The title ‘City of Design’ makes Dubai one of 24 cities around the world to have clearly demonstrated a commitment to using design as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. Its also a celebration of the city's creativity, brought to life during Dubai Design Week
Dubai, designated as a UNESCO City of Design
The recently announced title ‘City of Design’ makes Dubai one of 24 cities around the world to have clearly demonstrated a commitment to using design as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. Announced after a four-year assessment process, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network decision took into account a range of factors, including architecture, art and the fast-paced development of cultural spaces and museums across the city.
The city’s new status provides a platform to develop design-led initiatives aimed at improving and developing services such as transport, education and infrastructure. These include the Dubai Creative City of Design Council which will seek opportunities for better design and the Dubai National Design Centre, which aims to attract experts and designers from all over the world to exchange knowledge and create new projects.
Key Dubai Design Week partners Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Institute of Design & Innovation were both referenced alongside Dubai Design Week as key parts of Dubai’s design infrastructure in the submission to UNESCO.
This year’s Dubai Design Week programme provides an unparalleled opportunity to experience the depth of design talent and opportunity UNESCO has recognized. With the festival’s central hub at Dubai Design District (d3)hosting headline exhibitions Downtown Design and Global Grad Show, the programme also includes a range of installations, live events and showcases of work by hundreds of designers based in Dubai, drawn from the region or coming to Dubai from across the globe.
The Creative Cities Network, run by UNESCO in Paris has 180 members from 72 countries that have demonstrated creative excellence in sectors including art & craft, film, gastronomy, literature and design.
More information on the UNESCO Cities of Design here