Hong Kong Design Centre

Any successful entrepreneur will tell you that the ability to make the right connections is one of the most crucial skills for anyone running their own business. It’s only more true for those who are making the leap from designer to design entrepreneur. Networking is a vital way to grasp up-to-date information, exchange ideas, raise one’s personal and brand profile, seek advice and opportunities… all that are essential for growing a new design business. Like in any other profession, not all designers are born networkers. But it’s all down to whether they can find a friendly and supportive community which share similar aspirations and can inspire them.

Since 2002, Hong Kong Design Centre’s Design Incubation Programme (DIP), which is fully funded by the government, has been providing a range of entrepreneurial support to budding local designers. Needless to say, providing the right networking opportunities is a key advantage of the platform. Held quarterly, DIP’s networking sessions are the incubation programme's designers' seasonal get-togethers. “It is the best chance for me to get to know other designers within a short period of time. Each time there are forty to fifty of them at the event,” said Deep Yuen, a participant of the August networking session. “They’re not just new friends and acquaintances, they’re also key players in the industry. Listening to their sharing, I come to realise what my shortcomings are.” 

At each session, old and new DIP designers are invited to share their brand stories and business know-how. Yellowdot Design, a multidisciplinary design studio founded in 2017 who joined the DIP family in March, shared their aspirations with the networking community. Their product design practice greatly inspired Deep, whose multimedia company Nearko specialises in brand licensing. “We’re dipping our toe in product design. Yellowdot’s experience sharing opened up my horizons, such as the process of manufacturing and how to coordinate with factories and negotiate contract details with agents and clients.”

“This is a very useful platform for designers. The speakers and guests always bring the latest news in the industry, as well as design contests and government funding programmes. It’s the best way to get a hold of this information quickly.” For example, in last month’s session, the Innovative Entrepreneur Association gave DIP designers a special offer for an upcoming licensing show, while Designerooms, a new co-working space for fashion businesses introduced their tailor-made service offerings for design startups. Besides, DIP designers shared their experience of participating in the Bauhinia Valley entrepreneurship training camp. Long Wise Inc. presented a special opportunity for Hong Kong designers to create HeArt Panda statues for a competition. The winning designs will be exhibited at DesignInspire 2018 in December, a concurrent event of our Business of Design Week.

Having met a few dozen like-minded people and picked their brains in just a few hours, Deep and other DIP designers were exhilarated and left with a lot to think about. Most importantly, networking with this community has recharged and energised them to move forward with their design ventures and take it to the next level.