The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) begins efforts to select the World Design Capital (WDC) 2014 – a biennial international appointment in recognition of a city's achievements and focus on design as a driving force for economic, social and cultural development.

In this spirit, the WDC designation honors the city that has best used design to revitalise and reinvent its urban environment. In 2009, Helsinki was selected to be the design capital for 2012.

The title is bestowed on a city that has demonstrated exceptional progress using the multidisciplinary sectors of design. The city must demonstrate that government, industry, educational institutions, designers and in fact the very population of the city, are working individually, and in concert to realise the city’s strategic development and provide a platform to demonstrate the merits of design as a sustainable factor to the betterment of living conditions. The successful candidate city will have proven tangible and visible results that have enhanced the experience of the city and improved the quality of life of citizens.

For the appointed city, the WDC designation is a yearlong opportunity to strengthen economic development, stimulate new partnerships and build upon its global image as a centre of creativity and innovation.

The international Selection Committee for the 2014 designation will consist of Dr. Mark Breitenberg, Icsid President; Edna dos Santos-Duisenberg, Chief, Creative Industries Programme of UNCTAD; Jeremy Myerson, Director and Chair of the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art; Kohei Nishiyama Founder and CEO of elephant design co., ltd. and Founder of CUUSOO.com and Jussi Pajunen Mayor of the City of Helsinki (Finland).