What is
GDCO?
Overview
Global Design Cities Organization
For our common concern 'How to use design for urban development and well-being of citizens,'
GDCO is to DISCUSS URBAN DESIGN PRACTICES and SHARE EXPERIENCES between member cities.
Share, Think and Act together!
Initiation
The WDC World Design Cities Summit was held on February 23-24, 2010 as an official event of World Design Capital
(WDC) Seoul 2010. At this Summit, participant cities came to an agreement to establish the Secretariat in Seoul and to
make the Summit an ongoing venture. In order to hold the Summit efficiently and strengthen the network between
cities, an idea of launching an international organ for Global Design Cities was suggested.
Definition
An international organization established to discuss urban design practices with government officials, enterprises,
academies, designers and citizens
Purpose
To improve citizens' quality of life through design cooperation between cities
Direction
GDCO was launched by the cities having participated in the WDC World Design Cities Summit in 2010; however, the
organization is to be expanded by inviting cities interested in urban design policy. It is to perform as a platform to
exchange issues related to urban design, bridging cooperation among member cities.
History
February 24, 2010
A total of 31 cities signed on 『The Seoul Design Declaration』 at the WDC World Design Cities Summit in Seoul.
April 2010
The GDCS Secretariat was established in Seoul Design Foundation.
September, 2010
Candidate evaluation for the selection of the 1st Global Design Cities Summit (GDCS) host city
October 7, 2010
Yangzhou was announced as the GDCS host city for 2011 at the Closing Ceremony of the Seoul Design Fair 2010.
December 14, 2010
Invitations for the Interim Executive Committee of GDCO were sent.
January 19, 2011
A meeting was held in Yangzhou to arrange dates and venue for the first Summit, which will be
convened in line with the city's Grand Canal Cities Exhibition in September 2011.
March 3, 2011
The Interim Executive Committee of GDCO was held in Seoul.
July 8, 2011
Application for the Next President City of GDCO was closed on 8 July.
2 candidate cities submitted proposals for the Next Presidency.
September 25-27, 2011
The Inaugural General Assembly will be held in conjunction with the Global Design Cities Summit in Yangzhou.
Structure
Membership : The 32 cities having participated in the WDC World Design Cities Summit 2010
+ other cities interested in urban design policy
Accession
: Membership Application Form should be submitted to the Secretariat.
Approval by the General Assembly is required.
Structure
Presidency : President City + 6 Vice President Cities
Executive Committee
Structure : 15 cities (or fewer) including cities in presidency
Participant : Director-level officials in design related departments
Session : A regular meeting every year
Role : Discussion on cooperative projects among cities and management of the Organization
General Assembly
Participant : Mayor of member cities / Session : Every 2 years
Role : Election of the President City, Approval of new membership, Decisions on cooperative projects
Secretariat
Role : Function assigned by General Assembly and Executive Committee
Coordination of election procedures for President City
Supporting President Cities to hold General Assembly and Summit
Platform for mutual exchanges and cooperation among member cities
Upcoming
Event
<Inaugural General Assembly of the Global Design Cities Organization 2011>
Date: September 26, 2011
Venue: Guest Hotel or Convention Centre in Yangzhou, China Coinciding with the Global Design Cities Summit 2011)
Participants: Mayors and representatives from the 32 member cities and other cities interested in the GDCO
Agenda: Approval of the Statute, official inauguration of the GDCO, and other priority issues.
<The Global Design Cities Summit 2011 Yangzhou> + the Grand Canal Exhibition
Date: September 25~27, 2011
Venue: Guest Hotel or Convention Centre in Yangzhou, China
Participants: Mayors, representatives and citizens from all around world
Theme : Design to improve the quality of life (tentative)
Programs: Welcoming dinner, Opening ceremony, Keynote speech, Plenary session,Design tour
<Application for next President City of GDCO>
Application for the Next President City of GDCO was closed on 8 July.
Announcement of the Next President City will be made on 26 September at the Inaugural General Assembly of
GDCO in Chinese city of Yangzhou.
Benefit
Share information and experiences about Urban Design Policies
Build strong global network concerning Urban Design
Cooperate related projects
Contact GDCO Secretariat
E-mail : summit@seouldesign.or.kr / Phone : +82-2-2096-0105 / Homepage : www,gdcsummit.org
Address : 9th Fl. Yeonho Bldg., 135, Seosomun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-813, Korea