Hong Kong Design Centre

In Design we trust

The first Policy Address presented by Chief Executive Carrie Lam a couple of weeks ago has delivered a message of hope to citizens, which is also a seminal blueprint to build a city that values design. Lam remarked, “(The policy address) comprehensively covers such areas as good governance, diversified economy, nurturing talent, improving people’s livelihood, liveable city and connecting with young people.” If you are attracted to the power of design and creative thinking or you have stayed close to DMatters in the past 6 months, you would know that design is an indispensable means in defining the future orientation and the dynamic and quality of a city.

Further in the document, various aspects on creative industries have been emphasised. HKDC is delighted to be part of these many new initiatives and will be gearing our public mission in three directions: 1) advocating strategic use of design, 2) growing markets for good design and 3) promoting a design culture.

Before the latest policy comes into effect in further promoting the development of creative industries especially nurturing of young talent, Design Incubation Programme (DIP) and Fashion Incubation Programme (FIP) have been nurturing design start-ups and brands at different stages of their business development, with hardware and software support. In addition, DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award (DFA HKYDTA) 2017 is about to announce the results by end of this month. A flock of young graduates and practitioners will receive sponsorships to undergo overseas work attachment and/or study in companies/ institutes.

To include creativity and design thinking as key elements of training programmes for directorate officers, HKDC, as a close partner with the Administration in this regard, has been conducting workshops on design thinking and application to government officers and business executives through our Institute of Design Knowledge (IDK). We advocate that the nurturing of creativity and design thinking should begin at an early age. Design thinking should become a problem-solving capability and a new way of thinking that creates values and fosters co-creation across disciplines.

Business of Design Week (BODW), the international flagship event in Asia for decision makers, industry leaders, designers, entrepreneurs, innovators, educators, students and the public, has helped foster design and future-oriented knowledge sharing and exchange, and business networking for over a decade. This year, BODW will continue to bring in world-class design masters, brand leaders, innovators and educators from Italy and around the world with the theme “Italy Makes a Difference” to inspire us on how good design contributes to city vibe, economic wealth and societal well-being. We are gratified to hear that the administration will help to “uplift BODW into an iconic design and tourism event for Hong Kong and the world”. In global pursuit of the creative and design economy, BODW plays a major platform to maintain Hong Kong on the world map of design cities and grow our global design influence.

On initiatives like smart city and inclusive society, we have been imparting new knowledge and expanding horizon of diverse stakeholders, and influencing movers and shakers across industries and legislation through roundtables, conferences and recent editions of Knowledge of Design Week (KODW). Good design and technology go hand in hand in problem solving, and there are ample opportunities for incorporating citizen-centred or people-centred design for public services and for the city, district and retail levels.

HKDC has always been a close partner of the government in promoting design and related creative industries. With these strong empowerment and support, we will work closely with our diverse stakeholders. In Design we dearly trust - let’s all co-shape a creative city that values design.

Click here for DMatters (October/November) full issue.