Turin named World Design Capital 2008

The Italian city of Turin has been named the World Design Capital 2008 by the International Design Alliance.

The IDA is a joint venture between the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design and the International Council of Graphic Design Associations. It has billed Torino 2008 as the pilot for a biennial programme that will seek to recognise cities that have effectively used design as a tool for social, cultural and economic regeneration.

Organisers hope the moniker will deliver similar benefits as the European City of Culture has achieved, claiming that the designation will attract inward investment and creative skills, improve the quality of life and enhance the city’s global image.

For Torino 2008, the city plans to invest in design events that concentrate on promoting local design, with a focus on industrial and graphic design.