The preparations for Business of Design Week (BODW) 2026 have been in full swing for the past six months. This journey began following the official partnership between BODW and Switzerland, marked by the signing of the Letter of Intent last September and the symbolic handover at the BODW 2025 closing ceremony in December. 

 

Since then, the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong have been working closely together to co-create the event's theme and visual identity. 

 

Continuing our tradition, the BODW theme is a joint effort between the Hong Kong Design Centre and our Partner Country. We are pleased to announce that, for BODW 2026, we have finalised the official theme and tagline: "Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform." 

 

With Switzerland as the first-time year-round Partner Country for BODW 2026, this partnership celebrates the legacy of Swiss design with its multilingual heritage,  fostering a design ecosystem rooted in cross-disciplinary collaboration, innovation, and dialogue.  

 

During the study trip to Switzerland in March, the theme concept was shared with Swiss counterparts, and it became evident that the chosen theme reflects the true essence of Swiss design and innovation. The visit highlighted how Swiss businesses and design studios are embracing collaboration, both within their organisations and across their industries. 

 

BODW 2026 Visual Identity Design Competition 

 

The spirit of " Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform" is also reflected in the creative process behind the BODW 2026 visual identity. 

 

This year, a design competition was held among students from major Swiss design institutes following a recommendation from the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong. This initiative not only deepens the collaboration between BODW and its partner country but also reinforces a shared commitment to providing a global platform for the next generation of design talents. 

 

The competition received an enthusiastic response, attracting a significant number of submissions from students across Switzerland, including participants from renowned institutions such as the Basel Academy of Art and Design (FHNW) and the University of Art and Design Lausanne (ECAL).  

 

Following a rigorous selection process, the winning entry was chosen by a jury panel comprised of leading figures from the design, creative, and cultural sectors: 

 

 

We are thrilled to announce that Qingyan Hu from the FHNW has been selected as the Winner!  

 

We are also delighted to present the Merit Awards to Nicole Aschauer and Gwen Chu from the FHNW, recognising their outstanding conceptual clarity and creative interpretation of the theme.  

 

Winning proposal  

 

 The winning key visual is built on a dialogue between Chinese and English that reflects the theme “Design in Dialogue: Connect + Transform”, creating a visual exchange between Hong Kong and the global design community. 

 

With co-development with the BODW team, the final key visual consists of small “+” elements coming together to form four arrows converging at the centre, reinforcing the idea of dialogue and convergence. The crosses gradually dissolve into a halftone-like gradient, suggesting an ongoing process of connection, expansion, and transformation. Each arrow can also function independently, expanding into a flexible and adaptable visual language system.  

 

Save the date: 18–20 November 2026 

 

Stay tuned for more updates on BODW 2026 as we continue to unveil upcoming programmes, speaker lineup, and collaborations in the months ahead.