Under the motto “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life”, we want to create an international centre and a movement for design in Frankfurt RheinMain – sustainable and participatory. The aim is to establish initiatives and projects that strengthen the cohesion of the region, improve the quality of our co-existence and strengthen democracy.
What is World Design Organization®?
World Design Organization (WDO)® is a globally recognised non-governmental organisation with United Nations consultative status that aims to promote and advance the discipline of (industrial) design and its power to enhance economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life. Founded in 1957, WDO services over 200 member organisations around the world, engaging hundreds of thousands of individual designers through their innovative programming and initiatives that champion “design for a better world”.
What is meant by the title
World Design Capital®?
World Design Capital® (WDC), designated every two years by the World Design Organization®, recognises cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural and environmental development. Through a year-long programme
of events, the designated city showcases best practices in fair, sustainable and innovative design solutions that can improve the quality of life for all.. Past cities to hold the title include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland)
in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) in 2016, Mexico City (Mexico) in 2018, Lille Metropole (France) in 2020, Valencia (Spain) in 2022 and San Diego (USA)/Tijuana (Mexico) in 2024.
How do we understand
“Design for Democracy”?
Design means more than just creating beautiful products or graphics. Design has the power to shape collective processes, develop inclusive solutions and bring about social change. Under the motto “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life”, we want to create an international centre and a movement for design in Frankfurt RheinMain – sustainable and participatory. The aim is to establish initiatives and projects that strengthen the cohesion of the region, improve the quality of our co-existence and strengthen democracy – beyond the project year 2026. We are addressing the challenges of our time in ten fields of action.
Fields of action:
Construction & Housing
Consumption
Culture & Media
Education
Health
Industry
Mobility
Public Space
Sport
Work
What do we mean by “Atmospheres for a better life”?
“Atmospheres for a better life” alludes quite specifically to our planet’s physical atmosphere as, without it, no life would be possible. We would also like to create an atmosphere in which commitment and a willingness to experiment lead to new ideas so that something can change. But it can also be taken to mean something interpersonal, something aesthetic, something that has to do with mood. We are all conscious of what a difference the perceived good atmosphere makes to us, whether in an indoor space or in our squares. Public spaces in particular are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds bump into each other by chance. Shaping our lives together also opens up opportunities for new encounters.
What is meant by “Let us design how we want to live”?
A healthy democracy needs us all – the same applies to the World Design Capital 2026 programme. WDC 2026 is a platform and an enabler. You can use it to make your ideas and projects publicly visible, develop them collaboratively and finally put them into practice. Our interdisciplinary team will advise and support you throughout the entire process, of funding, networking and within the ongoing discourse on design and democracy. The “Design for Democracy” movement comes into life due to your participation and commitment.
What will take place until 2026?
As World Design Capital 2026, we will develop a comprehensive programme from our projects and your proposals by the end of 2024 – this will take place on two levels:
The “in-house productions” will be prepared and realised by our team in collaboration with the World Design Organization and other partners. This includes, for example, the Young Design Talents Campus, which is gradually being built up and will take place in 2026 as a summer school for high school students and young national and international students.
There are two different approaches to co-creation:
Co-creation projects are already existing activities of yours which we can develop and realise together. Contact us directly to find a common basis for the cooperation. We will then support you by linking you with suitable institutions, companies and foundations, for example to find further funding opportunities for your project.
Participation projects start from scratch with our current “Open Call 2024”. Submit your design ideas here – whether as an individual or in a team. A jury will select the first projects at the end of the year. This will give you the opportunity to present yourself on our platform and an award with which you can communicate to the outside world. Under certain circumstances, participation projects can also receive start-up funding from us. Further calls are expected to follow in the next two years.
You can use the year 2025 to further develop and realise your project – we will continue to support you in this process as it is also part of “Design for Democracy”. 2026 will be the highlight, the year of the World Design Capital 2026, in which you will present and implement your project, and thus make it accessible to the public.
Which municipalities are part of the World Design Capital Frankfurt RhainMain 2026 so far?
All cities and districts as well as the municipalities that are members of the Kulturfonds RheinMain: Bad Vilbel, Darmstadt, Frankfurt am Main, Hanau, Offenbach am Main, Wiesbaden, Hochtaunuskreis, Main-Taunus-Kreis, Oestrich-Winkel, Landkreis Offenbach and the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis.
Who is the WDC 2026 team?
The project team is currently led by Matthias Wagner K, Director of the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt am Main, Roland Lambrette and Kai Rosenstein. Anna Scheuermann is in charge of the program, supported by Oliver Bauer and Helena Kiefer, while Felix Kosok is responsible for the design discourse. Jonas Deuter is Creative Director. Roland Pajunk is responsible for sponsoring and partnerships.
Where does the money come from, where does it go?
The City of Frankfurt and the State of Hesse have already pledged €6 million each over the period 2024–2026. A further €2.75 million is expected from cities and local authorities, and €4.2 million from fundraising/sponsorship.
Why does the Frankfurt RheinMain region stand for design and democracy? What is being built on?
The history of the region shows that the Frankfurt RheinMain area has driven comprehensive societal changes through design and applied sciences. The reform movement of Art Nouveau, as expressed in Darmstadt, set new standards in the fields of art, architecture, design, fashion, furniture, and living culture. In response to the industrial revolution, progressive contemporary design was showcased for the first time as an integral part of modern permanent structures. These were built by designers and artists for themselves and presented to the public in four major exhibitions from 1901 to 1914; the last one abruptly ended with the outbreak of World War I. Similarly, the emancipatory, design-oriented founding of the German Werkbund in 1907, as an economic-cultural association of artists, architects, entrepreneurs, and experts, is included. It also laid the groundwork for the Bauhaus and a modern movement on the Main River, known as "Das Neue Frankfurt" (The New Frankfurt), which became a workshop for modern design and a new societal model. Here, designers developed a new urban culture and new products for all areas of life. Last but not least, Frankfurt am Main is home to the Paulskirche, where the first German National Assembly took place, and where a House of Democracy is planned to be established in its vicinity.
Further questions?
When can I submit my own project ideas?
It is possible to submit own project ideas from 20 Juni 2024. We will then announce further details. As of now we will support and advise you in order to develop a colourful and diverse programme for WDC 2026 by the end of 2024. For this purpose you can join our online consultation hour, which takes place every Monday at 17:00. Click here to register:
You can find more information about the Open Call 2024 here:
Under the motto “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life”, we want to create an international centre and a movement for design in Frankfurt RheinMain – sustainable and participatory. The aim is to establish initiatives and projects that strengthen the cohesion of the region, improve the quality of our co-existence and strengthen democracy.
What is World Design Organization®?
World Design Organization (WDO)® is a globally recognised non-governmental organisation with United Nations consultative status that aims to promote and advance the discipline of (industrial) design and its power to enhance economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life. Founded in 1957, WDO services over 200 member organisations around the world, engaging hundreds of thousands of individual designers through their innovative programming and initiatives that champion “design for a better world”.
What is meant by the title
World Design Capital®?
World Design Capital® (WDC), designated every two years by the World Design Organization®, recognises cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural and environmental development. Through a year-long programme
of events, the designated city showcases best practices in fair, sustainable and innovative design solutions that can improve the quality of life for all.. Past cities to hold the title include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland)
in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) in 2016, Mexico City (Mexico) in 2018, Lille Metropole (France) in 2020, Valencia (Spain) in 2022 and San Diego (USA)/Tijuana (Mexico) in 2024.
How do we understand
“Design for Democracy”?
Design means more than just creating beautiful products or graphics. Design has the power to shape collective processes, develop inclusive solutions and bring about social change. Under the motto “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life”, we want to create an international centre and a movement for design in Frankfurt RheinMain – sustainable and participatory. The aim is to establish initiatives and projects that strengthen the cohesion of the region, improve the quality of our co-existence and strengthen democracy – beyond the project year 2026. We are addressing the challenges of our time in ten fields of action.
Fields of action:
Construction & Housing
Consumption
Culture & Media
Education
Health
Industry
Mobility
Public Space
Sport
Work
What do we mean by “Atmospheres for a better life”?
“Atmospheres for a better life” alludes quite specifically to our planet’s physical atmosphere as, without it, no life would be possible. We would also like to create an atmosphere in which commitment and a willingness to experiment lead to new ideas so that something can change. But it can also be taken to mean something interpersonal, something aesthetic, something that has to do with mood. We are all conscious of what a difference the perceived good atmosphere makes to us, whether in an indoor space or in our squares. Public spaces in particular are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds bump into each other by chance. Shaping our lives together also opens up opportunities for new encounters.
What is meant by “Let us design how we want to live”?
A healthy democracy needs us all – the same applies to the World Design Capital 2026 programme. WDC 2026 is a platform and an enabler. You can use it to make your ideas and projects publicly visible, develop them collaboratively and finally put them into practice. Our interdisciplinary team will advise and support you throughout the entire process, of funding, networking and within the ongoing discourse on design and democracy. The “Design for Democracy” movement comes into life due to your participation and commitment.
What will take place until 2026?
As World Design Capital 2026, we will develop a comprehensive programme from our projects and your proposals by the end of 2024 – this will take place on two levels:
The “in-house productions” will be prepared and realised by our team in collaboration with the World Design Organization and other partners. This includes, for example, the Young Design Talents Campus, which is gradually being built up and will take place in 2026 as a summer school for high school students and young national and international students.
There are two different approaches to co-creation:
Co-creation projects are already existing activities of yours which we can develop and realise together. Contact us directly to find a common basis for the cooperation. We will then support you by linking you with suitable institutions, companies and foundations, for example to find further funding opportunities for your project.
Participation projects start from scratch with our current “Open Call 2024”. Submit your design ideas here – whether as an individual or in a team. A jury will select the first projects at the end of the year. This will give you the opportunity to present yourself on our platform and an award with which you can communicate to the outside world. Under certain circumstances, participation projects can also receive start-up funding from us. Further calls are expected to follow in the next two years.
You can use the year 2025 to further develop and realise your project – we will continue to support you in this process as it is also part of “Design for Democracy”. 2026 will be the highlight, the year of the World Design Capital 2026, in which you will present and implement your project, and thus make it accessible to the public.
Which municipalities are part of the World Design Capital Frankfurt RhainMain 2026 so far?
All cities and districts as well as the municipalities that are members of the Kulturfonds RheinMain: Bad Vilbel, Darmstadt, Frankfurt am Main, Hanau, Offenbach am Main, Wiesbaden, Hochtaunuskreis, Main-Taunus-Kreis, Oestrich-Winkel, Landkreis Offenbach and the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis.
Who is the WDC 2026 team?
The project team is currently led by Matthias Wagner K, Director of the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt am Main, Roland Lambrette and Kai Rosenstein. Anna Scheuermann is in charge of the program, supported by Oliver Bauer and Helena Kiefer, while Felix Kosok is responsible for the design discourse. Jonas Deuter is Creative Director. Roland Pajunk is responsible for sponsoring and partnerships.
Where does the money come from, where does it go?
The City of Frankfurt and the State of Hesse have already pledged €6 million each over the period 2024–2026. A further €2.75 million is expected from cities and local authorities, and €4.2 million from fundraising/sponsorship.
Why does the Frankfurt RheinMain region stand for design and democracy? What is being built on?
The history of the region shows that the Frankfurt RheinMain area has driven comprehensive societal changes through design and applied sciences. The reform movement of Art Nouveau, as expressed in Darmstadt, set new standards in the fields of art, architecture, design, fashion, furniture, and living culture. In response to the industrial revolution, progressive contemporary design was showcased for the first time as an integral part of modern permanent structures. These were built by designers and artists for themselves and presented to the public in four major exhibitions from 1901 to 1914; the last one abruptly ended with the outbreak of World War I. Similarly, the emancipatory, design-oriented founding of the German Werkbund in 1907, as an economic-cultural association of artists, architects, entrepreneurs, and experts, is included. It also laid the groundwork for the Bauhaus and a modern movement on the Main River, known as "Das Neue Frankfurt" (The New Frankfurt), which became a workshop for modern design and a new societal model. Here, designers developed a new urban culture and new products for all areas of life. Last but not least, Frankfurt am Main is home to the Paulskirche, where the first German National Assembly took place, and where a House of Democracy is planned to be established in its vicinity.
When can I submit my own project ideas?
It is possible to submit own project ideas from 20 Juni 2024. We will then announce further details. As of now we will support and advise you in order to develop a colourful and diverse programme for WDC 2026 by the end of 2024. For this purpose you can join our online consultation hour, which takes place every Monday at 17:00. Click here to register:
You can find more information about the Open Call 2024 here: