Top design capitals of the world

In an ideal scenario, designers would be living in their very own utopia.

A world where the clients don’t constantly ask for changes and refrain from saying “it will only take a minute to fix.”

The city you live in can often be an incredible daily source of inspiration. A lively city and vibrant community goes a long way in recharging creative batteries. Of course, the ability to easily connect and collaborate with other creatives is very important. Even more important, perhaps, is a city where you don’t need to cry every time you see your bank balance due to the high cost of living.

Creativity runs deep when it comes to designers. Whether you’re an illustrator or graphic designer, there are a few things that are absolute must-haves when it comes to where you live.

We evaluated factors like the size of the freelancer community, creative agency offices, international fairs, meetups, conferences, salaries, local job market for designers and cost of living. Now, we have compiled a list of the top places to work if you’re a designer.

Here is our list of the 2021 Design Capitals!

New York, USA

It is home to some of the biggest ad agencies in the world: JWT, Leo Burnett, DDB... not to forget design studios like Firstborn, Huge and Pentagram or digital firms like The Barbican Group. Finding a job or freelance work will not be an issue. You will never get bored and find friends easily in the many design conferences like NYC x Design.

Do you want to be inspired? The MoMA, the Met and The Whitney are at your service. The community keeps growing thanks to traditional schools such as the Shillington Graphic Design School, Parsons Design School, The Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts and more.

London, U.K

Although typically regarded more as a financial capital, this city has a lot to offer to designers. Steeped in cultural history and flooded with lots of world class music, art, fashion, sport, tech, film and of course design firms, opportunity is abundant.

The London Illustration Fair is an annual artist-led illustration and graphic design fair that brings artists and buyers together in a unique environment. There are also recurring social events full of learning and networking like the London Doodle Socials. For newcomers, this useful guide can help make life much easier.

However, you might want to check your tolerance for more than average rain and high cost of living.

Boston, USA

Boston is very rich in terms of its history and culture. It’s a modern metropolis with an attractive job market and is home to many creative studios and agencies. CGI Interactive, 451 Marketing and Allen & Gerritsen, are just some brand names that have a presence here.

You could go from a UX Design MeetUp to a date at the Institute of Contemporary Art or Museum of Fine Arts and hit a charming pub all in a day’s work. For example, the annual Boston Design Week is just one proof of what this city has to offer!

Berlin, Germany

Affordable, creative and free-spirited. These 3 descriptors are often associated with Berlin. Unlike some other major cities on this list, Berlin is still affordable for young professionals. This design capital has all the charm and none of the downsides of having to deal with a high cost of living area.

Berlin has a very rich history which is often portrayed through art. The East Side Gallery is one such example where incredibly culturally important murals are painted on the remains of the fallen Berlin Wall. These types of artistic gems are embedded within this city, making it unique. Berlin has a reputation worldwide for being the hub of avant-garde art, techno music, gourmet street food, innovative design and start-ups.

‍Forward Festival Berlin, Beyond Tellerrand, UX Camp are just some of the exciting conferences that will keep you entertained and inspired throughout the year.

Dublin, Ireland

People here exude commitment and passion for what they do while simultaneously willing to share that experience with the tight-knit community. Creative giants Publicis and Ogilvy both have offices here alongside several other firms.

Over 2,500 people attend the mega design and creativity conference Offset. Creative icons like Massimo Vignelli, Sir Peter Blake, Paula Scher, David Carson and more have given talks and led sessions. The only drawback is that this city can get pricey.

Toronto, Canada

There is a thriving design scene in Toronto. Adidas, Google, eBay, Spotify, and Microsoft all regularly contract agencies like Jam3 for their digital platforms. Saatchi and Saatchi’s Toronto office is also packed with clients. Similarly, freelancers get their fair share of the pie.

The design oriented Meetup group #DesignTO has close to 2,600 members and regular events related to everything creative as well as workshops on promoting inclusion within the design community.

Stockholm, Sweden

An amazing and unique quality of this city is the flat workplace hierarchy which limits personal egos and enables everyone to be able to express their opinions freely. May the best design prevail is the underlying ethos. You can ask designers for yourself at these conferences.

The appeal of the work-life balance, quality of life, healthcare and childcare can lure even the most loyal designers from other cities. Although it can get expensive, many freelancers and designers say it is more than worth it.

San Francisco, USA

San Francisco is one of the best places to be for graphic designers. The tech scene with the rise of the internet startups has been a blessing for all kinds of designers. From small exciting startups to giants like Google, everyone is here. People have naturally gravitated to this design capital thanks to its tech hub image and large demand for designers. The pay reflects this. For the higher cost of living, salaries range from a midpoint of $75,600 and can go well past $116,500 for specialists at large companies and well-funded start-ups.

The San Francisco Design Week is an annual staple which is attended by people from all around the world. Leading Design is another event that attracts experts who lead design teams and people who cultivate design culture within organisations.

You also will not get bored of the various Design Meet Ups ranging from Graphic Design and Product Design to UI Feedback or Illustrator get-togethers.

These were the cities that we believe are the Design Capitals of 2020. We hope you enjoyed this list! If you want to check out the full list of Design Conferences that are happening all around the world!

Please feel free to ask questions, give feedback, and share your ideas with us! We are always happy to connect with members of our community.

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