The Mother City, making her mark on the design world

Cape Town is in the running for the title of World Design Capital 2014. Out of 56 hopefuls, the city now stands alongside two others, Dublin and Bilbao, in the contest to earn the World Design Capital title, which will be publicised in October 2011. Cape Town is the first city in Africa to come this close to being named a World Design Capital, a title which endures significant prominence.

The biennial award is presented by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) for cities committed to using design for their social, economic and cultural growth. A World Design Capital title gives a winning city worldwide attention during a year-long programme of design-led events, and Cape Town is bidding for the 2014 opportunity. Previous winners include Turin (2008) and Seoul (this year's title-holder), while Helsinki will be World Design Capital in 2012.

With the theme "Live Design…Transform Life", the City of Cape Town has asked the Cape Town Partnership to manage the bid. A vital network of partners from local and provincial government, creative-industry organisations and institutions, the media and leaders in local design have come together to offer support to the initiative.

At this rate perhaps Cape Town will become the mother of design, a full time mother in the pure love that stems from great design.