bodw+ Series
Building on BODW’s legacy, the bodw+ Series (formerly known as Knowledge of Design Week) will take place on June 25, September 25 and October 23 respectively. It aims to foster knowledge exchange and innovative collaboration between the partner country Italy and Hong Kong’s design communities.
Under the main theme “curiosity” of BODW 2025, the three series cover a wide range of latest trends or topics, including furniture design, industrial product design, design thinking, film restoration and innovative craftsmanship. The series brings together design and creative leaders from these sectors to share their insights and expertise.
Each series is a one-day programme comprising forums, workshops, masterclasses, roundtables and networking events that facilitate knowledge exchange and cultural exchange for professionals, industry practitioners, civil servants, educators and tertiary students.
Curiosity Ignites Design Innovation
Curiosity has long fuelled Italian innovation, fostering a dynamic exchange between disciplines and ideas. This spirit drives creativity across arts, architecture, fashion, and manufacturing, epitomised by the "Made in Italy" commitment to excellence and synergy of diverse talents. Similarly, Hong Kong's design landscape thrives on blending Eastern wisdom with Western influence, pushing beyond comfort zones to create meaningful cultural and design innovations through bold experimentation. Both design communities highlight the transformative power of curiosity and creativity in shaping their legacies and driving excellence.
Series 1 Schedule
Series 1 (25 June, Wed)
Creative Furniture Design
Renowned for its innovation and craftsmanship, Italian furniture epitomises design excellence and maintains its leadership in the global furniture scene. Discover how Italian designers continue to push boundaries with a visionary approach that blends timeless elegance and everyday practicality.
Innovative Industrial & Product Design
Modern Italian industrial and product design seamlessly integrates technology with timeless style, enabling brands to create meaningful, cutting-edge experiences for today’s consumers. By blending Italy’s rich design legacy with forward-thinking innovation, businesses craft products that resonate with modern aesthetics, foster emotional connections, and redefine brand loyalty.
Series 2 (25 September, Thu)
Strategic Design Meets AI: Driving the Next Wave of Innovation
In an age of accelerating change, the future belongs to those who can approach complexity with curiosity — and lead transformation through strategic design.
bodw+ Series II session brings together leading voices from Italy’s most respected design schools — POLI.design, IED, and Domus Academy — to explore how curiosity fuels innovation at the intersection of design, AI, and emerging technologies.
Rooted in Italy’s legacy of design excellence, systems thinking, and craft-driven experimentation, our speakers will share how strategic design is evolving to meet the challenges of a world in flux — helping organizations reimagine value, navigate uncertainty, and build more adaptive, human-centered futures.
In this conversation, strategic design meets AI — not to replace creativity, but to amplify it. When guided by curiosity, this fusion becomes a powerful force for innovation, transformation, and meaningful progress.
(Stay tuned for the speaker lineup and programme details!)
Series 3 (23 October, Thu)
Craftsmanship & Design Innovation
Rooted in a rich tradition of craftsmanship, Italian design celebrates the artistry of leatherwork and jewelry, where artisanal techniques merge with modern aesthetics and innovation. This series explores the journey from concept to production, highlighting how Italy’s mastery of craft and design inspires meaningful, sustainable, and forward-thinking solutions.
Film Restoration
With Italy’s rich cinematic heritage, the art of film restoration and preservation is core to the nation’s celebration of its visual creations. This series will showcase how advanced technologies are integrated with traditional techniques to revive and rediscover films, honouring a prolonged history of artistry.
(Stay tuned for the speaker lineup and programme details!)
Series 1: Forums
Keynote: Out of the Comfort Zone: Design as an Act of Brave Exploration
Keynote: Out of the Comfort Zone: Design as an Act of Brave Exploration
In this keynote, Lorenzo Taucer, Director of Product Development & Marketing at Moroso, shares how open innovation and bold collaboration keep this iconic Italian furniture brand at the forefront of contemporary design.
Reflecting on the creative challenges of working beyond comfort zones, Taucer describes design as a living puzzle — balancing functional performance with a deeply human perspective. He highlights Moroso’s celebrated partnerships with visionary designers like Patricia Urquiola and Ron Arad, showing how these collaborations push the brand to evolve while staying true to Italy’s rebellious design spirit.
Taucer also explores how Moroso responds to today’s demands: harnessing AI, tackling sustainability, and driving material innovation — all while nurturing a collaborative culture that transforms everyday objects into meaningful works of art.
The keynote will conclude with an engaging fireside chat between Taucer and Darren Chuckry.
Project Photo Credit: Moroso Flagship Store ICFF 2025, ©Alex Kro
Keynote: The Future of Product Design: Gentle Tech and Italian Design
Keynote: The Future of Product Design: Gentle Tech and Italian Design
In an era dominated by rapid technological advances, world-renowned product designer Fabio Verdelli champions a new paradigm: Gentle Tech, where even the most cutting-edge innovations feel natural, elegant, and quietly powerful.
Moving beyond traditional design theories, Verdelli emphasises human-centred approaches that prioritise natural gestures, tactile experiences, and emotional connection. Showcasing signature projects like the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, Trillo Speaker, and Traccia Keyboard, he illustrates how innovation can harmonise with cultural heritage and everyday human rituals. Inspired by Italy’s unique design sensibility, Verdelli envisions a future where technology whispers, not shouts — creating products that feel intuitive, warm, and deeply resonant.
The keynote will conclude with an engaging fireside chat moderated by Darren Chuckry.
Project Photo Credit: Bliz-Lizard-Ski helmet and goggle. Courtesy of Fabio Verdelli | Design Studio
Panel Discussion: Curiosity Meets Creativity: Connecting Italy and Hong Kong through Design Innovation
Panel Discussion: Curiosity Meets Creativity: Connecting Italy and Hong Kong through Design Innovation
How does curiosity spark creativity — and how does creativity drive breakthrough innovation in our complex, connected world? In this dynamic panel, Lorenzo Taucer, Fabio Verdelli, and Elaine Yan Ling Ng explore how these forces come together across cultures, disciplines, and design practices in both Italy and Hong Kong.
Together, they will unpack the role of multidisciplinary collaboration, the power of cultural diversity, and the value of open innovation ecosystems that push boundaries while honouring local context. The discussion will also reveal how sustainability and responsible production shape modern design thinking — and how the interplay between design and manufacturing informs the creative decisions that deliver meaningful, future-ready solutions.
Workshop 1
Workshop: "The Ergonomics of Failure" - Reframing Errors to Drive Design Innovation
Workshop: "The Ergonomics of Failure" - Reframing Errors to Drive Design Innovation
We’re taught to see mistakes as something to avoid, fix, or hide. But what if we started viewing them as useful signals — as starting points for more inclusive, creative, and unexpected solutions?
"The Ergonomics of Failure" is a hands-on workshop that invites participants to shift their perspective: from seeing error as a setback to recognizing it as a powerful design resource. Participants will explore the transformative potential of failure through practical exercises to read error not as a flaw, but as a signal able to reveal hidden needs and alternative behaviors.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognize the value of error as an essential part of the innovation process.
- Learn to interpret and reframe the transformative potential of mistakes.
- Generate ideas for product/service innovation or range extension.
- Practice turning constraints into design opportunities.
Photo Credit: Moroso CDW 2025, ©Josh Tucker - Captivate Imagery
Workshop 2
Workshop: Designing Everyday Companions: An Italian Approach to Subtle Innovation
Workshop: Designing Everyday Companions: An Italian Approach to Subtle Innovation
Led by Fabio Verdelli, Founder and Director of Fabio Verdelli | Design Studio, this intimate design workshop explores how the spirit of Italian design and his philosophy of subtle, human-centred technology can shape the future of everyday products.
Building on insights from his keynote, Verdelli will share the stories and thinking behind his celebrated projects — Blocco, Dune, and Clessidra — revealing how thoughtful design choices turn ordinary objects into quiet, meaningful companions that enrich daily life.
Participants will then take on a hands-on design brief: to imagine a “Smart, Beautiful Door” that combines intelligence, emotional warmth, and familiar rituals. Through group sketching, brainstorming, and guided critique, attendees will co-create fresh product ideas that embody this subtle yet powerful approach to innovation.
Key Takeaways:
- Gain practical insights into Fabio Verdelli’s design method and his perspective on integrating technology gracefully.
- Discover how Italian traditions of craft and pleasure can inspire new directions in product design.
- Develop and present product concepts that feel natural, beautiful, and quietly intelligent — true companions for everyday living.
Photo Credit: De'Longhi Colonna ceramic heater. Courtesy of Fabio Verdelli | Design Studio
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