The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) is accepting applications from design-driven cities to bid for the World Design Capital (WDC) 2016 designation. Past WDCs include Torino, Italy; Seoul, South Korea; and Helsinki, Finland. The deadline to enter is April 30.

“Icsid initiated the World Design Capital to help design-driven cities continue the use of design to further their social, economic, and cultural development,” says Soon-in Lee, president of Icsid. “Icsid takes great pride in the growth of the WDC movement, reaching all parts of the world and diverse sectors of the community and is excited to build further on its legacy through the 2016 designation.”

The competition is open to all cities interested in becoming the next WDC and is not restricted to national capitals. Only one application per city can be accepted that must clearly demonstrate support from local government. The final selection is made based on the qualifications of each applicant city that can prove a commitment to design as a component of social, cultural, and economic development. The winning city will be announced at the International Design Alliance (IDA) congress in Istanbul, Turkey in November of 2013.

For more information and to download an application form, visit worlddesigncapital.org.