Tijuana
蒂华纳

From Local to Global: Design-Driven International Growth
从本土到跨境，设计驱动国际化发展

Abstract

Tijuana, a key city in northern Mexico, has developed in a way that defies traditional linear progression. Its growth has been driven by cross-border collaboration, cultural revival, and sustainable development, resulting in a highly innovative and locally distinctive design ecosystem.

Tijuana’s design industry has its roots in the city’s manufacturing base as a North American industrial hub. As the economic center of Baja California, Tijuana has a robust manufacturing cluster in aerospace, medical devices, and automotive parts. These industries provided rich application scenarios for design and fostered a deep integration of design with engineering and technology, creating a unique ‘design + manufacturing’ model. This model has enhanced product value and laid the foundation for the diversifed development of the design industry.

In recent years, Tijuana’s design industry has expanded from industrial design to cultural and creative felds. After 2008, driven by local organizations and grassroots communities, Tijuana began to emphasize the development of cultural industries. Small-scale models like art design, handicrafts, and local cuisine emerged, playing a key role in the city’s cultural revival. Tijuana’s design, built on this foundation, blends traditional craftsmanship with modern materials, creating works that are both artistic and functional, particularly in furniture, textiles, and handicrafts. This innovative expression of cultural identity has become a hallmark of Tijuana’s design industry, making it unique in the global market. Tijuana’s design has even reshaped the city’s image through global media exposure.

Policy support has been a crucial driving force behind the industry’s development. The city government has created creative industry parks, design incubators, and other platforms to integrate local design enterprises into the international design community. Additionally, Tijuana has promoted sustainable design through green business initiatives, guiding companies to adopt eco-friendly materials and production methods. This focus on sustainability not only meets the global market’s demand for eco-conscious products but also revitalizes the local economy.

Cross-border cooperation is another key highlight of Tijuana’s design industry. With close ties to San Diego and its joint designation as the ‘World Design Capital’ (WDC 2024), Tijuana has become an ideal platform for cross-border design collaboration. Many international design companies have established production bases in Tijuana, working with local designers and manufacturers to create innovative products. This cooperation has brought a global perspective to Tijuana and attracted increased attention to its design industry worldwide.

摘要

蒂华纳作为墨西哥北部的重要城市，其发展历程并非传统意义上的线性演进，而是通过跨境合作、文化复兴与可持续发展理念的融合，形成了一个极具创新性和地方特色的设计生态。

蒂华纳的设计产业起步于其作为北美制造业中心的深厚基础。作为墨西哥下加利福尼亚州的经济中心，蒂华纳在航空航天、医疗器械、汽车零部件等领域拥有强大的制造业集群。这些产业不仅为设计提供了丰富的应用场景，也促使设计与工程、技术深度融合，形成了独特的“设计+制造”模式。这种模式不仅提升了产品的附加值，也为设计产业的多元化发展奠定了基础。

近年来，蒂华纳的设计产业逐渐从单纯的工业设计向文化创意领域拓展。2008年之后，随着本地经济组织和草根社团的推动，蒂华纳开始重视文化创意产业的发展。艺术设计、手工艺品、地方烹饪等小规模经济模式逐渐兴起，成为城市文化复兴的重要力量。蒂华纳设计在此基础上融合现代设计理念，将传统技艺与现代材料结合，创造出既具有艺术感又满足现代需求的作品，尤其在家具设计、纺织品和工艺品方面表现突出。这种对文化身份的深刻理解和创新表达也成了当地设计产业的特色，让蒂华纳的设计在全球市场上具有不可复制的独特性，甚至通过全球媒体的传播重塑了蒂华纳的城市形象。

政策支持是蒂华纳设计产业发展的重要推动力。市政府通过创建创意产业园区、设计孵化器等平台，促进了本地设计企业与国际设计界的接轨。此外，蒂华纳还积极推动可持续设计，通过绿色商业计划和环保措施，引导设计企业采用环保材料和生产方式。这种可持续发展理念不仅满足了全球市场对环保产品的需求，也为当地经济注入了新的活力。

跨境合作是蒂华纳设计产业的另一大亮点。凭借其与美国圣地亚哥的紧密联系，以及在2024年联合成为“世界设计之都”（WDC2024)，蒂华纳成为跨境设计合作的理想平台。许多国际设计公司选择在蒂华纳设立生产基地，与当地设计师和制造商合作，共同研发创新产品。这种跨境合作不仅为蒂华纳带来了国际化的视野，也使其设计产业在全球范围内获得了更多关注。