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The last century has seen a rapid urbanization of the world's population. In 1900 only 13%, but now more than half of all people live in urban areas. Cities are facing dramatic changes in how they adapt to their rising populations and effectively provide services for the people and businesses that they need to feed their economic growth. Cities are also hubs for much of today's innovation, and the future success of cities is in the hands of those who plan, design and manage the public spaces and functions of the city.

The World Design Capital is a biennial city promotion project by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to highlight the accomplishments of cities that leverage design as a tool to improve the social, cultural and economic life in the city. In 2008, Turin, Italy was chosen to be the first ever World Design Capital, and next year it's Seoul, South Korea, who get to throw a yearlong program of design-related events.

And at the end of last month in its meeting in Singapore, ICSID announced that the next Design Capital, in 2012, is Helsinki, Finland. In total, there were 46 cities from 27 countries that applied for the designation. With a long history and culture of elegant design and strong public funding for high-tech infrastructure, Helsinki has for decades been using design as "a pivotal enabler to building an open city", according to the ICSID press release. Despite the country's small population, Finland and Helsinki as its capital have established an impressive line of well-known global brands, such as Nokia, Kone and Marimekko, architects and designers such as Eliel Saarinen and Alvar Aalto, and highly acclaimed education and research institutions. The city says its main goal for 2012 is to embed good design in the life of every resident by inviting all citizens, enterprises and organizations in Helsinki, as well as visiting design professionals and enthusiasts, to participate in the preparations and the events.

VIDEO: Open Helsinki - Embedding Design in Life

What would be your own Design Capital of the World, and why? Do you have examples of cities around the world that have successfully enhanced the lives of their residents through effective urban planning and everyday design?

Karri Ojanen