A group of international organisations representing designers and architects have signed the first Montreal Design Declaration, setting out the sector's ambitions for tackling world issues.
The declaration was agreed and signed at the World Design Summit ? an event that claims to be the first of its kind ? which took place in the Canadian city last month.
Organisations affiliated with the United Nations, including UNESCO, UN-Habitat and UNEP, were joined by international federations for landscape architecture, housing and planning, and other design disciplines for the 10-day series of talks presentations.
Together the delegates set out goals for sustainable design and promoting the sectors' importance, resulting in an international action plan for using design to address global challenges.
"For the first time, representatives of leading international organisations representing designers, architects, planners and landscape architects have collaborated effectively to present a united position on the utilisation of design to cope with pressing global economic, social, environmental and cultural challenges," said a statement from World Design Summit.
It is hoped that the document will be used as a reference for both design and non-design bodies to ensure that the sector contributes ethically and positively to the world.
"This text is an exceptional resource that highlights the strength and effectiveness of design when it focuses on improving people's quality of ...