Dublin has lost out to Cape Town, South Africa, in its bid for the title of World Design Capital in 2014.
Along with Bilbao, Dublin was on a shortlist of three for this title by the Montreal-based International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.
56 cities worldwide, including Beijing, had bid for the title.
The four Dublin authorities combined to work on the bid entitled 'Pivot Dublin, Turn Design Inside Out', which showcases designers in a number of different disciplines including fashion, architecture, graphic design and film.
Helsinki will be the next World Design Capital in 2012. Turin, which held the title in 2008, is said to have received more visitors that year than it did when it hosted the 2008 Winter Olympics.
Cape Town is the fourth city to hold this biennial appointment and marks the first for the African continent.
Awarded to cities based on their commitment to use design as an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development, the WDC serves to acknowledge that design can, and does, impact the quality of human life.
Icsid President and Member of the Selection Committee Dr Mark Breitenberg stated: "It is encouraging to see how Cape Town plans to use design as a tool to solve urban challenges."
