Working visit to UNESCO Design City Kolding

Kolding is a compact city of 60,000 inhabitants and over 4,500 students. It has a rich history in which design plays a crucial role. The city's design tradition dates back centuries to the construction and maintenance of the king's castle, which required a strong manufacturing industry in furniture, textile and jewelry design.

Inspired by Helsinki, Kolding today uses design as a community builder and innovative driver. The city's goal is to create an environment where people take responsibility for their lives, fostering transformation, innovation, collaboration, learning, inclusion and problem-solving.

The city has 15 design programs at the internationally renowned design school, four higher education institutions and the design research center. There are also numerous cultural institutions and a dynamic business community. Kolding's strategy, “We design for life,” emphasizes the use of design to enhance living, working, and studying in the city.

This visit took place in the framework of the Interreg Europe project “Creatives for the City” (CCSI4CCSI) in which, through the sharing of good practices, we learn from each other to better align our local policies and offerings with the needs of the cultural and creative industries.

The project “Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries for Collaboration, Competitiveness, Sustainability, and Innovation - CCSI4CCSI” brings together 8 partners from 5 different European regions. The project leader is Region Central Macedonia (EL) and the project partners are KEPA - Business and Cultural Development Centre (EL), Enter Koprivnica (HR), Stad Koprivnica (HR), Malopolska Regional Development Agency (PL), Business Kolding (DK), Designregio Kortrijk (BE) en Stad Kortrijk (BE).