Helsinki: The 2012 Design Capital of the World

The Finnish capital, Helsinki, which is under consideration for a satellite Guggenheim museum, has been named World Design Capital 2012 by the Montreal-based International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID).

Appointed to cities based on their accomplishments and commitment to design as an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development, the WDC designation is an ambitious project initiated and managed by Icsid to promote the impact of design on quality of life.

According to the ICSID website, "For the City of Helsinki, design has for decades been a pivotal enabler to building an open city. The concept of 'Embedded Design' has tied design to innovation and has enabled desirable solutions that have addressed the needs of its inhabitants.

Helsinki is a vibrant community - a great place to work, live and explore. A modern landscape where talented individuals encompass every sphere of international and Finnish society, it is a hotbed for innovation and a positive environment for creative industries. The City of Helsinki will follow in the footsteps of Torino (Italy) and Seoul (South Korea) to develop an inviting programme for 2012."