Design Month was launched with the aim of bundling creativity in Styria and to present and make it accessible to the wider public. This documentation covering Design Month 2010 in all its aspects shows just how multifaceted and diverse the spectrum of creative industries is. It is clear to see how quickly Design Month has extended its range of activities in its second year running. Internationality was not only part of the game due to many participant creatives coming from abroad, it was also reflected in six travel reports from UNESCO Cities of Design in the form of an exhibition, bringing the variety and colourfulness of international design to Graz. And vice versa, the Styrian Design Impulse exhibition, which was a great success in Vienna, shows how Styrian design is paving its way across the globe.

Whether Graz will be officially designated as UNESCO City of Design within the international cities of design network remains to be seen. What we can build on, however, is that the City of Graz has laid firm foundations for engaging with the subject of design on a broader level and incorporating it in the public space. Graz has kept its word by creating two urban furniture competitions and in its political commitment to involve aspects of design in all relevant decisions, in order to ultimately ensure that both the city and the people are one step ahead in competitive markets.