WDC 2026 | Ciudad-Diseño Tijuana

How can citizens become actively involved in shaping their cities? How can we develop the mindset needed to initiate change? How can innovative proposals emerge through citizen-led design?

Ciudad Diseño is a participatory design platform created in Tijuana, Mexico, that explores complex urban dynamics at the US-Mexico border from the perspective of its inhabitants.

This workshop will be led by two designers who spearheaded civic and community projects during World Design Capital San Diego-Tijuana 2024.

The platform begins by examining current approaches to participatory urban design, acknowledging that these processes can sometimes create only the appearance of civic involvement, while real exclusions remain. Ciudad Diseño proposes participatory design as more than a consultation tool: it can become a democratic practice that enables more people to imagine, discuss, and shape their cities.

This is the basis of the “citizen designer” proposal. Managing a dynamic urban system requires input from many voices. When democratic participation is low, the problem often lies not in the abilities of communities and stakeholders but in the way participation has been designed.

Inspired by citizen science, the citizen-designer approach questions the exclusive role of the design expert and recognises local, lived knowledge as a vital contribution to design innovation and democratic practice.

Participation is free of charge. Please register using the link below.

Note: The workshop will be conducted in English and will be an interactive, participatory session. It is open to designers, students, educators, researchers, community leaders, public sector representatives, and anyone interested in collaborative approaches to urban development. No prior design experience is required. Participants will work in small groups using creative tools and design-thinking methodologies to explore local urban challenges and opportunities.

The workshop encourages inclusive participation and dialogue among people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and levels of experience. The session shares lessons learned from Ciudad Diseño, an ongoing initiative developed in Tijuana, Mexico, that explores how design can support more sustainable, inclusive, and community-centered cities.