Well done Cape Town - now how can we capitalise on this?

26 Oct 2011

Minister Paul Mashatile congratulates Cape Town for having achieved the Designer City Award for 2014


After hearing the announcement this morning, I wish to congratulate the City of Cape Town on achieving the Designer City of the Year Award for 2014. We are honoured that Cape Town is the first city in Africa to achieve this Award, said Minister Paul Mashatile.

In 2014 selection of World Design Capital will be the fourth appointment by International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, a partner of International Design Alliance, of this biennial designation to a city, in recognition of its accomplishments in using design as a catalyst for development and reinvention, as well as for improving its social, cultural and economic environments.

Cape Town’s unique visions for how design will continue to reinvent its urban landscape were submitted together with its entry. This city demonstrated that it possessed the expertise, infrastructure and financial capabilities to successfully develop and implement an inspiring year long programme of international design related events, promoting design, as well as their city, on an international stage; and finally, illustrated how it’s citizens have and will continue to benefit from their city’s achievements in design.

Helsinki, in Finland, celebrates Designer City of the Year 2012. Cape Town won against two finalists, Dublin, in Ireland and Bilbao, in Spain. There were fifty-six cities in the world that participated.

“This is indeed an achievement for all of us as South Africans and especially for the culturally vibrant and resilient people of this beautiful and cosmopolitan South African city that is nestled between a mountain and the sea. May this announcement reinvigorate the creative sector of Cape Town with a new energy and allow the creative economy to bring tangible benefits to designers, artists and the people of Cape Town and beyond” said Minister Mashatile.

As World Design Capital 2014, Cape Town will be host to a number of prestigious design-related events and conferences organised by the World Design Capital and the local committee.