International Design Day
Next: April 27, 2027
Someone designed that.
The story
Where it comes from
International Design Day marks the founding of Icograda, the International Council of Graphic Design Associations, in London on 27 April 1963. Two graphic designers, Peter Kneebone and Willy de Majo, brought together 28 design associations from 17 European countries to give their profession a shared international voice. The council grew to embrace every design discipline and in 2014 renamed itself the International Council of Design (ICoD). It has long marked its birthday as a day for design; until 2020 this was World Design Day, and since 2021 it has been International Design Day.
How it's celebrated
Each year the council sets a theme, often developed with a host member association, and commissions a poster for it. Designers, studios, schools and design associations around the world hold talks, workshops, exhibitions and livestreams on the theme. For everyone else it is a day to notice the design around you, from a street sign that guides a stranger home to the cover of a favourite book, and to thank the people who made it.
Did you know
- The council's founding conference was held at Watney House in London from 26 to 28 April 1963.
- The Korea Design & Packaging Center was among the council's first members outside Europe in the 1970s, and design bodies from Singapore joined in the 1990s.
- Now based in Montreal, ICoD describes itself as the world's largest representative body of professional design organisations.
Coming up next
- World Day for Safety and Health at Work · April 28, 2027
- International Dance Day · April 29, 2027
- International Jazz Day · April 30, 2027
- Labour Day (International Workers' Day) · May 1, 2027
- World Laughter Day · May 2, 2027
- World Tuna Day · May 2, 2027