How to make a design city

Chapter 1

Porto

Porto has had a tough time in the wake of the financial crisis. But thanks to the forward-thinking attitude of mayor Rui Moreira, among others, a concerted effort to stop gentrification from stripping the city of its craft heritage is paying dividends.

Chapter 2

Mexico City

Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura was founded in 2012 by architect Fernando Romero and his wife Soumaya Slim. It aims to foster discussion about design in Mexico City and the rest of the country through its permanent design collections and as a meeting place for young talent.

Chapter 3

Dubai

Set to open by late 2016, Dubai Design District (d3) is an attempt on the part of the Emirati government to create a regional centre for design in Dubai. We speak to chief operating officer Mohammad Saeed Al-Shehhi to find out more about how the project hopes to elevate Dubai’s status.

Chapter 4

Design villages

Although a large population from which to draw talent certainly helps when it comes to establishing a design hub, you don’t need to be as big as a city to make it happen. We showcase three products from towns and villages that show bigger isn't always better.