Rado and Design

Rado is a brand that has long been known for its association with the world of design: as a supporter of design initiatives, a promoter of young talent through its Rado Star Prize competitions and as a winner of 30 international design awards. Rado now announces its status as official World Design Partner for the prestigious World Design Capital event, which will be held in Cape Town in 2014 and which kicked off on 31st December 2013 with a New Year’s Eve of Design in Cape Town.

Chosen from among a number of strong competitors, Cape Town is the latest city after Helsinki, Seoul and Turin to be designated World Design Capital by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). The WDC is decided every two years and the programme lasts for a full 12 months.

World Design Capital recognises the value of design thinking and is dedicated to using design as a tool for social, cultural and economic development.

Rado’s status as a World Design Partner will see the pioneering brand involved in a number of activities during 2014 in South Africa, including signature events. As part of the initiative, Rado branding will also appear across the city and on promotional materials throughout 2014.

Speaking about the partnership, Rado CEO Matthias Breschan said: “Rado is a brand well-known in design circles for our support of young talent, as well as for the distinctive design of our watches – many of which have won awards. We are convinced that this new partnership with World Design Capital is important in promoting design as something accessible for everyone as well as underlining Rado’s dedication to design in all its many guises.”

Rado is a globally recognised brand, famous for innovative design and its use of revolutionary materials to create some of the world’s most durable watches. Ever since its beginnings in Lengnau, Switzerland, Rado has had a pioneering spirit, with the brand philosophy “if we can imagine it, we can make it” still holding true today.

As the World Design Capital 2014, Cape Town has the opportunity to showcase its achievements and aspirations through design, all with the aim of designing better cities for people and promoting design in its broadest sense. Themes of the 2014 include exploring African ideas that could benefit the world, sustainability, and promoting design that reconnects the city and reconciles its communities.