©Ben KuhlmannDesign Policy Days
November 2026
11
We
14
Sa
WDC 2026
The Design Policy Days are the four-day closing event of World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, situated at the intersection of design, politics and political science. Three conferences in Wiesbaden, Frankfurt and Offenbach will focus on the themes of politics, administration and attitude – and explore how design can effectively act as a catalyst for addressing social and political challenges. The event will conclude with the Design Assembly at Frankfurt’s Paulskirche: this will bring together the international network of World Design Capitals with regional stakeholders and open up a dialogue with the region’s political representatives. During the subsequent Convocation Ceremony, the WDC title will be officially handed over to the next World Design Capital, Busan (South Korea).
3 conference days
©Ben Kuhlmann November 2026
11
We
The State Needs Design
Heimathafen Wiesbaden, Rat für Formgebung – German Design Council, Service Design Network (SDN)
The day brings together experiences, prototypes and debates on public services, creative bureaucracy and service design.
Heimathafen Wiesbaden
©Eda TemucinNovember 2026
12
Th
Dissent Needs Design
Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach/Main, Board of International Research in Design
The focus is on questions about a politicised design discipline, new roles for designers in the public sphere and the need to understand design as a social attitude.
Offenbach University of Art and Design
©Ben Kuhlmann November 2026
13
Fr
09:30 – 20:30
Democracy Needs Design
Deutscher Designtag e.V., Forschungszentrum „Normative Ordnungen“ der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
The conference day will focus on the field of institutional politics.
Theodor-W-Adorno Platz 1
The events on Saturday
©Ben Kuhlmann November 2026
14
Sa
10:00 – 13:00
Network of Cities Meeting
WDC 2026
Political decision-makers in the region will gain exclusive insight into the results of WDC 2026 and have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other World Design Capitals.
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©Hessisches KulturdenkmalamtNovember 2026
14
Sa
Design Assembly
WDC 2026
On 14 November 2026, the WDC 2026 will bring together politics, administration, science, design and civil society in St. Paul's Church for a joint moment of reflection – and new beginnings.
Paulskirche
©Ben Kuhlmann November 2026
14
Sa
18:00 – 20:00
Convocation Ceremony
WDC 2026
The concluding highlight of the WDC year 2026 in Frankfurt RheinMain will be the Convocation Ceremony. In a festive ceremony, the title will be handed over to the next World Design Capital, Busan, South Korea.
Paulskirche
