The town did not wait for this well thought out and federative Cité du Design to get its style. For years, initiatives have been abundant, creators have been well established and the Design Biennial event has attracted the whole world.

In another form, the Cité du Design was already very active. It organized the Biennial event, welcomed students, and established a real creators’ nursery to develop this anticipation art through objects, images and services which summarize Design. It now has premises which connect to the five main architectural elements.

The clock building, the Tour Observatoire, the 2 buildings of the Ecole Supérieure d’Art et Design which are dedicated to educational workshops and technical workshops and the Platine, which is the connection between all the activities of the Cité and the School. A label which honours the activities of the former Manufacture d’Armes because it refers to the mechanism which are part of firearm manufacturing.

The School welcomes three hundred and fifty students this year and celebrates its hundred and fifty years. It was formerly the Ecole des Beaux Arts and its new furniture has been imagined and designed by two students, Sophie Francon and François Mangeol. It received the VIA 2009 label. A selection of the 2009 graduates’ works will be exposed at the same time.

Throughout October and till the end of the year, events and conferences will give rhythm to the Cité du Design opening.