Design is a process that harnesses creativity to resolve problems and create solutions that promote innovation with respect to improving products, systems, services and experiences; offering a positive way of looking at the future by reassessing problems as opportunities.
Since 2014. Bilbao has been part of the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the Design subnetwork (CoD). The main objective is to promote creativity and design as drivers of the social, cultural and economic development of the city towards a service- and knowledge-based city.
Bilbao’s participation in the Cities of Design Network focusses on the following lines of action:
- Offering designers and organisations a privileged platform for exchange and cooperation, boosting visibility and access to the activities of the Cities in the Network in order to foster cultural and economic partnerships.
- Capitalising on and sharing Bilbao’s experience among the cities of the Network.
- Marketing the design professionals in order to encourage new business and institutional strategies.
For 11 years, the City Council of Bilbao and Bizkaia Regional Council have organised the Bilbao Bizkaia Design Week, an annual event for promoting design and creative industries as a factor of economic development in the region.
At Bilbao Ekintza we launch initiatives that draw attention to the local talent in collaboration with academic, institutional and business stakeholders from the city, as well as projects that promote new opportunities for design companies and professionals.
Highlighted projects
- Dueto Bilbao https://www.bilbaoekintza.eus/proyecto/programa-dueto-convocatoria-abierta
- DiseinuLab
