Taipei has been selected as the 2016 World Design Capital (WDC). Taipei is the fifth city to receive the accolade following Torino (2008), Seoul (2010), Helsinki (2012) and Cape Town (2014).
"In the process of bidding for WDC, we have discovered that embedding design into our city's governance is gradually changing the face and the thinking of Taipei, and enhancing the quality of our service to our citizens," stated Deputy Mayor Mr. Hsiungwen Chen.
Every city has its own unique character, and Taipei is no exception. In just 50 years, the City of Taipei has reinvigorated its urban landscape to include a sophisticated transit system, specialised medical care and a bustling cultural infrastructure. Under the theme 'Adaptive City - Design in Motion,' Taipei will demonstrate why cities must be able to adapt to meet citizen's demands. Throughout its history, whether willingly or reluctantly, Taipei has constantly been in a state of change, which can be attributed to its success as the political, economic, cultural, and technological center of Taiwan.
The World Design Capital is an initiative established and managed by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.