Lille becomes the 14th city to import the made-in-Montréal Commerce Design concept
Montreal, December 19, 2012 – Élaine Ayotte, Ville de Montréal Executive Committee Member responsible for Culture, Heritage, Design and the Status of Women, is pleased to announce that a memorandum of understanding has been signed by the city and the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie (CCI) of Greater Lille, France, to bring the made-in-Montréal Commerce Design concept to that city. The first Commerce Design Lille awards will be presented in the spring of 2013.
“Montréal developed Commerce Design Montréal from 1995 to 2004. This original contest concept aimed to enhance the quality of city living by convincing Montréal merchants of the benefits of investing in good design on their premises, with the help of qualified professionals,” Ms. Ayotte explained. “This new agreement with a metropolis with such a dynamic character as Lille provides excellent impetus for the international networking of Montréal design and designers. It strengthens Montréal’s knowledge transfer commitments as a UNESCO City of Design.”
The effectiveness of this made-in-Montréal concept, which has been well publicized and received abundant media coverage, has been recognized by other cities around the world that, since 2003, have sought out Montréal’s expertise in setting up their own contests inspired by the Commerce Design Montréal concept. Following cities like New York and Paris, Lille becomes the 14th city around the world, and the eighth in France, to adopt the Montréal concept and join the Commerce Design network.
The structure-enhancing impacts of Commerce Design Montréal on business revitalization was also acknowledged in 2002 by the International Downtown Association, which presented the Ville de Montréal with its Outstanding Achievement Award, and in 2006, when the contest was named one of 48 best practices worldwide (out of 609 entries) as part of the UN-HABITAT 2006 Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.
For more information about the Commerce Design network, visit the website mtlunescodesign.com.