Special session: Designscapes and Valencia World Design Capital 2022

Speakers meeting link: https://bit.ly/36uVRwF | Meeting attendants: Facebook live at https://www.facebook.com/designscapesproject/

10:00-10:05 Welcome to participants
Raul Abeledo Sanchis, on behalf of the Rector of Valencia University
10:05-10:25 Overview of the Designscapes project
Francesco Molinari, ANCI Toscana
10:25-10:40 Q&A
10:40-11:00 The Valencia WDC 2022 story
Pau Rausell, University of Valencia, eConcult
11:00-11:10 Q&A
11:10-11:55 Testimonials
David Rosa, Las Naves, Ajuntament de València
Maria Dolores Parra Robles, Generalitat Valenciana
Xavi Calvo, Valencia WDC 2022 Association
11:55-12:15 Q&A
12:15-12:30 Conclusions
Pau Rausell, University of Valencia, eConcult
12:30 End

Our speakers

Francesco Molinari is an international researcher and policy advisor with a 20-years working experience in R&D and innovation projects and programmes at European, national and regional levels – notably on such topics as eParticipation, eGovernment and Smart Cities. Formerly he has been engaged for about 12 years in territorial marketing and the delivery of financial services to SMEs – including support to EU grants access for their green and brown field investments. For 5 years he has served in a top managerial position at a middle-sized Municipality in Italy. He holds a track record of successful collaborations with local/regional authorities and ministries on such topics as Pre-Commercial Public Procurement, Living Labs and Smart Specialisation.

Pau Rausell is an Economist and professor of the Department of Applied Economics. Director of the Research Area in Economics of Culture and Tourism (Econcult). He has published books and articles in specialized magazines and in the press on topics related to communication and culture. He regularly takes part in national and international seminars and conferences on topics such as creative cities, the relationship between culture, innovation and development and the economic impact of culture. Lead and/or partner in competitive national and European projects such as Interreg MED SOSTENUTO, CREATIVEMED, 3C4INCUBATORS, OPEN DOORS, or H2020 DESIGNSCAPES.

David Rosa. Subdirector técnico. Las Naves. Social and Urban innovation centre of the city of Valencia. He has been working and learning in the sports industry for more than 15 years. He has played a leading role as Business Intelligence Manager in Valencia CF and also worked for INESPORT, the Spanish National Sports Council and Instituto Biomecánico de Valencia. Holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and a post degree in Sports Biomechanics

María Dolores Parra Robles, General Director of Internationalization, Department of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Trade and Labor, Generalitat Valenciana.

Xavi Calvo is CEO of World Design Capital Valencia 2022, graphic designer and strategic communication consultant, co-founder and Project Manager of Estudio Menta. He currently lectures in the Master’s Degree in Design and Graphic Communication of the CEU Cardenal Herrera University (Valencia) and is a regular guest speaker on design. He collaborates with leading general and specialized newspapers and magazines critically reflecting on design.

Valencia World Design Capital 2022 aims to promote the activity and enhance the quality of the creative sector, making it the main agent for social change and urban innovation. The aim is to generate a whole series of initiatives that will project design beyond 2022, generating a legacy that will transcend and become established as a key value of local and national social fabric.

The successful candidacy of the City of Valencia as World Design Capital 2022 was also based on the Designscapes concept. The Mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, in March 2020 proposed the creation of a European Alliance of Cities for Design “as an activator of urban innovation with the ultimate mission of confronting the great challenges faced by cities in the 21st century”.

The Mayor made the proposal during the first forum on the relationships between design and public policies which was held at La Nau of the University of Valencia with the title ‘Design and Public Policy. A two-way street’, organised by the Econcult Research Unit of the University of Valencia and Valencia World Design Capital 2022.

During his speech, the Mayor encouraged the formation of this Alliance of Cities for Design, arguing for the important contribution of design in the achievement of two of the dimensions of urban organisation: efficiency and emotion. Furthermore, he highlighted the need to share experiences efficiently between cities to accelerate the process for the resolution of urban challenges already faced by public institutions this century.

The Valencia declaration, issued and endorsed by the participants in the policy forum, has been a milestone in this direction.