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On January 31, 2024, the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC 2024) and the City of San Diego unveiled an ambitious year-long programming schedule celebrating design innovation and collaboration. This marked a historic moment as San Diego became the first U.S. city ever to receive the World Design Capital designation, while Tijuana joined as the second Mexican city to hold the title. This cross-border designation highlights the unique collaboration between these two cities and their commitment to leveraging design to drive transformation.
The inaugural event for WDC 2024 featured a special art installation titled “EXCHANGE Pavilion,” created by internationally acclaimed Tijuana visual artist Daniel Ruanova in partnership with the architecture and design agency Heleo. This temporary installation will be showcased in two prominent locations: Plaza de Panama at Balboa Park in San Diego and the Palacio Municipal de Tijuana. “EXCHANGE Pavilion” is designed to be an immersive experience, inviting visitors to engage with its physical and conceptual dimensions.
The Pavilion aims to provoke dialogue, inspire creativity, and foster human connection, embodying the spirit of the WDC 2024 designation. It will serve as a bridge between diverse backgrounds, encouraging conversations and a sense of unity across the border. The Pavilion symbolizes the interconnected nature of the cross-border region, reflecting its rich cultural and design heritage.
In addition to the Pavilion, WDC 2024 will support over 300 community initiatives throughout the year. These initiatives include a wide range of projects, events, exhibitions, and activations, offering numerous opportunities for community engagement and participation. The Community Programs are curated and led by local members from both San Diego and Tijuana, advancing the mission of WDC 2024 to transform the region through the lens of design. These efforts aim to showcase the region’s design capabilities and foster an environment of innovation and collaboration.
San Diego and Tijuana’s designation as World Design Capital 2024 represents a significant milestone as the first binational designation in the program’s history. This recognition is a testament to the cities’ commitment to human-centered design and their legacy of cross-border collaboration. By harnessing and mobilizing design, the cities aim to transform their shared region of 7.1 million inhabitants.
Nestled between the mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Diego and Tijuana are situated across the busiest land border in the Western Hemisphere. With approximately fifty million crossings annually, the border area is a vital transit hub and global market brimming with opportunities for innovation and transformation. The cities’ design and innovation landscape has been shaped over the past century, leveraging the unique resources of their environment to drive advancements in science, manufacturing, arts, and culture.
San Diego and Tijuana’s designation as World Design Capital 2024 underscores their dedication to advancing human-centered design and cross-border collaboration. The year-long program will spotlight the region’s interconnected design ecosystem, addressing topics such as green infrastructure, environmental preservation, design education, and industry innovation. Through a series of transformative projects on both sides of the border, San Diego and Tijuana will continue to champion design as a catalyst for positive change throughout 2024 and beyond.
