EMBARGOED AGAINST DELIVERY AT 20:00 ON 18 OCTOBER 2014
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
18 OCTOBER 2014
SPEECH BY THE CITY’S EXECUTIVE MAYOR, PATRICIA DE LILLE, AT THE
WDC CONVOCATION CEREMONY
Note to editors: the following is a speech by Mayor De Lille at a convocation
ceremony for the handover of the World Design Capital title to Taipei, at the
Portside building in Cape Town.
National Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa
Commissioner of Taipei City, Liuo Wei-Gong
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Economic
Development, Councillor Garreth Bloor
President of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID),
Dr Brandon Gien
President Elect of the ICSID, Prof. Mugendi M’Rithaa
Secretary of the ICSID, Dika de Silva
CEO of Cape Town Design, Alayne Reesberg
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good evening, goeie aand, molweni, as-salaam alaikum, shalom.
This has been quite a year for Cape Town.
We worked hard to become the World Design Capital for 2014 because of
the benefits of design for our city.
We wanted to make this year one where we truly started a new way of
thinking in our city.
After 20 years of democracy, I think that it is time we start to move into a
different phase of our development – one where we embrace our shared
future.
For me, this way of thinking has become the most important legacy of the
World Design Capital: understanding what design means and using it to
transform life.
Those who work within the traditional design industries already appreciate the
importance of it. Here, I am thinking of more traditional design ventures in the
creative industries and product development.
But what was not so easily appreciated by many in this city is how design is
an essential component of the way we live our lives and our approach to the
way we work, live and play.
It is about understanding how structured creativity can unlock tremendous
value in a range of sectors and experiences, not least government.
This is because at its heart, design is about improving the experience, and
hence the life, of the individual.
Entrenching that understanding and making us appreciate that the
individual’s experience should inform everything we do is the greatest legacy
of this year.
And our approach has made sure that this legacy will spread itself through a
variety of sectors.
When we received the award, we worked hard to ensure that we brought in
the universities, large and small businesses, the traditional creative industries,
government, ordinary people and the 111 wards in Cape Town.
This powerful coalition has ensured that the project of the World Design
Capital will become an operational reality in the everyday work of these
sectors.
Given this, the legacy of the World Design Capital will be felt over time in the
lives of everyone in the city who interacts with these institutions in some way.
And while we have had our signature events and our ward projects, this more
intangible legacy will have the greatest meaning in the future.
In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone who made the World Design
Capital such a success.
I would especially like to thank Alayne Reesberg and her team at Cape Town
Design,
Richard Perez and his team in the City,
The late Prof. Russel Botman, who is sorely missed,
Chris Whelan and the rest of the board of Cape Town Design,
The numerous stakeholders who served on the board of Cape Town Design
and the advisory panel,
And everyone who participated in some way.
As Taipei takes the designation, I wish the people and the city the very best.
This has been a transformative experience for Cape Town.
I have no doubt that the rewards and benefits you seek will be returned to
you tenfold.
Thank you, baie dankie, enkosi.
End
Issued by: Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department,
City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Zara Nicholson, Spokesperson for the Executive Mayor –
Patricia de Lille, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 4998 or Cell: 079 416 5996,
Email: zara.nicholson@capetown.gov.za