Significant History

1985

At the '85 Washington General Assembly of Icsid, Aichi Prefecture, City of Nagoya and the local economic community unified and made a formal bid to host the 1989 Icsid Congress in Nagoya. (*1)

1986

City of Nagoya, to mark its 100th year anniversary, decided to host the World Design Exposition.

1987

In the 4th National Development Plan, it is stated that the Nagoya area shall be a region that accumulates design research and development.

1988

Aichi Prefecture, City of Nagoya and The Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry joined together to set up a committee to study the feasibility of establishing an international design center in the Nagoya area.
The Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry proposed the establishment of an international design center.
The first Public Design Fair in Japan was held.

1989

'89 Design Year
Statement pronouncing Nagoya as "Design City"
World Design Exposition (July 15 - November 26)
The 16th Icsid Congress (Icsid '89 Nagoya/October 18-21) attracted 3,764 designers from 46 countries. At the closing ceremony, Mr. Kotaro Takeda, Chairman, Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry, introduced a request for the formation of an international design center that would appeal to the design community globally.

1990

Chubu Association of Corporate Executives submitted proposals in support of the establishment of a global design center with the "Build Nagoya into a Design City" campaign.
Members from Aichi Prefecture, City of Nagoya, Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Chubu Economic Federation and associated groups met to promote the establishment of the International Design Center.

1991

The International Design Center Promotion Committee released the formal plan for the formation of IdcN.

1992

1994

1995

Organized and hosted IFI World Interior Design Nagoya1995 (IFI '95 Nagoya) with 1,351 participants from 36 countries.

1996

1997

Appointment of City of Nagoya as the host of the 2003 Icograda Congress and General Assembly

2003

Organized and hosted 2003 Icograda CONGRESS NAGOYA/JAPAN, "VISUALOGUE", with 3,807 participants from 49 countries.

2006

Organized and hosted International Design Center NAGOYA's 10th anniversary event, "Design for Social Innovations"

2008

Appointment of City of Nagoya as a "City of Design", a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network (*1)

2009

Establishment of Creative Design City Nagoya Organizing Committee (since 2014, Nagoya, UNESCO City of Design Organizing Committee)

2011

2012

Organized and hosted series of exhibitions to commemorate founding: 20th Anniversary of IdcN.

2016

Creative Business Space Chord (Facility establishment: City of Nagoya / 2016 to 2019).

2019

Establishment of Nagoya Innovator's Garage (Facility establishment: Central Japan Economic Federation, City of Nagoya).

*1: ICSID: Currently, WDO: The World Design Organization
*2: ICOGRADA: Currently, ico-D: International Council of Design
*3: IFI: The International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers
*4: The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts & Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Music and Media Arts. The City of Nagoya was appointed as a "City of Design" in October 2008.