march 19th, 2009 Good design - better cities The main aim of the World Design Capital concept is to highlight the role of design as a tool for improving the social, cultural and economic life of cities and the welfare and happiness of their citizens. This is also the driving motivation behind the joint application of the cities of the Helsinki region – Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti – to be awarded the status of World Design Capital for the year 2012. Finland has long been a frontrunner in design. Perhaps surprisingly, this now-lush heritage took root in the thin soil of the post-war era, a time when Finnish society faced extreme hardship. In this period of economic and material scarcity, a certain strict beauty flourished, along with a distinct nurturing of the functional. Finnish design has always been marked by its strong orientation towards use and the user. The role of the user – the city resident – is today stronger than ever. This is also clearly reflected in the everyday operations of the Finnish municipal sector, which is the cornerstone of the Nordic welfare system. City planning and the provision of welfare services are increasingly served by processes and systems where embedded design plays a central role in generating and enhancing genuine interaction between people. Working together, the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti form a globally unique and internationally competitive force within the field of design. We offer world-class instruction and research in the field: the recently established Aalto University combines the disciplines of technology, business, art and design in a revolutionary way. The area already sustains a powerful concentration of international, design-focused companies, and further growth in this direction is both supported and expected. Perhaps most importantly, the foundation for this exceptional setting is formed by a population of residents who value and find joy in good design. Good design plays an integral part in the planning and construction of new city districts and helps improve the everyday quality of life of the average citizen. The greater Helsinki area is the fastest growing region in Finland and will be the site of numerous significant construction projects in the near future. For instance, as former cargo harbours are taken into residential and commercial use, design is the key to making the new districts attractive and liveable, and to instilling an individual character in each of them. The cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Lahti strongly believe in the potential of design as a driving force for economic and social prosperity. We are committed to working together within the project framework to make Helsinki World Design Capital 2012 a reality. jussi pajunen Mayor City of Helsinki marketta kokkonen Mayor City of Espoo juhani paajanen Mayor City of Vantaa torsten widén Mayor City of Kauniainen jyrki myllyvirta Mayor City of Lahti