Helsinki Named World Design Capital For 2012

Helsinki has been designated the World Design Capital for 2012. The announcement was made by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) at the World Design Congress held in Singapore last week.

The title is a biennial designation given to one city at a time; Helsinki is the third city to be named World Design Capital, following Torino, Italy, in 2008 and Seoul in 2010. A total of 46 cities from 27 countries applied for the title.

The idea behind Helsinki’s proposal for the designation was Open Helsinki – Embedding Design in Life, a concept that will provide the framework of Helsinki’s design events for 2012. Helsinki Design includes well-known global brands, such as Nokia, Kone and Marimekko, popular events, like the annual Helsinki Design Week, outstanding education and research institutions, such as the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and exemplary architects and designers such as Eliel Saarinen and Alvar Aalto. [via ice news]