World Design Capital 2024 San Diego/Tijuana / by Barbara Leon

EXCHANGE PAVILION/PABELLON INTERCAMBIO

We are delighted and honored to announce that after a rigorous design and selection process, our team, in collaboration with Daniel Ruanova, has been chosen as the winner of the EXCHANGE PAVILION / PABELLON INTERCAMBIO by World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024! This radical structure reimagines the walls of the literal "no-man's-land" at our border, transforming it into a bridge—a new space that sparks dialogue, creativity, human connections, and the exchange of our collective experiences, mirroring the interconnected industries and culture of our region.

The Exchange Pavilion is a lightweight, movable structure meant to act as a canvas for various interactive displays, lighting, and graphic visuals and as a public space for lectures, performances, workshops, and gatherings that invite visitors to explore, learn, and engage—actively participating in the ‘exchange’ of ideas, culture, and experiences. As a pavilion structure that is meant to showcase San Diego/Tijuana as the first cross-border World Design Capital, It will first be installed at a site in Tijuana to be on display in May, then de-installed and relocated to San Diego in July for the remainder of 2024.

“EXCHANGE,” The manifestation of the interconnectedness, embracing the fluidity of cultural exchange and trade within an ever-evolving social landscape.

Last November, the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC 2024) called for designers, artists, architects, and creative teams to create a temporary art installation or structure known as the Pavilion. The Pavilion will be a physical representation and hallmark for WDC 2024, symbolizing the first cross-border World Design Capital.

Our winning team was announced by councilmember Raul Campillo at a special press conference on January 31st at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in Downtown, where the agenda for the year’s events were unveiled and addressed by city leaders on both sides of the border, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero.

Click to read more about the unveiling of the WDC 2024 events and Pavilion unveiling

with Mayor Todd Gloria

Announcement by Raul Campillo

With Christine Jones and Jonathan Glus, City of San Diego Arts & Culture

community celebration to kick off wdc 2024 at cecut, tijuana

Photo courtesy: World Design Organization

The World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC 2024) launched its first of six signature events with a vibrant Community Celebration at the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT), marking a significant moment as the first cross-border designation in World Design Capital history. San Diego and Tijuana's unique collaboration received spotlight, emphasizing the region's unity, resilience, and cooperative spirit. Esteemed speakers, including Thomas Garvey of the World Design Organization and local leaders, delivered inspiring speeches on the transformative power of design. This event kickstarts a year of over 300 community initiatives and programming aimed at celebrating design's impact on quality of life and fostering cross-community engagement through design-driven projects.

Click to read more detail on the Community Celebration event

Photo courtesy: Enigma Creative

Photo courtesy: Enigma Creative

Photo courtesy: Enigma Creative

Event speakers & presenters:

We are excited to bring you along on our journey and process. Stay connected with us by subscribing to our email list for updates on the pavilion's latest developments.