Dublin City Council has announced that it will lead the four Dublin local authorities in a bid to achieve World Design Capital status for Dublin in 2014.

Lord Mayor Gerry Breen launched the website www.pivotdublin.com and asked people to support the bid actively and help to prepare the best possible case for Dublin. World Design Capital status is awarded bi-annually, following competition, by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID).

Seoul is this year’s capital and Helsinki will be World Design Capital in 2012. People working in the design arena who are not already involved and are based in Dublin, or elsewhere in Ireland or abroad, are invited to submit ideas and help prepare the bid.

"Becoming World Design Capital 2014 would strengthen Dublin's economy, contribute towards job creation and innovation and improve our ability to think, create and grow as a leading city of the world," said the Lord Mayor.

A new product is worth an extra 20% if design plays an important role in its development phase, according to research carried out by Erasmus University Rotterdam and Delft University of Technology, with the participation of 400 managers of Dutch firms in the manufacturing and services sectors.

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Ali Grehan, City Architect said that design is the bridge between creativity and innovation. "Creativity and design are the key drivers of innovation, and innovation, in turn, is a key driver of productivity growth, so there is a strong business and economic case for preparing this bid.

"The aim of this initiative is for Dublin to make a compelling bid for World Design Capital designation. The bid process is nearly as important as achieving the designation as it will allow us to develop projects that will create lasting changes to the benefit of the city and country. In submitting a bid, Dublin will compete with at least 50 other cities worldwide. Some cities are recognised globally as centres for world class design with comprehensive design infrastructure. Dublin is not recognised as a centre for world-class design – however, we have the ambition, imagination and resources to become one," he said.

The bid strategy envisages Dublin as a pivot point, through which there is a continual flow and exchange of knowledge, skills and resources. The bid theme 'Pivot Dublin –Becoming a World Design Capital' will involve leveraging the networks and connections of Irish designers, at home and abroad, to guide the development of innovative and effective solutions that address real needs. The same networks will allow for the distribution of newly developed skills and solutions to where they are needed.

The World Design Capital is awarded to highlight the accomplishments of cities that are truly leveraging design as a tool to improve the social, cultural and economic life of cities.

The next six months will be spent preparing the bid document. Many different design areas will be showcased ranging from architecture, graphic design, interaction and fashion design to animation, landscape, craft and furniture design.

(CD/GK)