Since issuing the “Design City Declaration” in 1989, Nagoya City has promoted city development focusing on “design”.

Design City Declaration

Whereas we the citizens of Nagoya, desiring the creation of a peaceful and humanistic way of life and city, and The City of Nagoya, desiring the continuation of world peace, appeal to the peoples of the world, on the occasion of the World Design Exposition, to further promote creative urban living environments based on the concepts of design for modern humanity employing the wisdom and techniques accumulated by humankind throughout its history, and whereas design transcends mere ornamentation and decoration to form a fundamental element of culture and lifestyle such that its accumulative importance is considered self-evident, and whereas cities provide the stage upon which the dramas of ordinary lives are played out, the creation of such replete with humane characteristics and attractiveness where each and every citizen is considered paramount requires the establishment of a cultural temperament that places enhanced emphasis and importance of design, and whereas, on the occasion of the World Design Exposition, the City of Nagoya is striving to become an international locus of design information open to the world and create a city valuing design which can proudly be presented to the world, the City of Nagoya does hereby declare its desire and intention to create a Design City of sensitivity striving for world peace.

June 30th1989
The Nagoya City Assembly

Significant History of “Design City Nagoya”


  • “Design City Declaration“ by Nagoya City Assembly.
  • The 16th ICSID Congress (ICSID’89 Nagoya). (*1)
    (3,764 participants from 46 countries and regions)
  • World Design Exposition (15,182,822 visitors)
  • World Design Exposition

  • International Design Center Nagoya Inc. was established. (*2)

  • The 17th IFI General Assembly and Biennial World Congress Nagoya 1995 (IFI ’95 Nagoya) (*1)
    (1.351 participants from 36 countries and regions)
    IFI International Interior Fair (8,600 visitors)
  • IFI ’95 Nagoya

  • Grand Opening of International Design Center Nagoya
  • International Design Center Nagoya

  • 2003 Icograda Congress Nagoya-Japan (*1)
    (3,807 participants from 49 countries and regions)
    International Graphic Design Fair 2003 (120,463 visitors)
  • 2003 Icograda Congress Nagoya-Japan

  • Conclusion of a sister city agreement with Turin, Italy.
    Design exchanges are conducted between Nagoya and Turin.
  • Design exchanges are conducted between Nagoya and Turin

  • The City of Nagoya gained membership in the Creative Cities Network (in the category of Design) under the patronage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

*1: Nagoya is the first city to have hosted three major international design conferences, of ICSID, IFI, and Icograda.

*2: IdcN (International Design Center Nagoya Inc.)　http://www.idcn.jp/
The International Design Center NAGOYA Inc. (IdcN) was opened in 1996 as a base for supporting creative design. The center was established with funding from cities, prefectures and companies. This is the first integrated design center in Japan. It is well-equipped with facilities such as a Design Hall, Design Museum, Design Gallery, Design Library, and Design Laboratory, an institution for cultivating design related companies.
While being closely integrated with the local community, the design center also opens its doors to the global community as well. Through our highly equipped facilities and our global information exchange network, we conduct a wide variety of activities ranging from international exchange and training workshops to research and development seminars and planning and production sessions.

Information