A Border Between Us

San Diego and Tijuana form the largest binational region along the US border.

Established in 1970, the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry is the busiest border crossing point in both the US and the Western Hemisphere, ranking as the fourth busiest land border crossing globally. Positioned conveniently between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California, the San Ysidro crossing offers accessibility for both foot travelers and vehicles through the El Chaparral crossing point, catering to long and short‐term travelers alike. Just as locals might venture to neighboring suburbs or towns for business or leisure, residents of this region frequently utilize the San Ysidro crossing. Annually, over 106 million individual crossings occur at the San Ysidro border, with a staggering 48 million cars and trucks passing through the El Chaparral section.

Recent coverage in Coronado's local papers has shed light on the longstanding issue of sewage owing from Mexico into America, highlighting a challenge that governments on both sides of the border have been grappling with for decades. The International Boundary and Water Commission reports that over the past five years, more than 100 billion gallons of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and urban runoff have polluted the Tijuana Estuary and the Pacific Ocean via the Tijuana River and its tributaries. The deteriorating water treatment infrastructure in Tijuana leads to raw sewage flowing into the Pacific Ocean, contaminating California beaches, including Coronado's coastline.

Furthermore, in recent years immigration has escalated to crisis levels, with projections indicating that San Diego County could witness up to 1,000 migrants entering the United States via the San Diego/Mexico international border daily, unless federal intervention occurs.

Considering these challenges, the significance of collaborative efforts between San Diego and Tijuana becomes increasingly apparent.

With over half of the global population residing in urban areas, design has emerged as a critical tool for enhancing the attractiveness, competitiveness, efficiency, livability, and sustainability of cities. Previous collaborative

initiatives between San Diego and Tijuana have yielded positive outcomes, demonstrating the interdependence between the two regions and the necessity for mutual support during crises. For instance, amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic, this binational region faced shared health challenges, emphasizing the importance of coordinated responses across borders. A virus doesn’t recognize borders. Establishing a formal structure for regular binational communication, coordination, and collaboration is essential to address pressing issues effectively. The solidarity displayed during challenging times has reinforced existing partnerships and fostered deeper cross‐border networks, bringing together various agencies and entities to tackle regional challenges comprehensively.

Against this backdrop of challenges facing the two nations at the border, the designation of the San Diego Tijuana region as the World Design Capital (WDC) for 2024 marks a signicant milestone. This joint designation by the World Design Organization (WDO) represents the first binational recognition in the history of the WDC program. San Diego becomes the first city in the United States, while Tijuana becomes the second city in Mexico to receive this distinction, following Mexico City's selection in 2018. The WDC designation presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of the region through the transformative power of design and collaboration.

The WDC program, designated every two years by the WDO, acknowledges a city's innovative use of design to enhance economic, social, cultural and environmental development. Through a year‐long program of events, the region can showcase best practices in design‐centric policies, foster civic engagement, and attract business and tourism. The objectives of the WDC program encompass showcasing a city's design‐driven reinvention, promoting it on the international stage, raising public awareness of design's potential, inspiring other cities to leverage design for growth, fostering an international network of design‐effective cities, and ensuring a lasting design legacy.

Cities designated as World Design Capitals reap several benefits, including heightened visibility as hubs of creativity and innovation, increased investment and tourism, enhanced economic development, improved quality of life for residents, international recognition as design leaders, global image‐building, and membership in an international network of design‐driven cities. Since its inception in 2008, the WDC program has witnessed numerous success stories and achievements, contributing to the emergence of a global network of cities dedicated to harnessing design to address societal challenges.

Previous WDC designations include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) in 2016, Mexico City (Mexico) in 2018, Lille Metropole (France) in 2020, and Valencia (Spain) in 2022. The joint designation of San Diego (USA) and Tijuana (Mexico) for 2024 marks a signicant moment in the WDC program's history, emphasizing cross‐border collaboration and innovation. Frankfurt RheinMain (Germany) is set to assume the title in 2026.

The celebration of the WDC designation commenced in Mexico on February 28 with a Community Celebration held at the CECUT (Central Cultural Tijuana Center) in Tijuana. As the focal venue of cultural offerings in the northwest region of Mexico, CECUT served as the ideal location for the inaugural event, symbolizing the identity of Tijuana. Throughout the year, the region will host a series of events, exhibitions, and summits across San Diego and Tijuana, including seven signature events and over 350 community initiatives. These initiatives aim to showcase the region as a global center for design, innovation, arts, and culture, while fostering lasting economic, social, cultural, civic, and environmental impact.

March will feature several community initiatives, including a special exhibition at the San Diego Central Library titled "Celebration of Jubilation – The Art and Vision of James Hubbell." This exhibition will spotlight the renowned artist James Hubbell, whose works, including "Sea Passage" in Coronado as well as other works of art at various locations in both San Diego and Tijuana. Another notable event in March is the exhibition "La Frontera," exploring the complexity of the U.S.‐Mexico border through the medium of jewelry, presented at Mingei International Museum with a companion exhibition at CECUT. In August, Coronado will host a series of events as part of the WDC celebration, organized by the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission and local nonprofit partners. These events will include a visual arts exhibition featuring local and Tijuana artists, a culinary event showcasing regional cuisine and wines, lectures on Coronado's architecture and public art inf;uenced by the proximity to Tijuana. A lm screening hosted by Coronado Island Film Festival, music concerts by the Coronado Community Band, and a special Summer Promenade Concert featuring the music of the region performed by the Coronado Philharmonia Orchestra are also in the works.

The designation of the San Diego Tijuana region as the World Design Capital has not only created new partnerships but also strengthened existing collaborations within the region, underscoring the potential for collective action in addressing shared challenges and celebrating collective achievements. Through the lens of design, this binational designation offers a platform for innovation, creativity, and cooperation, shaping a brighter future for the region as a whole.

For more information contact the Cultural Arts Commission at 619.522‐2633 or coronadoarts@gmail.com.