Design Shanghai 2025: The Power of Human-Centric Design

Asia’s leading design show announces its 12th edition, which explores design for humanity

FEBRUARY 2025 | Design Shanghai 2025 will take place 4th - 7th June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition Center. For twelve years the annual showcase has been committed to bridging the gap between Eastern and Western design, championing the very best of international and local designers, exhibiting both emerging and established names and brands. With more than 80,000 professional visitors expected this year, Design Shanghai will showcase leading brands from over 30 countries and regions, promising an unparalleled opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in the creativity and influence of world class design. To date, Design Shanghai has attracted over 2,600 design brands globally and more than 640,000 professional visitors, witnessing the growth and integration of China's design power. Over the past 12 years, Design Shanghai has grown while remaining youthful at heart, consistently embracing ever-evolving challenges with unwavering commitment. At the same time, we stay true to our original mission of being a bridge for East-West design exchange. This year, we will place greater emphasis on human-centred design, making the exhibition more personal and meaningful, and exploring—and perhaps even reaching a consensus on—a fundamental question: Through design, where are we heading, and how should we act? We look forward to a truly memorable gathering this June” - Zhuo Tan, Event Director, Design Shanghai.

Design Shanghai 2025 will spotlight over 600 expertly curated design pieces throughout its four sections, offering a glimpse into the latest trends and innovations in design. Section 1 (Furniture & Lighting) and Section 2 (Kitchen, Bathroom & Systems Design) will present cutting edge designs in furniture, lighting, kitchen, bathroom and systems, with celebrated brands such as Bulo, Formitalia, RS Barcelona, Vitra, Lalique, Miyazaki Chair Factory, NEKOSpACE, and Antoniolupi Design Made in Italia unveiling their latest collections. The Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX) will present the finest of Spanish design, including LFZ Lamps, Porcelenosa, and Viccarbe. Premium names including LAUFEN, Villeroy & Boch, and GORENJE will showcase their innovative solutions, alongside luxury appliance makers such as Liebherr, JUNG, Lantex, and Colmo.

The New Materials & Applications Section (3) will highlight sustainable innovations with leading brands including Mapei, Burgeree, Spralding, Ultrasuede® and Italian designers Florim, SICIS, and Tecnografica. Section 4, Living & Lifestyle Design will showcase exquisite craftsmanship, featuring brands like Reflections Copenhagen, Aynsley, Pro-Ject, and Vilca, as well as luxury design brands which specialise in fine porcelain, glassware, tableware, and high end home accessories, including Herend, Lomonosov, Sabre Paris, Cutipol, La Rochere, Sezzatini, Timon Luxury, and CreArt.

Design Shanghai will once again partner with leading design and creative studios to create unique design experiences. TALENTS, curated by Frank Chou, will once again return with Frank’s quest to foster the growing creative force of young designers. Design Shanghai also welcomes back Chen Min and neooold, an integration of art, craft and design based on China’s rich conventional handicrafts and materials. Chris Lefteri’s Materials First will also return with an engaging interactive experience. Visitors will also be able to explore Re: Materialize, a materials aesthetics trend exhibition curated by Zhang Lei, and Beyond Craft Japan, an exploration of Japanese beauty through materials and craftsmanship.

In addition, two brand new features, Made in JDZ curated by Ran Xiangfei and Collectible Design & Art, will spotlight the beauty of handmade craftsmanship from Jingdezhen and the artistry of limited edition designs. Both offer exclusive opportunities to experience the most innovative and forward thinking ideas from the world of design. The 2025 edition will also feature three major speaker conferences: the Global Design Conference with the theme "Design for Humanity," the CMF Conference and Design for Wellbeing Conference. These conferences will provide exhibitors with exclusive networking opportunities to engage with iconic designers and industry leaders. Speaker highlights include：Craig Miller, Partner and Project Leader, Heatherwick Studio; Changrui FU, Associate Partner, MAD; Paul Priestman, Chairman and Creative Director, PULI innovation; Robert Greenwood, Partner, Director for Asia Pacific, Snøhetta; Ole Scheeren, Chief designer, Buro Ole Scheeren; Satoshi Ohashi, Director (China), Zaha Hadid Architects.

How China is Leading in Design Innovation

Asia’s Leading Design Show Demonstrates the Richness of China’s Craft and Design Landscape

March 2025 | The 12th edition of Design Shanghai 2025 will take place 4th - 7th June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition Center. Recognised as Asia’s leading design show, Design Shanghai demonstrates how China is a global powerhouse in design. Since the inaugural event over a decade ago, Design Shanghai has witnessed domestic brands - from globally renowned to independent design practices - choose the platform to launch their collections and cutting-edge designs. Each recognises the global impact and authoritative voice Design Shanghai holds in the design and architecture space.

Each edition of Design Shanghai is a commitment to celebrate the advancement of Chinese design and craftsmanship, and the show has contributed to the unprecedented growth of numerous Chinese designers, many of whom have become pillars of contemporary design in China. This year, the show continues to redefine perceptions of Chinese design on the global stage, with over 600 design masterpieces on display and seven special features led by an incredible roster of Chinese artists, designers and craftsmen: TALENTS, neooold, Re:Materialize, Made in JDZ, Beyond Craft Japan, Materials First and Collectible Design & Art. “Over the past 12 years, Design Shanghai has pioneered Chinese design exhibitions, witnessing modern design development in China. During this time, the Chinese design industry has entered a vibrant and flourishing era, with numerous designers and brands emerging in the market and expressing their voices. As we endeavour to shape the ecosystem of Asian design exhibitions, Design Shanghai remains dedicated to the Chinese design industry and provides resolute support. This year, we continue to spearhead the industry, both as a trailblazer and a practitioner, leading the trends of modern design.” Zhuo Tan, Event Director, Design Shanghai.

Show curators have noticed a significant shift in consumer attitudes in China and a deeper focus on value and longevity in design. Domestic consumers are willing to invest in quality. The Design Shanghai features showcase the breadth and quality of craftsmanship, design, and innovation that China has to offer, alongside design excellence from participating international designers and brands.The 2025 show marks the launch of Design Shanghai Collectible Design & Art, which brings together a curated selection of limited edition artworks and designs from across the globe, in collaboration with galleries, artists, and designers. In today's China, there is a growing accumulation of wealth, with an increasing number of enterprises and individuals expressing their personality and taste through the collection of internationally acclaimed limited edition works. Chinese galleries participating include: Ivory Gate Gallery, Langblink, Champochic Gallery, Jin Junfeng, Chengyan Art, Deep Time Art Museum, Yanshan Art Museum, Lacquer_Chengyan, Studio M.Noir, and Pinwu. The new feature will provide a professional platform for both Chinese and international designers, collectors, and enthusiasts to exhibit and interact.

TALENTS supports and champions local emerging designers, alongside international talents, by providing a platform that helps build lasting relationships in business and therefore supports growth. 2025 marks the features 5th anniversary, with the theme ‘Confront Conflicts’, which raises an important question for creators - In a future world where conflicts are becoming more intense and frequent, how will we, as designers, respond with the right mindset and actions? The exhibition will display designers' responses through their respective mediums, aligning with curator Frank Chou’s mission to help young designers grow to help improve the design ecology in China. Selected designers of past TALENTS editions will participate in the exhibition, symbolizing the feature’s ongoing commitment to the growth of emerging design talent, including Yif Design, Xiangzhi, AbidJaved, and Yusheng.

neooold marks its momentous 5th year showcasing at Design Shanghai. In China, 5 years is a milestone for reflection. In this spirit, curator Chen Min reflects on previous years, taking inspiration from existing neooold designers who have grown alongside the concept, well aligned with the ancient Chinese proverb ‘learning from the past to understand the present’ (温故而知新). This year’s theme, Mass Wonders, will delve into the beauty of handcrafted art by a curation of 20 young Chinese artisans who are creating masterpieces utilising time-honoured crafts such as lacquer, ceramics, metalwork, and weaving.

Two highlighted designers participating this year include Jiang Sheng, sculptor and Founder of Jiang Jia Ban, and Lin Yuming, founder and chief designer of Nanchow, both based in Xiamen, Fujian Province. The creative skills and artistry of these design masters provides a snapshot of the level of local craftsmanship and talent which will be showcased this year, and the makers who are leading Chinese design innovation.

New in 2025, the Made in Jingdezhen feature symbolises the convergence of diverse crafts in the region. Historically, Jingdezhen has been the ceramics capital of the world, yet the mission behind Made in Jingdezhen is to present the ‘new’ Jingdezhen: a creative hub where many designers and artists have relocated to form a rich community of craft and design. Split into three themed rooms, the inaugural feature will present Jingdezhen-based artists’ work, which interprets traditional techniques in modern scenarios, formed from lacquer, silver, gold, and glassmaking. Participating designers and artists include Moonline, POT, Ciireals, borges, Correct vs Incorrect, Zing space, and Studio bay.

Re:Materialize is a showcase of traditional Chinese heritage techniques as well as modern industrial and technological materials. Organized by Design Shanghai and Róng Design Library curators, the exhibition advocates for a return to material-oriented thinking at the early stages of design, emphasizing the concept "material-driven design”. The exhibition features over 20 selected material brands and 20 designers or artists, inviting them to experiment with material possibilities within given themes. In light of contemporary global challenges such as environmental concerns, technological advancements, and an aging population, three emerging themes—Present Optimism, Nostalgic Shelter, and Harmonious Coexistence—propose a discourse on how design can assist humanity in reconstructing a sense of security. These themes explore the evolving relationship between humans and the Earth and contemplate the creative mission of future design.

Design Shanghai has showcased over 2600 design brands from more than 30 countries, welcoming over 640,000 professional attendees who have each witnessed the growth and integration of Chinese design power. Over the years, the Chinese design industry has flourished, with numerous designers and brands emerging in the Chinese market, whilst international brands and designers have recognised the quality and innovation China has and have therefore explored and experimented in China.

Design Shanghai Announces ‘Design Shanghai Collectible’

The intersection between art and design

Design Shanghai, Asia’s leading international design event, is proud to announce the launch of the Design Shanghai Collectible exhibition. This highly anticipated event will take place at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre 4th - 7th June 2025.

As the pursuit of personalisation in modern living spaces deepens, the demand for collectible art and design pieces continues to rise. Consequently, designers increasingly incorporate art pieces to enhance both residential and commercial projects. Design Shanghai Collectible will showcase a curated selection of limited-edition artworks, including painting, sculpture, installation art, photography, furniture, and crafts. This exhibition will foster collaboration in design and art, highlighting the growing significance of collectible design and art within the industry.

The upcoming event will feature artworks spanning diverse categories such as painting, sculpture, installation art, and photography, offering audiences a rich array of artistic forms and styles. Through these artworks, interior designers infuse spaces with unique charm and personality, facilitating collaboration and exchange between the realms of design and art. Simultaneously, this event provides artists with increased opportunities for exhibition and market exposure, thereby contributing to the vibrant growth of the creative industry as a whole. Leading collectible galleries will showcase works from multiple categories, including painting, sculpture, installation art, and photography.

Exhibitor highlights for the 2025 show will include:

Katz Studio

At the core of Katz Studio's philosophy lies a profound appreciation for the inherent patterns of nature, a place where the elegance of nature’s algorithms is seamlessly woven into the fabric of functional art. In the pulsating heart of Mexico City, the studio crafts a dialogue between the organic and the engineered, an exploration that is as much about discovery as it is about creation.

PINWU

PINWU Design Studio was founded by three designers in 2004, Lei Zhang, Jovana Zhang, and Christoph John. The studio focuses on the deconstruction of Chinese traditional handicrafts, applied in different areas including art installations, furniture, space, graphics and brand strategy. The mission of PINWU Design Studio is to overturn traditional design languages and create contemporary works based on the deconstruction research about Chinese traditional handicrafts and materials. PINWU calls this “FUTURE TRADITION”.

ChengYan

Lacquerware Studio ChengYan Lacquerware Studio was co-founded in 2019 by Liu Han and Liu Shuai. Guided by the principle of practicality and natural harmony, the studio aims to explore the expression and presentation of Chinese lacquer art in the context of contemporary culture.

Yanshan Art Center

Founded in 2024 by ceramic artist Mr. Li Yanxun, Yanshan Art Center is a comprehensive artistic hub integrating ceramic material research, craftsmanship exploration, production, and art exhibition. The center is dedicated to researching ceramic materials and developing technologies, such as ceramic 3D printing, CNC ceramic carving, and numerical control systems of ceramic glazing, which are widely applied in home decor and the artistic components of architecture

Highlighted exhibitors across the fair

Design Shanghai 2024: Showcasing the Pinnacle of

Creativity and Innovation

Asia’s largest international design event enters its eleventh year and expects to welcome over 100,000 visitors over four days, from 19th-22nd June 2024, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre. Over the past decade, Design Shanghai has become one of the biggest design shows in the world, showcasing exceptional designs from global and Chinese brands and visionary designers, enlightening forums and summits, and captivating features and installations. Design Shanghai explores how Eastern and Western design philosophies can work together synergistically across 4 vibrant halls, which have grown by a third for this years edition; Hall 1 ‘Furniture and Lighting’, Hall 2 ‘Kitchen and Bathroom’, Hall 3 ‘Living and Lifestyle’ and Hall 4 ‘New Materials and Application’.Design Shanghai has always been a revered stage for brands to debut their new products, this year the show will present over 700 top-tier brands spanning furniture, lighting, kitchen, bathroom, and material design brands, all sourced from around the globe. “We are excited for visitors to take in the acclaimed brands and emerging talents showcasing at this year's edition of Design Shanghai. The addition of the new Hall 4 makes this the largest and highest-quality exhibition we’ve hosted yet. The show will spotlighting numerous global brands exhibiting for the first time and demonstrate the rise in Chinese brands.” Zhuo Tan, Event Director of Design Shanghai

Hall 1 assembles the very best furniture and lighting design brands from across the globe, a hub of creative contemporary design talents with a vast selection of leading high-end design brands and emerging independent designers - cutting-edge innovators ready to captivate and inspire. A notable highlight within this hall is Thomas Heatherwick’s ‘Humanise Stand’. Heatherwick, Founder and Design Director of Heatherwick Studio, is known for numerous projects in Shanghai, including the award winning 2010 EXPO British Pavilion, 1000 Trees as well as the recently opened West Bund Orbit, and will launch the Chinese-language edition of his book ‘Humanise: A Maker's Guide to Building Our World’ at a special event during the show on the 19th of June. Heatherwick will also join a panel with fellow designers and architects as well as sign books at the Humanise Stand. Expect exhibitions across this hall that blend art and design, with international highlights from; French luxury glassmaker Lalique, Italian lighting brand Icone Srl, Italian luxury outdoor furniture brand Ethimo, innovative Italian lighting Masiero, Japanese wood furniture manufacturer Karimoku Case, British luxury paint brand Mylands, Spanish ICEX, which will present brands Agora, Viccarbe, Colección Alexandra, LZF Lamps and RS Barcelona, Italian furniture brand Monography, German manufacturer Bretz, Czech lighting designers Sans Souci and French furniture brand Maison Dada.

Design Shanghai celebrates a wealth of creative accomplishments and is set to share new ideas from both the world’s rising stars and industry tastemakers. Design Shanghai has established itself as an event that champions Chinese designers and brands, celebrating the culture, craftsmanship and both the traditions and innovations of the country. This celebration of homegrown talent is accompanied by an appreciation for global designers and the desire to bring the two design identities, of the East and West, together. A vibrant mix of pioneering exhibitors, with brands such as U+, Lalique, Wedgwood, and Chen Darui showcasing at Design Shanghai demonstrate the event's influence in the design industry.

The 2nd Edition of Design Shenzhen Concludes:

(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.

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.

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.

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.