LIGHTHOUSE PROJECTS

Design for Frankfurt RheinMain is World Design Capital 2026 with "Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life."

The World Design Organization™ (WDO), the international non-governmental organisation based in Canada, decided on 11 September 2023: The Frankfurt RhineMain Region will be awarded the title of World Design Capital 2026 with its application "Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life", the Frankfurt RhineMain region will receive the longed-for title of World Design Capital 2026!

The title of World Design Capital® (WDC) is awarded every two years by the WDO and is an internationally recognized program initiated from the design industry as a tribute to cities and regions for their effective use of design to promote cultural, economic, social and environmental development. During a year-long program of events, the designated city or region presents itself as a center for design, creativity and innovation. It becomes part of an international network. In the past, the international award has gone to cities such as Helsinki, Cape Town, Lille Métropole, Seoul and Mexico City, among others. These cities have become prominent design centers that still benefit from their designation as World Design Capital.

For more than two years, the team of the project company headed by Prof. Matthias Wagner K, Director of the Museum Angewandte Kunst, has been working on the application on behalf of the City of Frankfurt am Main and the Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain and has been making considerable progress. The period was used to start a joint movement with various cooperation partners like - Frankfurt Economic Development - as well as actors, initiatives and supporters.