Inspiring Hong Kong through Creative Designs and Innovations
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the second edition of DesignInspire opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The three-day event gathers over 230 exhibitors from nine countries and regions, featuring more than 635 designs and projects to showcase the latest design concepts and innovations from around the world.
“Under the theme ‘Co-create a Happy City’, DesignInspire offers a platform for design and innovation elites, trendsetting brands and design associations and institutes to showcase their interactive exhibits and design masterpieces,” said Raymond Yip, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director. “Aside from linking creative talents with businesses, we hope the show can enable public visitors to experience how innovative designs can improve the quality of city life.”
Melbourne: DesignInspire’s Partner City
Melbourne has long been regarded as one of the world’s most liveable cities. As DesignInspire’s partner city this year, Melbourne is hosting a pavilion – titled “Shared Values” – to showcase how creative talents have helped to shape the city for the better. Curated by the National Gallery of Victoria, the pavilion features designs and innovations from more than 100 designers and five universities under the theme “Think, Collaborate, Create”. Exhibits demonstrate how design can enhance people’s quality of life through health innovation, architecture and product design, and are displayed under different themes, including Play, Making, Wellbeing, Identity, Invention and Learning. Highlights include the Holden Time Attack concept car by GM Australia Design, nuraphone – the world’s first headphones to automatically adapt to a users’ unique hearing – and 3D printed ornaments by Alterfact.
A Platform to Promote Young Hong Kong Creative Talents
Sponsored by Create Hong Kong* of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Creative Force Pavilion showcases a series of local design projects, including “Miniature Depicting Unique Hong Kong”, “Beauty and Innovation in Traditional Craftsmanship”, “Happy.Block.Chain”, and “RetroInnovations”. The latter features contemporary installations created by 26 young Hong Kong designers that pay tribute to and reinterpret the city’s culture and traditional craftmanship such as ironwork, ceramics and rattan weaving.
Meanwhile, the Design Council of Hong Kong and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries have joined hands to present “DesignXcel” at DesignInspire, a project to foster collaboration opportunities between design graduates and leading entrepreneurs. Another highlight of the event is the Rado Star Prize, through which young design talents can turn their ideas into reality. The Public Choice winner will be decided by votes cast by members of the public over the three days of DesignInspire.
Innovation with Technology and Design
Highlights in the “Urbanovation” Pavilion include an interactive wall from OnActivity that allows visitors to experience various interactive media, including touch, motion sensing, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Another exhibitor is INDE, which features its BroadcastAR technology in which an avatar named SEAN will interact spontaneously with the audience via motion and speech.
InnoTalks and Workshops to Promote Design Thinking
The “InnoTalks” series is promoting discussion on the latest global design trends and encouraging creativity that can contribute to a better future for Hong Kong.
In addition, a series of workshops covering everything from traditional craftmanship to subjects related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) is running throughout the three-day event to enhance public engagement. These cover the craft of making mini-floral banners and hand-painted paper lampshades, as well as coding and robotics, VR, the smart city and more.
Aside from DesignInspire, the HKTDC is hosting four concurrent events at the HKCEC this week, targeting small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The events include the Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum), HKTDC SmartBiz Expo, Asian E-tailing Summit and the HKTDC Hong Kong International Franchising Show, which aim to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs through new technologies and by exploring new business opportunities.
*Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
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About HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit:www.hktdc.com/aboutus.