Detroit First U.S. City Awarded U.N's 'City of Design' Status

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognized the singularity of Detroit, dubbing the motor city the country's first "City of Design."

1 minute read

December 23, 2015, 12:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Downtown Detroit

djtansey / Flickr

"Detroit has become the first U.S. city to receive the 'city of design' designation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization," reports Sherri Welch.

Forty-seven cities from 33 other countries have earned the title prior to Detroit. Designated cities exhibit "a strong legacy in one of seven creative fields, from gastronomy and literature to design," according to Welch.

Membership enables Detroit "to learn and exchange best practices from network cities worldwide, amplifying our existing efforts to build a better city and region through the power of design," according to Ellie Schneider, interim executive director of the Detroit Creative Corridor Center, as quoted in the article.

Monday, December 14, 2015 in Crain's Detroit Business

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