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Monday, 24 December 2007 | Levent OZLER
Asia's Leading Design Event Attracts 100 World Class Designers to Hong Kong
Business of Design Week (BODW) 2007, the word's largest international design event, closed on 15 December, bringing to an end a week which collected together the world's most influential designers and participants from government, business and academia with the aim of championing good design for business success. Organised by Hong Kong Design Centre and supported by the Government, BODW attracted nearly 50,000 participants and more than 100 of the world's top creative minds.
The year's BODW Forum featured over 30 top design masters. Speakers included architectural legend Zaha Hadid, venerated designers Tom Dixon and Marc Newson, Italian maestros Mario Bellini, Michele De Lucchi, groundbreaking Asian innovators Fumie Shibata and Tony Suppattranont as well as Chinese antiquities expert Tian Jia Qing. Design experts from companies including automotive leaders Stile Bertone, Nissan and Ducati, trend-setters Missoni and Kartell, and electronics innovators TCL and Philips also shared their insights during the three-day design extravaganza.
"Design has never been more important for forging new solutions, whether they be taking business to new dimensions, addressing environmental concerns, preserving local cultures in light of rapidly globalising society, or meeting the demands of new and exciting technologies," said Victor Lo, Chairman, Board of Directors, Hong Kong Design Centre. "For these reasons, Business of Design Week is the highlight of our annual calendar. Our aim is to inspire and promote design innovation in all its aspects, to celebrate the industry's successes and energise young designers and those who are now starting out in their careers."
Hong Kong-educated jewellery and accessories designer Kai-Yin Lo said, "Business of Design Week is a celebration and engine-head of design excellence and innovation. It boosts creativity by providing the platform and framework for creative people to voice, exchange and review their views, experiences and business practices. Justly it is well supported by the international design community and has become the premier design and business forum in Asia."
BODW garnered interest from across the world, and publications in Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, China, Korea, India and Italy sent reporters to cover the event, with nearly 200 journalists registering to attend, representing design, industry, business, fashion and lifestyle, broadcast and general news organisations.
At the HKDC Annual Award Gala Dinner on 12 December 2007, the highly coveted Hong Kong Design Centre Awards were announced. Kai-yin Lo was named World's Outstanding Chinese Designer 2007. The president of Muji, Mr. Tadamitsu Matsui won the Design Leadership Award 2007, and 17 great designs received Design for Asia Award 2007 in three categories, while 6 emerging designers joined the Hong Kong Young Design Talent Awards community.
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