Dundee has become the first UNESCO City of Design in the UK, an award from the international cultural body that recognises the contribution the city has made to design worldwide.
Dundee has become the first UNESCO City of Design in the UK, an award from the international cultural body that recognises the contribution the city has made to design worldwide.
The designation has previously been awarded to 12 cities including Beijing, Berlin and Montréal.
Today Bilbao in Spain, Curitiba in Brazil, Helsinki in Finland and Turin in Italy have also received the same designation.
The innovations created, developed or made in Dundee which led to the award include aspirin, biomedical research that has led to hundreds of new cancer drugs, comics including The Beano and The Dandy, orange marmalade, and video games including Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto.
Edinburgh is a UNESCO designated city of literature, and Glasgow is a UNESCO City of Music.
Dundee's design reputation will be boosted by the new V&A Museum of Design Dundee, which is being built on its waterfront.
The city is also home to Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee Rep Theatre, McManus Art Gallery and Wasps Studios.
The UN award also recognises two universities in the city, Abertay University and the University of Dundee, design has been a prominent area of teaching and research since the 19th century when Dundee led the world in the manufacturing of jute and other textiles.
Design in Action, Scotland??s national Knowledge Exchange Hub for the Creative Industries, is led by Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in the city.
Designers based in Dundee include Sophia George, the V&A??s first Game Designer in Residence; graphic designer and Fleet Collective co-founder Lyall Bruce; jewellery designer Jane Gowans; eco-architect Kirsty Maguire; fashion designer Hayley Scanlan; and the Vanilla Ink jewellery collective.
Fiona Hyslop, culture secretary, said: "Warm congratulations must go to everyone who has played a part in bringing this prestigious UNESCO City of Design accolade to Dundee, and indeed Scotland.
??This is a richly deserved accolade and further strengthens the city's growing reputation as a hub of cultural and creative excellence and an international centre for the creative industries.
"Indeed, the Scottish Government has been delighted to award £15 million to the V&A Dundee project, which will create local jobs and contribute significantly to the regeneration of Dundee and its Waterfront, giving the city a world-class design museum and visitor attraction."
Councillor Ken Guild, leader of Dundee City Council, said: "This is tremendous news and shows truly international recognition for Dundee's innovative design sector.
"The city's profile will receive a huge boost and I am certain it will lead to many opportunities for Dundee.
"I look forward to seeing how we use this status to help take the city forward for the future."
Philip Long, director of V&A Dundee, said: ??Dundee is a city changing itself through design.
"As part of a highly creative nation we are proud to win this recognition and look forward to joining the worldwide community of UNESCO Cities of Design.??
Other UNESCO city's of design are Beijing, Berlin, Graz in Austria and cities in China, the US, Japan, France, Canada and Argentina.
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