WDC 2024 Submission Form

World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 is excited to invite the regional community to participate by showcasing our rich design history and how it is transforming the region. Your contributions will mean we can reach more people, communities, and areas by creating volunteering and partnership opportunities, and offering a diverse, eclectic, informative, and exceptional array of programming.

Please fill out your general information below and then select your area of interest to continue.

To stay up to date, follow us at #wdc2024.

Below you will find programming categories, definitions, review criteria, deadlines and next steps. If you have any questions, review our FAQs or join our various Q&A sessions over the coming months.

Activations

You may have an idea to activate places and/or spaces through activities like workshops, talks, temporary pop-up displays or performances. “Activations” differ from other submittals in their simplicity. Complementing events, exhibits, and more complex projects with these activations will provide a more diverse and substantial way to stay engaged with the community at large throughout 2024.

Events

You may have an idea for an event that may range from a small / large gathering or activity, whether physical, digital, or hybrid. It should complement the our FAQs and/or further the awareness and understanding of the role of design. It can be focused on the community at large, or a specific audience. From educational to celebratory, it’s up to you.

Exhibitions

You may have an idea for an exhibition that may vary in size and reach. It should complement one or more of the focus areas of WDC 2024 and/or cultivate an awareness of the role design plays. An exhibit vs. an “activation,” is more ambitious and should have a longer showing time. It will also be more prominently displayed on the WDC 2024 website and in marketing promotions.

Projects

Your project may have an event component or be built around a series of activities, workshops, talks, or outreach to further a specific area of study, or content creation. Your project may be at different life cycles (Concept, Seed, Scale, etc.) You may also envision this project to have a longer term impact past 2024. If so, please indicate via the submission form. Find more information here.

To ensure a fair and equitable process in determining which of these offerings will be officially recognized by WDC 2024, we have established a set of criteria to qualify for the “Community” designation. Once an initiative has met the “Community” criteria, it will then qualify to:

Receive use of the WDC 2024 Event logo (i.e. specific to this category)

Be included on the annual calendar on the WDC 2024 website

Be supported by the Design-to-Action Networks (as appropriate)

How do I submit to become an “Community” Initiative?

1. To submit your activation, event, exhibit or project, please complete the following sections. We will confirm your submission has been received and reach out to you with any questions within 2-3 weeks of the submittal date.
2. Submissions will be reviewed by the WDC 2024 staff and by a diverse group of community members who have agreed to serve on the WDC 2024 Design Council.
3. You will be notified about your “Community” status at the end of each review cycle, which will be approximately 6 weeks after your submission, regarding the designation.

Is there a deadline for submittals?

If you feel you need more time to develop your submission, WDC 2024 will be accepting submissions from Q2 2023 through Q1 2024, and it may be extended into Q2 2024 subject to demand. For those entities that are planning larger events and programs and/or seeking funding via local grants or sponsorships, we encourage you to submit as early as possible or in line with your key milestones.

What happens once I have become a “Community” Initiative?

The WDC 2024 Project Manager will work with your team to review and coordinate the following:

• Delivering the logo with instructions for its use
• The process for being included in the marketing and promotional program
• Including deadlines, files and content, and instructions on items like collateral and signage
• Guidelines on publicity
• Support from an assigned Design-to-Action Network, if appropriate

You may have an idea to activate places and/or spaces through activities like workshops, talks, temporary pop-up displays or performances. “Activations” differ from other submittals based on their scale and perceived simplicity. Complementing events, exhibits and more complex projects benefit from these activations by providing a more diverse and meaningful way to stay engaged with the community throughout 2024.

You may have an idea for an event that may range from a small / large gathering or activity. It should complement the focus areas of WDC 2024 and/or further the awareness and understanding of the role of design. It can be focused on the community at large, or a specific audience. From educational to celebratory, it’s up to you.

You may have an idea for an exhibition that may vary in size and reach. It should complement one or more of the focus areas of WDC 2024 and/or further the awareness and understanding of the role of design. An exhibit vs. an “activation”, is more ambitious and should have a longer showing time. It will also be more prominently displayed on the WDC 2024 website and in marketing promotions.

Your project may have an event component or be built around a series of activities, workshops, talks or outreach to further a specific area of study, or content creation. Your project may be at different life cycles (Concept, Seed, Scale etc.) You may also envision this project to have a longer term impact past 2024. If so, please indicate.