Celebrating the best of BODW Summit, this year's highlights encompass Urban Planning, Transformative Brands, AI, and Future Trends. Unveiling the power of smart placemaking, innovation, and technology, it showcased how collaborative efforts between businesses and governments elevate consumer experiences and propel us towards a sustainable future.

 

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29 November: Urban Planning and New Urban Models

 

Keynote: TRANSFORM NOW! A Visionary Guide to the City of Tomorrow

 

Ben van Berkel, Founder and Principal Architect of UNStudio, captivated the audience with insights into his groundbreaking projects - The Lyric Theatre in Hong Kong represents a fusion of human-centred interior design and iconic cityscape integration, radiating urban vibrancy; the Amsterdam BREEAM Excellent building showcases sustainability at its finest, leveraging eco-friendly materials, maximising natural light, and fostering a sense of community. These visionary projects prioritised user well-being while epitomising the possibilities of creating dynamic, green spaces.

 

Ben van Berkel, Founder & Principal Architect of UNStudio, shares the essence of positive innovation and dive into key projects that demonstrates continuous transformation, Lyric Theatre in Hong Kong and the stunning STH BNK by Beulah in Melbourne.

 

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Keynote: DFA Special - Designing Design: Great Works Hidden in Plain Sight

 

Kenya Hara, President and Chief Executive Designer of Nippon Design Center, Inc., shattered design boundaries, transcending “local” and “global” norms. With unrivalled insight, he revealed the limitations of human design thinking, which clashed with nature's organic shapes. Hara introduced an innovative industry inspired by Japan's evolving landscape, emphasising design's paramount role in preserving cultural heritage and traditions.

 

Kenya Hara, President and Chief Executive Designer of Nippon Design Center, Inc., a DFA award winner, shares the lifetime dedication to Japanese Aesthetic design and innovation with his visionary perspectives on sustainable future.

 

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30 November: Transformative Brands and Consumers’ Experience

 

Panel: Sustainable Luxury: Navigating the Circular Economy

 

Prof. José Teunissen, Director & Professor of Amsterdam Fashion Institute, and Cai Jinqing, President of Kering Greater China, guided the audience through sustainable luxury with three Cs and one E, i.e. Care - for the planet, for the surroundings, and for environments; Collaborate - in our sustainability practices upstream and downstream; and Create - where innovation is the core of sustainability; and finally with Education - the important element in moving luxury into sustainability.

 

With a focus on Transformative Brands and Consumers’ Experience, Prof. José Teunissen, Director and Professor of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, and Cai Jinqing, President of Kering Greater China, guide the audience through sustainable luxury with Care, Collaborate, Create and Education.

 

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Panel: Designing the Future of Luxury Hospitality

 

Teo Su Seam, Partner at LTW Designworks; Jill Goh, General Manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong; and Ed Ng, Co-Founder of AB Concept, delved into the world of luxury through hospitality design. Exploring lighting, colours, and textures, they unveiled the transformative power of storytelling in spaces. Luxury has evolved beyond the tangible, embracing the abstract and ephemeral, with guests discovering opulence through time and immersive experiences.

 

Teo Su Seam, Partner at LTW Designworks; Jill Goh, General Manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong; and Ed Ng, Co-Founder of AB Concept, continued to explore the future of luxury from a hospitality perspective.

 

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1 December: AI, Technology and Future Trends

 

Keynote: "City Brain" & Urban Transformation

 

Dr Wang Jian, Founder of Alibaba Cloud, introduced the pioneering concept of the “city brain,” highlighting the transformative power of utilising urban data for optimal resource allocation. Drawing experience from his project in Hangzhou, he unveiled the remarkable “10% magic,” emphasising that data alone holds limited value, but when combined with AI, it becomes an invaluable tool for identifying and addressing critical issues, facilitating effective problem-solving methods.

 

Dr. Wang Jian, Founder of Alibaba Cloud, explained urban city planning and opportunities for better managing transportation infrastructure with the involvement of AI.

 

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Looking ahead, Hong Kong Design Centre is pleased to announce France as its Partner Country for 2024. France will introduce prominent speakers, exceptional talents, and a series of design events throughout Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) and BODW to foster mutual learning between the two vibrant design communities during a year-long collaboration.

 

Hong Kong Design Centre is pleased to announce France as its Partner Country for 2024, introducing prominent speakers, exceptional talent, and a series of design events throughout KODW and BODW 2024.

 

Those who have missed the BODW 2023 Summit can revisit all 39 sessions on bodw+ with a bodw+ Basic membership; in addition, a special Cantonese highlight programme, featuring exclusive interviews from the Summit, is slated to air on ViuTV Channel 99 on 6 January from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.