When Adelaide aimed to become the next World Design Capital®, it needed more than ambition — it required a bold story, a clear identity and a submission that stood out globally. Rodeo worked with the Department of State Development to define Adelaide’s uniqueness, shaping a bid around innovation, inclusivity and “Trajectory” — a design-led vision for better living through change.

Challenge
Adelaide needed to define its identity and edge for the World Design Capital bid. The task was to showcase innovation and experimentation while proving its capacity to lead. The bid also had to balance strategic clarity with aesthetic impact to convince jurors.

Solution
Through research and stakeholder input, we framed “Trajectory” as the core idea. We built a bespoke bid structure combining story and rigour, collaborating with JamFactory and designer Christian Hall to create a custom steel enclosure that extended the bid experience into a considered physical object.

Outcomes
The submission delivered a clear, compelling framework with a global view of Adelaide’s innovation. It sparked new initiatives in governance, design and identity, reshaping how Adelaide imagines itself as a city of possibility.

Services
Positioning and narrative strategy
Stakeholder and audience research
Communication and bid architecture
Design and content development
Physical object design
Visual identity
Project management
Production management

Deliverables
Full bid document — strategic and visual
Messaging framework
Graphic identity system
Visual and digital assets
Custom steel enclosure