World Design Organization (WDO) – Design for a Better World

The World Design Organization (WDO), formerly known as the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID), is an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to advancing industrial design worldwide. Through advocacy, education, and global collaboration, the World Design Organization promotes design as a strategic tool for improving products, systems, services, and experiences. Moreover, the organisation emphasises design’s capacity to support sustainable development, economic growth, and social wellbeing.

Importantly, the World Design Organization positions design not as decoration, but as a driver of innovation and responsible decision-making. Consequently, it plays a central role in shaping global discussions around design policy, professional standards, and the future of the design profession.

Origins of the World Design Organization as ICSID

The World Design Organization traces its origins to 1957, when it was founded as the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). At the time, ICSID emerged as one of the first truly international professional design organisations, alongside ICOGRADA and IFI. Its creation reflected a growing recognition that industrial design required international coordination, shared standards, and skilled advocacy.

From its earliest years, ICSID addressed a wide range of issues affecting designers and design organisations. These included the designer’s social role, the relationship between design and business, and the environmental impact of industrial production. In addition, ICSID actively engaged with questions of professional ethics, education, and intellectual property rights, which were becoming increasingly significant in a globalised economy.

Through conferences, publications, and working groups, ICSID helped define industrial design as a profession with clear responsibilities to society. As a result, the foundations were laid for what would later become the World Design Organization’s broader, systems-oriented approach to design.

Publications and Global Influence of ICSID

During its operation as ICSID, the organisation produced several influential publications that documented the evolution of industrial design. These included The World Directory of Design and Hall of Fame: Companies Searching for Excellence in Design, both of which provided historical insight into design leadership throughout the twentieth century.

In parallel, ICSID published a regular organisational magazine that communicated research, policy positions, and professional developments to its international membership. Consequently, the organisation became a key reference point for educators, practitioners, and institutions engaged in design discourse.

In 2005, ICSID relocated its headquarters from Europe to Montreal, Canada. This move strengthened its administrative capacity and facilitated closer collaboration with partner organisations. Shortly afterwards, ICSID joined with the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (later Ico-D) to form the International Design Alliance (IDA), which expanded the scope of international design cooperation. The International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) later joined as the Alliance’s third member. However, the IDA was dissolved in 2011.

Transition to the World Design Organization

At the organisation’s General Assembly in October 2015, members approved a new vision and mission. As part of this strategic shift, ICSID officially adopted the name World Design Organization in 2016. This change reflected an expanded understanding of design as a multidisciplinary, systems-based practice rather than a purely industrial activity.

The rebranding to the World Design Organization signalled a renewed commitment to addressing global challenges such as climate change, urbanisation, health, and social equity. Therefore, the organisation increasingly focused on how design can contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and broader policy frameworks.

Today, the World Design Organization has grown from its original twelve founding associations to more than 170 member organisations across over forty countries. Through this network, the WDO facilitates international dialogue, capacity building, and shared learning among design professionals and institutions.

World Design Organization Programs and Initiatives

The World Design Organization oversees a range of initiatives that demonstrate design’s impact on society. One notable example is the World Design Impact Prize, which recognises projects that deliver measurable social, economic, and environmental benefits. In 2012, the prize was awarded to Planning System Services in Kenya for its Community Cooker project, which addressed waste management and energy access simultaneously.

In addition, the World Design Organization supports the World Design Capital program. This initiative highlights cities that effectively use design to drive urban development and improve quality of life. Consequently, the program has become a valuable platform for sharing best practice in urban policy and design-led governance.

The organisation also holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. As a result, the World Design Organization contributes expert input to international policy discussions where design thinking can inform sustainable and inclusive solutions.

Sources

About Us. WDO About Comments. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://wdo.org/about/.

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Woodham, J. M. (2006). A dictionary of modern design. Oxford University Press. Available on Amazon

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