Gathering Top Creative and Business Leaders to Discuss
<\/b>Design-led Cross-disciplinary Integration and Innovation<\/b><\/p>\n
HONG KONG<\/span><\/span>, Dec. 5, 2024<\/span><\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ — Asia’s<\/span> premier annual event on design, innovation and brands, the Business of Design Week 2024 (BODW 2024)<\/b> Summit opened at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The opening ceremony was officiated by Prof. Eric Yim<\/span><\/b>, MH, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC); Ms. Margaret Fong<\/span><\/b>, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC\u00a0 ) and M<\/b>r<\/b>s. Christile Drulhe<\/b>, Consul General of France<\/span> in Hong Kong<\/span> and Macau<\/span>. This\u00a03-day Summit, taking place from 4 to 6 December 2024<\/span>, commenced with an opening speech by Mrs. Eva Nguyen Binh<\/span><\/b>,\u00a0President of Institut fran\u00e7ais and Ambassador for French Cultural Diplomacy, on the theme “Inter\/Section: Design, Artistry and Innovation”<\/b>.<\/p>\n BODW 2024 is organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC)<\/b>, and together with France<\/span><\/b> as Partner Country<\/b>, supported by Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) <\/b>under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR as Lead Sponsor, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council<\/b>\u00a0(HKTDC)<\/b>\u00a0as Co-organiser, the event will host a meeting of minds pertaining to the topics of design, innovation and branding. Under the theme “Inter\/Section: Design, Artistry and Innovation”<\/b>,\u00a0BODW 2024’s Summit has gathered over 50 renowned designers and entrepreneurs from France<\/span>, Hong Kong<\/span>, the Mainland and overseas to participate in more than 40 face-to-face panels, keynote speeches and fireside chats on the five key topics of Urban Futures<\/b>, Brands & Retail Resurgence<\/b>, Craftsmanship & Material Mastery, Culture & Digital Aesthetics, and AI & Future Tech<\/b>. The Summit will highlight design-driven innovations and ideas that explore the cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural intersections of design, artistry, technology and innovation, tradition and modernity, and the East and West cultural exchanges. Responding to the interconnected nature of the world, BODW 2024 seeks to unveil the endless possibilities of design in transforming products, processes and strategies in a rapidly changing business environment, and foster greater collaboration between businesses.<\/p>\n As 2024 marks<\/span> the 60th<\/sup> anniversary of the establishment of Sino-France bilateral relations and\u00a0the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, HKDC has once again invited France<\/span> to join BODW in the integral role of year-round partner country following their previous collaboration in 2009. Through this partnership, both parties have jointly contributed to BODW 2024 and\u00a0KODW 2024,\u00a0which was successfully held in June; the upcoming Parisian decoration, design, and lifestyle\u00a0trade fair Maison&Objet,\u00a0which will be showcasing in Hong Kong<\/span> for the first time at DesignInspire later this year; and the exclusive performance of\u00a0renowned French audio-visual artists Franck Vigroux and Antoine Schmitt<\/span> during the afternoon session of BODW 2024’s opening.<\/p>\n Prof. Eric Yim<\/span><\/b>, MH, JP, Chairman of the HKDC stated: “Hong Kong<\/span> is a centre for cultural exchanges between East and West, as well as a design capital. Through our city’s unique advantages, we are fortunate to invite France<\/span> as our partner country once again. By showcasing France’s<\/span> distinctive design aesthetic and rich cultural heritage, we aim to promote the integration of Eastern and Western design forces, drive cross-disciplinary innovative thinking, and explore how to harness art, technology, and innovation to meet the significant challenges of our time. We seek to seize the business opportunities brought by change, create value through design, break through the status quo, and drive progress forward in service of a better future for all.”<\/p>\n M<\/b>r<\/b>s. Eva Nguyen Binh<\/span><\/b>, President of Institut fran\u00e7ais and Ambassador for French Cultural Diplomacy, shared, “French culture has a long and rich history, deeply rooted in tradition while tirelessly pursuing innovation. As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China<\/span> and France<\/span>, BODW will be a key moment for fostering dialogue and connections, bringing together our worldviews to deepen mutual understanding – a crucial task that design professionals undertake with great skill. The term Inter\/Section not only emphasizes the richness of our differences but also highlights the importance of interdisciplinarity. This week celebrates the many forms that design can take..”<\/p>\n Mr<\/b>s<\/b>.<\/b> Christile Drulhe<\/b>, Consul General of France<\/span> in Hong Kong<\/span> and Macau<\/span>, said:” The collaboration with the Hong Kong Design Center to organize such a fantastic event is a testament to the strength of the cultural ties between France<\/span> and Hong Kong<\/span> and our shared ambition to make design a universal language that connects ideas, cultures, and disciplines. This year’s theme, “Inter\/Section: Design, Artistry, and Innovation” perfectly captures the essence of French design – a continuous dialogue between tradition and modernity, craftsmanship and innovation .”<\/p>\n Highlighted sessions<\/b>\u00a0of the BODW 2024 Summit include:<\/p>\n