Frankfurt and the RheinMain Region will be World Design Capital 2026.

The World Design Organization™ (WDO), based in Montreal, Canada, announced today that Frankfurt and the RheinMain Region will become World Design Capital for the year 2026.

Frankfurt RheinMain was nominated with the content concept Design for Democrcacy. Atmospheres for a better life, along with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was one of the two finalists selected by the WDO's international committee, which represents all continents, and prevailed with its concept.

The German Design Council is a partner of the initiative and, together with the implementation company under the direction of Prof. Matthias Wagner K, is delighted about the well-deserved project award.

Lutz Dietzold, Managing Director of the German Design Council and at the same time Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the implementation company on the WDO's decision: "The fact that Frankfurt and the region were able to secure the title of World Design Capital is a great success for the Main metropolis and will have an enormous impact far beyond the region. Frankfurt RhineMain is - also historically - one of the most important design centres in Germany. For the innovation location Frankfurt RhineMain, it is therefore an excellent opportunity to use its own design power to make visible the innovation and transformation-promoting relevance of the discipline of design. At the same time, it is an opportunity for Germany to charge the excellent image that German design has internationally with new visibility. As a founding member of the WDO, the German Design Council is pleased to make its contribution here in a targeted manner for a design-driven transformation of the economy in the direction of circular design."

The title World Design Capital® is awarded every two years by the WDO and is an internationally recognised programme initiated by the design industry in recognition of cities and regions for their effective use of design to promote cultural, economic, social and environmental development. In an extensive year-long programme of events, the designated city or region presents itself as a centre for design, creativity and innovation. It becomes part of an international network. In the past, the international award went to cities such as Helsinki, Cape Town, Lille Métropole, Seoul or Mexico City. These cities have developed into prominent design centres that still benefit from their designation as World Design Capital.

The aim of the programme, which the project office of the application has been working on for over two years, is to create a sustainable, participative international centre of design, design disciplines and design methods for people from all over the world in the RhineMain region. A hub for all existing design initiatives, grassroots initiatives, universities with a design focus, NGOs, representatives from society, business, politics, law, technology, science and culture as well as citizens on the basis of illustrative historical design upheavals, existing and new projected projects. And last but not least, design should give Frankfurt and the region a common identity. Under the common denominator of Design for Democracy, targeted work can now be done on the implementation of projects in cooperation with all cities and municipalities in the region. The title World Design Capital Year 2026 will ensure international attention.

More information at: www.designfrm.de and www.wdo.org