Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) 2023 Opens on 14 June at Hong Kong Palace Museum Gathering Global Innovators and Business Leaders In-Person to Innovate for a Sustainable Future
Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) 2023 Opens on 14 June at Hong Kong Palace Museum
Gathering Global Innovators and Business Leaders In-Person to Innovate for a Sustainable Future
HONG KONG, 14 June 2023 – Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) 2023 opens today at Hong Kong Palace Museum with officiating guests include Mr. Kevin Yeung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, HKSAR Government, Mr. Arjen van den Berg, Consul General, the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong and Macao, and Prof. Eric Yim, JP, Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre, kick start the fully physical three-day event. KODW is a premier annual design event organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) as the Lead Sponsor. With the Netherlands as the Partner Country for the 2023 edition, KODW 2023 is co-organised with CreativeNL, the platform for creative pioneers from the Netherlands.
With the theme of ‘The Power of Design: Innovating for a Circular World’, KODW 2023 gathers over 40 renowned creative experts, pioneers and business leaders from the region and around the world in Hong Kong from 14 to 16 June, featuring almost 30 face-to-face events ranging from forums, workshops to masterclasses to explore innovative practices in design and businesses to create a sustainable future. KODW has arranged a series of creative and business networking opportunities during the course, and the ‘InnoDesign Leadership Forum cum CEO Dinner’ after the closing ceremony of KODW.
KODW 2023: Six Programme Pillars
Consisting of six programme pillars: ‘Social Innovation & Wellness’, ‘Culture & the City’, ‘New Urban Models’, ‘Transformative Brands’, ‘Hospitality’, and ‘AI & Technology’, KODW 2023 explores the unique and powerful role that design plays in driving positive change and sustainability. Over the three-day event, renowned industry experts and innovators from Hong Kong and around the world will showcase the application and impact of responsible and circular design in diverse facets of the contemporary world. Collective efforts of different communities and businesses are called upon to leverage the power of design to build a more equitable, sustainable and resilient society.
KODW 2023 highlighted keynote and panel sessions include –
14 June (Day 1)
Social Innovation & Wellness
KEYNOTE: ‘Redefining Good Design for Healthy Consumerism’
Calling for design-driven change that is beneficial to all, Richard van der Laken, Co-founder & Creative Director of What Design Can Do (WDCD), The Netherlands, discusses the impact of ‘good and bad design’ on consumer behaviours, business strategies, policymaking and planetary health, complementing with examples that work (and don't work). Van der Laken co-founded WDCD, an organisation known for tackling social challenges with diverse sectors through design-driven innovations. He mentioned in today’s panel that circularity and circular design mean something different in various countries and locations. The danger of the concept of circular design is that not everyone understands it. However, everyone understands waste and recycling, which can be the first step in the right direction towards circularity.
Culture & the City
KEYNOTE: ‘Innovative Cultural Storytelling for the City’
d'strict is a trailblazing South Korean company known for its visually stunning fusion of digital media technology and content, and its remarkably engaging approach to cultural storytelling. L. J. Kim, Executive Director of LIVX, d’strict, presents a selection of the company’s projects, including its world-renowned ARTE MUSEUM’s upcoming global branches, and sparks a conversation on the power of innovative cultural storytelling to engage with local communities and democratise art experiences on a global scale, bringing media, art and technology out of the box.
PANEL: ‘Heritage in the City: Preserving Urban Legacies’
As cities across Asia undergo accelerated urbanisation, governments and businesses are faced with daily challenges to innovate for the future while preserving the past. Two pioneers in this line of work, Teo Yang, Creative Director of Teo Yang Studio and Prof. Francesca Valsecchi, Associate Professor of Tongji University College of Design and Innovation in Shanghai, discusses how modernity and tradition can coexist through creative intervention, extensive research, and thoughtful design.
New Urban Models
KEYNOTE: ‘Designing for a Planet-Friendly City’
Penda China is a Beijing-based architectural firm known for drawing inspiration from nature and incorporating biomimicry, as well as involving the ‘Design with Love’ principle in all the projects. Sun Dayong, Founder & Chief Architect of Penda China, firmly believes that nature has much to teach about counteracting excess and building more resourcefully, and shares his philosophies and experiences in designing beyond functionality to live in harmony with the environment.
Hospitality
KEYNOTE: ‘The Power of Luxe Design: Reshaping the Hospitality Landscape’
When translating hoteliers' visions into remarkable opulent designs, investors and designers must take into account local sentiments and traditional values to create culturally and ecologically sustainable spaces and buildings. Veteran in luxe design Clint Nagata, Founder & Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, shares his approach in reimagining luxurious experiences that resonate with local culture and community while prioritising circular design. Nagata shared that the world of luxury has evolved in today’s world - traditionally it was about exclusivity, now it is about personalisation, about evoking emotions and experiences.
15 June (Day 2)
Social Innovation & Wellness
KEYNOTE: ‘Reimagining Social Changes Through Design’
Marieke Rietbergen, CEO of the renowned Design Innovation Group (DIG) from the Netherlands, has developed a unique methodology that empowers designers and business leaders to take charge, step up and drive innovations while redesigning businesses through FUTURE IMAGINATION. Rietbergen’s approach seamlessly combine research, creative leadership and co-creation, working wonders for policy makers, business corporations, including notable names like IKEA, Worldbank, and government bodies, helping them transform their mindsets, behaviours and decision making.
Transformative Brands
PANEL: ‘Closing the Loop: Creating New Business Values’
In our current linear economy of ‘take-make-dispose’, many values are lost; circular business models, on the other hand, can be applied to capture these values. Renowned Dutch authorities in circular design and business Pieter van Os, Program Manager International of CIRCO and Siem Haffmans, Strategic Consultant of Partners for Innovation, will share practical examples on how to embrace circularity, make products that last longer, while at the same time create valuable business opportunities.
PANEL: ‘Sustainable Leadership and Brand Rejuvenation’
Transitioning to a net-zero world is a daunting endeavour for many industries, and reducing carbon emissions is only part of the equation. To accelerate the transition, corporations are reimagining the entire value chain. Michel Chertouh, Managing Director of Regent Hong Kong and Helen Amos, Head of Sustainability Consulting of JLL Hong Kong, will share how exceptional leadership at the core of brand revitalisation can create long-term business value while minimising environmental impacts, paving the way for a sustainable future.
AI & Technology
PANEL: ‘Creative Power of Generative AI’
The use of generative AI in enhancing business branding, marketing and operation has taken the world by storm. Industry leaders are investigating its potential to drive changes, improve efficiency, and collect insights and analytics with greater accuracy. Industry experts Dr Fan Ling, Founder & CEO of Tezign.com, Maggie Wong, Wunderman Thompson Hong Kong and Fred Sheu, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, will discuss the trends, tools, strategies and controversies surrounding generative AI’s commercial and design applications, as well as the limitations, ethical implications and education that must be considered prior to implementation.
PANEL: ‘Creativity Empowered: Bridging Storytelling with Technology’
Amid the ever-evolving digital landscape, the fusion of creativity and technology has become increasingly important in the art of storytelling. Local creatives Roger Proeis, Co-founder & President of Votion Studios and Henry Chu, Creative Director, pill & pillow, will showcase their recent interactions with technology, such as XR and the interplay of data and music, and share how they work with brands and businesses to captivate end-users with intriguing narratives.
Discover More than Keynotes and Panels: Intimate Events to Connect, Learn, and Innovate
With the exciting resumption of a fully physical format, apart from keynote and panel sessions, KODW 2023 also offers a range of interactive and intimate events including an InnoDesign Leadership Forum cum CEO Dinner at Regent Hong Kong, Meet-the-Speakers opportunities, and networking reception for providing a platform for like-minded peers to connect, share knowledge, and inspire new ideas.
11 workshops and masterclasses will also take place, led by creative pioneers from the Partner Country, the Netherlands, and other countries. These sessions are suitable for anyone passionate about sustainability, from business owners, entrepreneurs, designers and architects to content creators, marketing agencies and policy makers. Highlights include hands-on workshops and masterclasses on circular and sustainable design, such as:
• What Design Can Do - ‘Circular Design Jam Workshop: Co-Create a Sustainable Future’ (14 June): Richard van der Laken (The Netherlands) will guide participants to envision sustainable solutions in areas such as food, fashion, architecture and packaging, utilising design briefs from the ‘What Design Can Do – Make it Circular Challenge’.
• ‘Circular Product Design’ (15 June): Siem Haffmans (The Netherlands) will share approaches to participants on transforming the current linear system of ‘take-make-dispose’ in fast-moving consumer goods, drawing from his book Products that Flow.
• ‘The Competitive Edge: Unlocking Business Success Through Circular Design’ (14 June): Pieter van Os (The Netherlands) will showcase circular design tools used in 14 countries, and guide participants to incorporate sustainable design principles into products, services and business processes.
• ‘From Imagination to Realisation: Design Tools for Co-Creating Lasting Social Changes’ (15 June): Marieke Rietbergen (The Netherlands) will share a unique approach through ‘IIMAGINATION’, implementing practical design processes to transform unsustainable production practices and inspire participants to become ‘circular imagineers’.
• ‘Design with Love’ (15 June): Architect Sun Dayong (The Mainland) will let participants wear the designer’s hat and look at the world from different perspectives and uncovering hidden design potentials as well as workshops and masterclasses on AI & technology and other topics, such as:
• ‘XR & Technology Transformation’ (16 June): Roger Proeis (Hong Kong) will lead participants to explore the new frontiers of digital content creation and gain practical experience in XR (extended reality) studio workflows and creative processes using professional-grade equipment.
• ‘Generative AI (AIGC) for Business’ (15 June): Dr Fan Ling (The Mainland) will share insights and case studies on the creative application of Generative AI in business and creative environments, as well as how to create own AIGC works.
• ‘Creative Leadership: A Global Movement’ (15 Jun): Rama Gheerawo (United Kingdom) will challenge your perceptions and empower you to lead with creativity, clarity and empathy, drawing from his book Creative Leadership: Born from Design.
More information on KODW 2023 and learn about the most innovative approaches to design for a circular world at 2023.kodw.org.
Image Captions:
With the theme of ‘The Power of Design: Innovating for a Circular World’, Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) 2023 opens today at Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Officiating guests at the opening ceremony, Mr. Kevin Yeung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, HKSAR Government (fourth from left), Mr. Arjen van den Berg, Consul General, the Kingdom of the Netherlands (fifth from left), and Prof. Eric Yim, JP, Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre (sixth from left), kick start the full physical event for the week from 14 June to 16 June.
Richard van der Laken, Co-founder & Creative Director of What Design Can Do, shared how ‘good and bad design’ can impact on consumer behaviours, business strategies, policymaking and planetary health.
Clint Nagata, Founder & Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, shares his approach in reimagining luxurious experiences that resonate with local culture and community while prioritising circular design.
L. J. Kim, Executive Director of LIVX, d’strict, introduces how innovative cultural storytelling can benefit local communities through the democratisation of experiences and locally-themed works of art through the recently-launched ARTE MUSEUM in Hong Kong.
Teo Yang, Creative Director of Teo Yang Studio (right) and Prof. Francesca Valsecchi, Associate Professor of Tongji University College of Design and Innovation (left), discussed how modernity and tradition can coexist through creative intervention, extensive research, and thoughtful design.
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Contact
For further enquiries and requests for interviews, please contact:
CatchOn, a Finn Partners Company
Email: HKDesignCentre@FinnPartners.com
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About Hong Kong Design Centre (www.hkdesigncentre.org)
Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) is a non-governmental organisation established in 2002 as a strategic partner of the HKSAR Government in establishing Hong Kong as an international centre of design excellence in Asia. Our public mission is to promote wider and strategic use of design and design thinking to create business value and improve societal well-being.
About Knowledge of Design Week (2023.kodw.org)
Launched in 2006, Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) offers an exciting and premier global knowledge platform for local and international designers, brand strategists, business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists, educators and visionaries to share industry insights, trend analysis, creative solutions and game-changing innovation to transform individuals, businesses and the society.
About CreativeNL (www.creativenl.nl)
CreativeNL is the internationalisation portal of the Top Sector Creative Industry, which aims to drive knowledge exchange and innovation (with creativity as a catalyst), encouraging creative professionals to do business abroad. CreativeNL focuses specifically on the countries Germany, United States and China and the social themes circular design, public space design, immersive content (VR/AR/XR) and social innovation.
About Create Hong Kong (www.createhk.gov.hk)
Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicated office set up by the HKSAR Government in June 2009 to spearhead the development of creative industries in Hong Kong. From 1 July 2022 onwards, it is under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community. CreateHK sponsors HKDC to organise Business of Design Week (BODW), BODW City Programme, DFA Awards, Knowledge of Design Week, Fashion Asia Hong Kong, Design Incubation Programme and Fashion Incubation Programme, among other projects, to promote Hong Kong design.