Design Shanghai celebrates 11th edition
(China) – Asia’s largest international Design Festival welcomed 80,000 visitors to the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention centre on 19-22 June.
Over three days the event hosted 600 brands from 40 countries, showcasing a blend of Eastern and Western design philosophies. With the addition of a new hall, the fair included forums and workshops with prominent designers discussing trends such as sustainable design and traditional craftmanship.
The show celebrated Chinese design talent and international participation was notable in sectors like lighting, furniture, and accessories. The design talks programme facilitated discussions on future design trends and welcomed speakers such as Aldo Bakker founder of Aldo Bakker Studios and Thomas Heatherwick founder of Heatherwick Studio. Audi, a long-time partner of the show, showcased its advancements in auto motive lighting technology by presenting an interactive installation named ‘Language of Light’.
Zhuo Tan, Director of Design Shanghai, says; “2024 has been a challenging year for designers, architects, brands, and everyone in the design industry. Design Shanghai has always embraced change and faced challenges head-on. This year, the show was buzzy and dynamic, resembling an annual grand gathering for designers, with many discovering new directions for the future. This is exactly our aim – to instil confidence in the design industry and give designers a much-needed boost.”
New additions and highlight for 2024 included:
- Talents, curated by designer Frank Chou, aimed to inspire young emerging designers, who were invited to explore the theme “The Quest For The Question”.
- Chen Min curated neooold, which featured the theme “Art Extension, which converges crafts with the origins of modern art.
- Craft+ presented an exploration of China’s heritage and traditional craftsmanship, highlighting textile techniques of ethnic minorities, with a focus on revitalising traditional crafts through design collaborations.
- “Rong Casting” Exhibition: Returning for its ninth edition the exhibit commits to deconstructing traditional handicrafts into materials and techniques.
Design Shanghai will return for its 12th edition in 2025 as well as launching a brand-new show on 31 October 2024, Design Shanghai Collectible.
