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Business of Design Week 2012 Meets Resounding Success

Jan. 18, 2013
Keynote discussions included explorations of technology and design and global brand management strategy.

HONG KONG -- After three days of thought-provoking content last month, the Business of Design Week (BODW) Forum 2012 was brought to a close. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre saw international speakers and guests have their last interactions. Hong Kong Design Year’s keynote event set off discussions such as “How to Explore Technology and Design” and "Latest Global Brand Management Strategy."

BODW is Asia's annual event on design, innovation and branding. Since 2002 it has been organized by the Hong Kong Design Centre. Bringing the best of the global design world to Hong Kong, the week-long event encourages businesses to unleash the power of design by focusing on the vital relationship and complex interplay between design and business. Forums, exhibitions and workshops are held that allow participants to experience various aspects of design in a creative and technical way.

In this year's closing speech Victor Lo, chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, thanked everyone for their support of Business of Design Week 2012, and announced that he looked forward to having Belgium as the partner country for Business of Design Week 2013. "Belgian Spirit" was set up in 2011 to promote Belgium's strong tradition of creativity, innovation, design, technology and innate talent. Belgian Spirit aspires to bring Belgian creativity, design and innovation to a higher level of internationalization, by creating and developing a long-term collaboration platform with Business of Design Week in Hong Kong. The aim is to strengthen the creative, cultural and economic ties between professionals in the architecture, design and fashion sectors of both countries.

BODW has been running for 10 years, with past partner countries including Germany, the UK, Italy, The Netherlands, France and Japan. Since this year’s Business of Design Week partner country was Denmark, His Royal Highness Prince Frederik of Denmark, along with HKSAR Chief Executive, CY Leung, participated in the opening ceremony.

The BODW Forum hosted a number of influential Danish designers and design leaders. The Danes, known for their functional design, shared their design culture, philosophies and experiences with the BODW audience. As Danish designers are also leaders in social design, they also shared their views on how to improve the living conditions of people through great design.

Through eight tracks and three plenary sessions, the BODW Forum covered product design, branding, fashion & apparel, communication, design for society, Asian design and other topics related to the business and design industry. A number of leading local and international designers and design experts took to the stage of the BODW Forum to share invaluable experiences and display some of their work.

The BODW week also saw two Asian Design Awards ceremonies. Close to 1,000 guests including local and international politicians, business leaders, design leaders and those invested in design, came together at the Gala Dinner on Dec. 7 to celebrate three highly respected recipients of the design awards. Graphic design legend Henry Steiner won the “Asian Design Lifetime Achievement Award” (LAA); Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance, accepted the “Design Leadership Award” (DLA); car designer Anthony Lo, received the “World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer Award” (WOCD). The three recipients of the grand prizes were heavily applauded in recognition of their enormous contribution to the design community. The Hong Kong Design Centre also honoured several new design projects that have the potential to increase the quality of life of in Asia, and to make the world more sustainable.

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