World Design Protopolis (WDP)™ is a five-year urban transformation programme established by World Design Organization (WDO)® that empowers cities to develop design-driven responses to urban challenges. It recognizes cities as living prototypes and builds capacity with place-based collaborations working with local government, institutions, designers and communities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
The term ‘protopolis’ is derived from the idea of prototyping a metropolis. The name combines ‘prototype’ and ‘polis’ (city) to reflect the idea that cities are never finished, they are living systems that continue to evolve, adapt and grow.
World Design Protopolis is guided by six core principles that shape every stage of the programme:
- Embrace cities as living prototypes
- Leverage adaptive design
- Enable participatory processes
- Support collaborative networks
- Design for transformation
- Build resilient urban futures
Through World Design Protopolis, WDO aims to advance the role of design as a strategic framework for helping cities respond to change, build resilience and improve civic quality of life. The programme follows a five-year timeline in order to enable sustained research, collaboration, prototyping and learning, allowing the programme’s solutions to be properly tested, refined and strengthened through continued local engagement.
A biennial designation, World Design Capital® (WDC) recognizes cities for their use of design to drive economic, social, cultural and environmental development. World Design Protopolis is an action-oriented urban transformation programme that supports cities to develop, test and document design-led urban solutions over a period of multiple years. The former celebrates the existing design-led infrastructure while the latter builds resilient design solutions and frameworks that will evolve with the city.
Bengaluru (India) has served as the pilot city for World Design Protopolis since 2022. Under the stewardship of WDO, the programme is currently being delivered through a collaborative network of local partners to develop place-based solutions that contribute to a more resilient city.
Through research, collaboration and implementation, World Design Protopolis Bengaluru is building knowledge, testing ideas and iterating design solutions to demonstrate how design can strengthen civic quality of life in the city. The programme is anchored across three project sites: Hebbal Lake, RV Road metro station, Veerapillai Street.
Working across a diverse range of neighbourhoods and public spaces, World Design Protopolis Bengaluru is exploring how local action can contribute to a more resilient city. The programme is guided by six city focus areas that shape research and design interventions:
- Build Bengaluru
- Future Now Bengaluru
- Creative Bengaluru
- Enterprising Bengaluru
- Sustainable Bengaluru
- Safe and Healthy Bengaluru
Discovery sites are the core project locations within World Design Protopolis Bengaluru, which currently include Hebbal Lake, RV Road metro station and Veerapillai Street. For each location, the discovery phase involves research, stakeholder and community dialogues, spatial mapping and field observations.
World Design Protopolis Bengaluru is led by a dedicated team based in Bengaluru working in design, urban development, communications and programme coordination to bring the initiative to life. Meet the World Design Protopolis Bengaluru team.
World Design Protopolis Bengaluru is delivered through a collaborative network of partners from across government, civic bodies, academia and design organizations. Learn more about our partners.
The Protopolis Conclave is the flagship gathering of World Design Protopolis Bengaluru. It brings together local and international experts, policymakers, designers, researchers and communities to exchange ideas, share project learnings and explore how design can shape resilient urban futures. Hosted as part of Bengaluru Design Week 2026, the Protopolis Conclave will take place from 24 to 25 September 2026 at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru.
World Design Protopolis Bengaluru offers opportunities for a wide range of participants, including designers, students, professionals and members of the public. You can take part in the public and professional programming at the Protopolis Conclave 2026, delivered in partnership with Bengaluru Design Week 2026, as well as the workshops leading up to the Conclave.
New project briefs will be announced between September and December 2026. These opportunities will be open to applications from design studios, professionals, academic and research institutions and civil society organizations.
We encourage you to complete our online form to be informed of the latest programme news. You can also follow World Design Protopolis Bengaluru on Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Facebook.
Cities interested in World Design Protopolis are invited to contact WDO with a bid proposal. We recommend that any proposals be supported by a relevant government body and outline a vision for a long term project with local partners.
For more information, interested parties should contact Eric Lauwers, WDO Programmes Manager at eric@wdo.org.