducted by the World Design Capital Organising Committee to better assess the capacity of each of the cities to develop and implement a year-long programme of international design-led events.
The winning city will be announced on 18 October 2015 in Gwangju (South Korea) during Icsid's 29th General Assembly.
Previous designations World Design Capital's include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012 and Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014. Taipei will be World Design Capital 2016.