The World Design Organization has today announced Valencia (Spain) as the 2022 World Design Capital. Valencia is the eighth city to hold this biennial designation.
"Valencia's bid, articulated a compelling proposal that clearly demonstrates the effective application of Mediterranean design, of design for change and design as a key reference point to improve citizen's quality of life," commented Luisa Bocchietto, WDO President and member of the WDC 2020 Selection Committee.
The city's strategic positioning on the Spanish coast, as well as its well-established design expertise was clearly reflected in its bid and promises to deliver a programme that reflects the city's aspirations and commitment at local, regional, national and international levels. "We also hope that this designation could motivate other regional and Ibero-American cities to bid for a future WDC cycle," Bocchietto added.
Located on the south east of Spain, Valencia is a strategic portal city located on the Mediterranean coast. Their impressive urban infrastructures are directed towards coexisting with the natural and built environment.
"Being chosen as the 2022 capital is a reward for several decades of consolidation of a sector as unique and admired as the design industry in the Valencia Region," stated Xavi Calvo, strategic co-director of the candidacy. "Today marks a turning point in the contemporary history of design in Spain, because for the first time ever, a Spanish city has become World Design Capital, and it's all thanks to Valencia, a city that has always maintained a low profile, probably due to a lack of self-esteem. A land brimming with highly creative people that was already publicly admired well beyond our regional borders. Valencia, and by extension Castellón and Alicante - without whose professional and business sector Valencian design would not be what it is - has reached a point of maturity in design that it will now be able to showcase to the rest of the world."
Valencia's candidacy, articulated around the slogan "The Mediterranean design of Valencia. Design for change, design for the senses," defends a way of looking that has geographical, but also aesthetic, ethical, philosophical and political implications. The transversal programme of the Valencia World Design Capital candidature for 2022 includes a complete schedule of events that will encompass all disciplines of design, from industrial design to the design of spaces, not to mention architecture and the design of services and interfaces. The aim is to coordin