The 2nd Edition of Design Shenzhen Concludes:
A Display of Design and Tech Aesthetic Fusion
(March 25, 2024, Shenzhen, China) The second edition of Design Shenzhen concluded successfully from March 21 to March 24, 2024, at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center. This four-day event, themed “The Fusion of Design and Technology,” drew nearly 200 design brands worldwide and brought together over 120 industry leaders spanning design, technology, home furnishings, architecture, and more. The event featured close to 100 captivating sharing sessions and roundtable discussions. Additionally, specially curated content and a plethora of peripheral activities added unique flair, presenting an exemplary industry exhibition in the Greater Bay Area. With 42,461 professional visitors and design enthusiasts in attendance, the event served as a platform for expanding design horizons and envisioning an inspiring future.
Mr. Wang Xiaogang, the Exhibition Director of Design Shenzhen, remarked, “Since its debut in China last year, Design Shenzhen has garnered significant recognition. This year, we aim to transcend conventional design exhibition formats, providing a broader platform for exhibitors to showcase their innovative concepts and creative products. We're pushing beyond the traditional boundaries of design exhibitions, fostering a space where more exhibitors can unveil their inventive ideas and products. Our focus remains on exploring the evolving landscape where design intersects with technology and other domains, thereby expanding the horizons of design. Through this, we aim to spotlight the distinct allure of the design industry, which resonates not only locally but also globally, emanating from the Greater Bay Area. We sincerely hope that every visitor departs brimming with inspiration and eagerly anticipate reconvening next year to delve deeper into the possibilities of design.”
Brands& inspiration converge to drive win-win success
The realization of pioneering design concepts hinges on product application to unlock greater commercial value. This year's Design Shenzhen spotlights several high-end design brands, offering insights into diverse application scenarios and future trajectories for technological concepts and innovative designs. Internationally renowned architectural, interior, and product designer Steve Leung, drawing inspiration from pandas, collaborates with the Belgian art furniture brand SIXINCH to unveil the LAZY PANDA art exhibition, seamlessly merging art and furniture and transcending artisanal norms. FULI brocade, in partnership with esteemed designers and architect Aldo Cibic, presents the captivating 'Fantastic Landscape' carpet series, showcasing a blend of various design languages and exemplary craftsmanship. De'Longhi, the esteemed Italian home coffee machine brand, unveils its latest fully automatic home coffee machine featuring a convertible bean compartment, epitomizing the elegant Italian coffee lifestyle. Liz Home Design, a comprehensive one-stop home solution provider, showcases typical home furnishing products from brands like Cassina, moooi, Poliform, and Flexform.
[FULI]
[SIXINCH]
Samsung Electronics, showcasing its MICRO LED Super TV worth a million alongside brands like Microceramics in 3D printing, Archimedes in biomechanical chairs, and Automist in home active fire prevention systems, broke through technological barriers, igniting boundless imaginations among the audience. Additionally, globally renowned high-end brands such as Villeroy & Boch in German ceramics, Fotile in full-scene kitchen appliances, Liebherr in German electrical appliances, and Duravit in German bathroom design presented exemplary solutions to the industry. Notable appearances also included the practice brand FRANK CHOU COLLECTION by famous designer Frank Zhou, the original design furniture brand CHANG, the minimalist yet exquisitely aesthetic GRADOCONTRACT, the design concept of minimalist aesthetics upheld by SHERMAN, and the locally originated home life brand dakhaan. Moreover, Chinese glass design aesthetics were brilliantly showcased by home fashion brand MU16, among others, encapsulating the dynamic spirit of contemporary lifestyle brands.
[FRANK CHOU COLLECTION]
[Samsung Electronics]
The imported furniture collection brand casa jolie joined forces with Swiss high-end mechanical clock manufacturer L'Epée, renowned high-end stone supplier Caesarstone from Israel, China's block carpet supplier BURGUNIE, and innovative brands like DECO·DECO Plexiglas, Cement Design from Spain, and the building materials brand ®️KANKO MATERIALS from Japan. Additionally, PET acoustic panels and production manufacturer Greenish, cement mineral natural material brand Concreate, green and sustainable brand CHAZENCE, and resin materials brand Wu’er Handicrafts, as well as the pioneer in 100% high-performance Sileather, were also present. This convergence of global innovative design materials brands emphasizes the fusion of design and technology, empowering the commercialization of design concepts.
As the exclusive title partner of Design Shenzhen, Audi once again presented the seamless integration of exquisite craftsmanship and exceptional performance. The unveiling of the Audi e-tron GT, Audi's flagship luxury coupe embodying design as its ethos and technology as its core, vividly captured the artistic essence of “Dynamism by Design” and provided creative inspiration to design innovators. Alongside the debut of the e-tron GT, Audi showcased imaginative new media installations, enhancing attendees' experience with immersive and interactive elements, fostering inspirational encounters.
[Audi e-tron GT]
Shaping Tomorrow:
Industry Leaders Discuss the Future of Design
As the epicenter of design, Shenzhen has witnessed the pervasive influence of technological advancements, catalyzing profound transformations and boundless inspiration within the design industry. This year's “Design Shenzhen” placed a spotlight on the “the fusion of design and technology” as it kicked off its main forum, inviting a plethora of domestic and international design luminaries and industry trailblazers to share their invaluable experiences and insights across various topics, while collectively envisioning the future of the industry.
The inaugural day of the forum was dedicated to interior design. Marcel Wanders, the esteemed Dutch designer and founder of the Moooi brand, debut with a surprise, initiating a dialogue with Aidan Walker, Director of the Design Shenzhen Forum, on the theme of “curious, romantic, uninhibited design rebels.” Luminaries such as Cheng Chung, founder of CCD Hong Kong; Steve Leung, founder of the Steve Leung Group; renowned industrial designer Shi Xiaoxi, curator of GOOD DESIGN SELECT; and Jiang Xue, director of the Matrix Research Institute, graced the event with their presence, offering cutting-edge insights.
[Dialogue between Marcel Wanders and Aidan Walker]
Cheng Chung, founder of CCD Hong Kong
Steve Leung, founder of the Steve Leung Group
The focus of the second day shifted to AI-enabled innovation within the design industry. A group of industry trailblazers, who have extensively explored the potential of AI in design, convened. Among them were Leon Krykhtin, founder and design Director of LKDN; Ila Colombo, Creative and Strategic Director of DEOND Dubai & Ross Lovegrove Studio; Emilie Robinson, Creative Director of Map Project Office; Tim Fu, founder and CEO of Tim Fu Studio; and Martha Tsigkari, Senior Partner and Head of ARD at Foster + Partners, alongside many others. They shared their experiences and insights into AI practices, aiming to unlock future trends in AI design for their clients. Additionally, OPPO's 1st Industrial Design Competition Award Ceremony took place at the Design Shenzhen main forum.
[AI-themed Panel Discussion]
[Ila Colombo, DEOND Dubai & Ross Lovegrove Studio]
The third day of the forum delved into the realms of building technology and urban development, featuring esteemed speakers such as Zhuang Ziyu, founder and principal architect of BUZZ Architects; Lv Man, Chief Development Officer of RIBA China; Yuan Ye, chief architect of China Construction Engineering Design and Research Institute; Zhou Jingjing, Director and Senior Partner of J&A Design; Frankie Lui, founder and presiding architect of Atelier Global (AG); Satoshi Ohashi, director of Zaha Hadid Architects in China; and Aldo Cibic, founder of CibicWorkshop. Alongside other leaders in the architectural industry, they further explored the themes of leveraging building technology and digital design for sustainable urban development, and the quest for harmonizing with nature to cultivate a superior habitat for the future. Additionally, they scrutinized the intersection of architectural design, nature, and technology, and how these elements can synergistically invigorate urban vitality.
The concluding day of the forum spotlighted “Commercial Design,” harnessing the potency of design to rejuvenate business and consumption models. Renowned figures such as WGSN Trend Consultant Sophia Ye; Founder and Chief Designer of AD Architecture, Xie Peihe; Founder of Space10, Jiang Yuan; Founding Partner of DYML Architecture, He Mingzhi; Founder and Design Director of Leaping Creative, Zheng Zheng; and Chen Xiantong, Founder and Design Director of TOMO Design, were among the distinguished guests who convened. Together, they explored avenues to innovate commercial design concepts, forge innovative commercial spaces, and delve into the developmental trends and future value of emerging commercial formats empowered by technology.
[Aldo Cibic, Founder of CibicWorkshop]
[Zhuang Ziyu, Founder of BUZZ Architects and Presiding Architect]
Carefully Crafted Features Deliver a Fresh Experience
In addition to insights, Design Shenzhen 2024 also offers visitors a refreshing exhibition experience, with innovative and unique high-quality features prepared in collaboration with emerging designers, architects and technology brands in the fields of architectural design, technological art, furniture design and so on.
This year, Design Shenzhen continues to join hands with industrial designer Shi Xiaoxi to present GOOD DESIGN SELECT, an officially licensed G-Mark event, which presents MEIZU 20 INFINITY, a representative Chinese design and the G-Mark Award winner in 2023. MEIZU 20 INFINITY explains “#Why is this Good Design” from multiple perspectives, such as concept, culture, material, engineering, craftsmanship, form, process, color, production, brand vision, and so on, which draws the distance between the public and professional design closer.
[GOOD DESIGN SELECT]
Raritag, a tech company under Cheng Chung Design, highlighted its innovative products at the IDEAFUSION booth as a special feature with the theme “Design Transformation”. Through the integration of digital media art, IDEAFUSION seamlessly incorporates sustainable renewable materials and intelligent management technology into the space. Moreover, it demonstrates how designers utilize the comprehensive IDEAFUSION digital platform in their work environments. This integration enables us to harmonize the natural perspective with the advancing wave of intelligent technology, offering a glimpse into the future of design.
The “WellConnect Health Technology Feature Exhibition”, a collaborative effort between Design Shenzhen and David Hugh, a health innovation enterprise based in Cambridge, UK, enlisted the expertise of Chen Guowei, Director of LWK+Partners Architects, to spearhead the design. Themed around the concept of nesting, the exhibition showcased an array of cutting-edge technology products including brain-computer interface technology, cryogenic non-magnetic infrared PureInfra®, oxygen therapy, and levitation technology chairs. These innovations were integrated with meditation courses, interactive "morphing" art, and other elements to craft a vibrant health experience.
The “IDEA BOX” feature returned with its distinctive box format, spotlighting design concepts, curated selections, thematic creations, inspiring discussions, and blind box sales from over 40 outstanding brands. This initiative delves into the potential of artifact design, aiming to forge connections between brands and premium channel platforms to unlock the commercial value of design creativity.
This year, Design Shenzhen partnered with TalkU, a consulting label specializing in commercial real estate and branding event marketing strategies, and launched the “DAST Technology and Art Application Special Exhibition,” where DAST stands for Design+Art+Social+Tech. The exhibition area, designed by CM+, a subsidiary of DYML, offers an immersive experience for visitors. Leading brands from business, culture, creativity, and technology, such as POIZON and SUNDAY HOME, have been invited to showcase personalized visual and experiential scenes. Furthermore, TalkU collaborated with creative experts from various fields, initiated in-depth discussions on art, design, trendy culture, and the business environment. Through DAST, effective strategies are provided for commercial real estate projects to establish strong connections with consumers across different spatial and content dimensions.
