H.K.H. Prins Carl Philips tal vid invigningen av era05

Göteborg

(Det talade ordet gäller)

I am very happy to be able to be here today. That I could take a day off from my studies in graphic design in Stockholm.

I am not the only one in my family that has an interest in design and the arts. Many generations back there has always been someone with a special interest. I am thinking of my great grand-father's father, Prince Eugen, who was a well-known painter at the turn of the last century.

Also one of my grand-father's brothers, Sigvard Bernadotte, was an excellent industrial designer with an international reputation.

I have not come that far. I am still a student and I am here today to learn. Many of the world's leading experts in industrial design attend this Congress and I am looking forward very much to hear their presentations.

I wish to congratulate Göteborg for having been chosen as one of the three cities where this Congress is held at the same time. Next week the Congress will end in Copenhagen. For Sweden to host an international event of this kind during its Design Year is a great honor and challenge.

Therefore I would like to wish everyone good luck. Design is important for our everyday life. It makes a lot of things easier, more beautiful and more fun. As you all know, and as I have been taught, everything is about design. That's why it is so important.

With these words I declare era05 – World Design Congress 2005 open!