Hong Kong Design Centre

(HONG KONG – 5 December, 2015) Business of Design Week (BODW)2015, the annual flagship programme on design, innovation and brands in Asia presented by the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), drew to a successful close after a week of thought-provoking programmes exploring business, design and cities of the future in Hong Kong and BODW’s first-ever Partner City Barcelona.

A Stage for Creative Exchange 

BODW 2015 welcomed an exceptional line-up of over 75 business leaders and creatives to speak on design, innovation and brands. From designers creating cultural and architectural masterpieces like the Sagrada Família; to innovators in technology and urban projects shared by Barcelona City Council; to the leading minds behind multinational brands like Coca-Cola, and Moleskine – speakers from 15 cities and countries joined together at BODW 2015 to showcase a world of inspiration and offer insight into their design and business success.

Chairman of Board of Directors, HKDC, Mr Victor Lo said, “By bringing together design masters and influential business figures, BODW is able to provide a significant platform for idea exchange in Asia, year after year. BODW 2015 has once again put Hong Kong at the heart of design in the region and offered an invaluable opportunity to network and explore creative and business cooperation.”

“BODW 2015 was an exceptional experience,” added artist Mr Jaume Plensa of the Plensa Studio Barcelona and a speaker at BODW 2015. “There are few other such opportunities to meet a wide range of figures from diverse professions and learn about the relevance of design to their field, be it fashion, sculpture or technology.”

BODW speaker, Mr Ross Lovegrove, Industrial Designer of ROSS LOVEGROVE added, “What’s unique about BODW is the calibre of the speakers and the sessions. I’ve had the chance to network and engage in creative exchange with world-renown designers, artists and business leaders. That kind of idea sharing is essential to charting the designs of the future and producing globally sustainable ideas.” 

Wrapping up ‘Design. Cities. Future.’ 

For its 14th year, BODW encouraged designers and businesses to explore the way in which creative endeavours and co-creation can transform cities and foster entrepreneurship. BODW 2015 presented an unrivalled occasion for design personalities, creative visionaries, educators, business leaders, SMEs and the general public to exchange ideas and insights. This year’s sessions included Crowdfunding & Design, IoT (Internet of Things) & Design, and core programme Brand Asia Forum bringing together world-class brand management experts from academic and business sectors to share cutting-edge knowledge in brand management and innovation. A gala dinner was held on 4 December with an entertaining programme successfully integrated Chinese drums, contemporary dance by Gelabert + Azzopardi supported by FC Barcelona and Malaysian female pop singer Sheila Amzah.

BODW 2015 also marked the event’s first-ever partnership with a city – Barcelona. Community-driven and forward thinking, design and business talents from Barcelona shared their thoughts, ideas and expertise on how good design helps create cities of the future, under the BODW 2015 theme ‘Design. Cities. Future.’

Rounding out the design week were BODW concurrent programmes, including:

• deTour 2015, a 10-day fest celebrating creative education and fostering young talents, held this year at Central’s iconic venue PMQ;
• The DesignEd Asia Conference, bringing together design educators and professionals to share knowledge, views and experience;
• The Business of IP Asia Forum in which business leaders from around the world came together to share their IP insight;
• The annual symposium of the Global Design Network, a Hong Kong-based design promotional body supported by a strong international membership network;
• InnoDesignTech Expo showcasing projects and innovations to help trading, manufacturing and service sectors enhance their capacity to supply world markets; and
• The Roca One Day Design Challenge featuring over 120 local designers, all under the age of 30, who tackled the challenge of creating original solutions and innovative concepts related to the bathroom space in just one day.

Business of Design Week is co-organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council and sponsored by Create Hong Kong. Next year, BODW will welcome Chicago as its BODW 2016 Partner City, under the theme “Chicago Made”. This partnership will open exciting opportunities for idea exchange on innovative design, urban business leadership and the power of art in creating a sense of place.

BODW 2015:  http://www.bodw.com  
To download event photos, please visit  https://oma-sftp.interpublic.com .
Username: hkdc-2015
Password: 2015-Hkdc (Case sensitive)

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About Hong Kong Design Centre

Design for Society is the major undertaking of Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC). HKDC is a non-profit organisation and a strategic partner of the HKSAR Government in developing Hong Kong as an international design hub in Asia. Since 2002, HKDC has been on a public mission to (i) champion strategic and wider use of design for creating business value and community benefits; (ii) promote and celebrate design excellence; and (iii) educate the professions and the community to be resourceful champions for sustained developments through design and innovation.

About Business of Design Week

The Hong Kong Design Centre has been the organiser of Business of Design Week (BODW) since 2002. It is an annual international event aimed at promoting design and strengthening ties between the design and business communities. Each year, BODW attracts design and business elites from around the world to Hong Kong. The world's attention is drawn to current design issues through various exhibitions, international forums and outreach activities tailored to provide designers, business leaders, educators, SMEs and the public with communication opportunities to build strong business and commercial development. It is a world-class platform for the exchange of ideas, and an internationally renowned annual design event. 

Hong Kong Design Centre

Jacky Chan	Wendy Wo
Tel: (+852) 3793 8478	Tel: (+852) 3793 8472
Email: jacky.chan@hkdesigncentre.org	Email: wendy.wo@hkdesigncentre.org

Photo Reference

Photo 1:Mr Victor Lo, Chairman of Board of Directors, HKDC said by bringing together design masters and influential business figures, BODW is able to provide a significant platform for idea exchange in Asia, year after year. Next year, BODW will welcome Chicago as its BODW 2016 Partner City, under the theme “Chicago Made”.

Photo 2:  A gala dinner was held on 4 December with an entertaining international programme including a contemporary dance by Gelabert + Azzopardi supported by FC Barcelona.

Photo 3: (Middle) Hong Kong Design Centre’s Executive Director Dr Edmund Lee concluded that Business of Design Week 2015 drew to a successful close after a week-long series of thought-provoking sessions, exhibition, award ceremonies and concurrent programmes. (Left) Mr Andrew Spenili, Director of Global Strategic Initiatives, World Business Chicago, (Right) Mr Eric Yim, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, HKDC.

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 organizers 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.