Cape Town finalist in World Design Capital 2014

The title is awarded biennially by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to cities that are dedicated to using design for social, cultural and economic development. Cape Town is the first city in Africa to come this close.

The Cape Town Partnership was given the mandate by the City of Cape Town to compile a bid for World Design Capital 2014. MD of the Cape Town Partnership, Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, said, "Just as the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a coup for Africa, this is a significant moment for the continent. Being short-listed is an opportunity to change perceptions and to position Cape Town, South Africa and Africa for the knowledge economy. The year 2014 also marks the anniversary of two decades of democracy in South Africa and winning the designation would be particularly significant for us."

The Cape Town Partnership and the city of Cape Town will now host a delegation of World Design Capital 2014 judges in the city towards the end of July 2011. An important stage in the process, this is when the content of the Bid Book and the city's priorities, in terms of design as a tool for social transformation, will tread its proving ground.

City behind bid

The executive mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Patricia de Lille, commented on the importance of the World Design Capital accolade. "It is an honour to be short listed and we are proud of our involvement in the bid with the Cape Town Partnership. The city is committed to exploring new and innovative ways not only to deliver basic services to all, especially the poor, but also to position ourselves as a hub of opportunity.

"This administration has placed design and planning strategies at the centre of our mission to improve the lives of our citizens. In so doing, we will ensure that we include everyone in the future of our metro by providing them with new opportunities. The exposure that we will receive from this short listing will help position us in marketing ourselves as an inclusive city of the future, not only domestically but to the rest of the world as well."

At a handover ceremony of the World Design Capital 2014 Bid Book from city to provincial hands, de Lille said, "We are building an inclusive city, one based around five pillars: the opportunity city, the safe city, the caring city, the inclusive city and the efficient city. Design is a tool for all of these areas of transformation. It is able to inform us as to how we can best provide employment and upliftment to improve the quality of life of our citizens."

Design leads to new brand

The announcement is pivotal for Cape Town's reputation as a destination that has adopted design for transformation and social cohesion. There is a strong connection between good design and a city's economic growth, development and social inclusion program. Well-designed cities are best placed to address issues of competitiveness, climate change, growth, social cohesion and mobility. Design as a principle for changing lives began with the end of apartheid and, increasingly, has become a guiding philosophy in the repositioning of Cape Town as a sustainable city, committed to a journey to improve the quality of life for all its citizens.

Makalima-Ngewana explained that Cape Town is working towards a new brand position as a destination that is open for business, as well as leisure. "We are more than just a leisure destination; Cape Town is a place where innovation, creativity and inspiration meet."

With predecessors such as Seoul, Korea (2010) and Helsinki, Finland (2012), proving that design can in fact transform lives, Cape Town's status as a top three contender shifts the city onto a new world platform and into a new era.

The creation of the World Design Capital Bid has, in itself, succeeded in putting design firmly on the city development agenda through identifying numerous tangible examples of how design-led interventions and planning can have a positive impact on lives.

Cape Town Tourism ready

CEO of Cape Town Tourism, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold says, "This is a significant moment for Cape Town. Our short listing is an acknowledgement that design is an asset and a massive catalyst to align different sectors across the city with the ultimate goal of making Cape Town a more liveable city.

Many people associate Cape Town with our beautiful natural surrounds but design and innovation is leading the way for us to become a city that people are increasingly choosing to explore and discover from an urban context. More than half the world's population lives in cities and urban tourism dominates the international tourism landscape; over 70% of international tourism spend occurs in urban areas. Cities are incubators of innovation and ideas, epicentres of modern, living culture.

Design is increasingly becoming a fundamental tool to ensure that Cape Town is more competitive, liveable and efficient. Cape Town's position as innovation hub sets us apart from any other South African and African city. As Cape Town moves into the future, we are convinced that it will become an ever more exciting place to live in, work in and visit.

"Design is one of the fundamental pillars of the positioning of Cape Town as a place of inspiration. As with the World Cup, the bid process has given us a common platform to elevate Cape Town's place on the world's stage. We urge all Capetonians to get behind the bid. Citizen support and ownership will be key to the success of our bid. "

Political support

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille congratulated the City of Cape Town for being short-listed. "If we win the World Design Capital 2014 title it will be great for South Africa. It will help build Cape Town and the rest of the province's profile as a leading centre of creativity. Our creative industries have become a sector with great potential, which is why we are currently developing the Cape Town Innovation District that will showcase and foster design excellence in the future. We wish the City well for the final stage of the competition. Winning this title will help drive economic growth and job creation, which is one of the provincial government's most important strategic objectives."

"Winning the World Design Capital 2014 title will be an even bigger opportunity than hosting the World Cup because we will have a whole year in the global spotlight. Now we need the support and enthusiasm of Capetonians, South Africans and Africans to take us through to the title," said Makalima-Ngewana.

Support the bid

The Cape Town Partnership has asked that supporters "make a designerly noise" in the run up to the final stages. A digital supporter button can be downloaded on www.capetown2014.co.za

Extracts from the Cape Town World Design Capital 2014 Bid Book are available on www.capetown2014.co.za and case studies for design in Cape Town can be viewed at http://www.capetown2014.co.za/gallery/

Other platforms for support include a Facebook page: Cape Town for World Design Capital or a Twitter feed: CreativeCT