Italian Design Day 2024 • Hong Kong

On the occasion of the Italian Design Day (IDD), the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong and Macau, in collaboration with the School of Design of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, present the panel discussion “Design between tradition and innovation: sustainability in the Italian manufacturer process”.

The Testimonial of Italian Design Day 2024 in Hong Kong is Walter Mariotti, Executive Editorial Director of DOMUS, the world most prestigious architecture and design magazine founded in 1928 by the celebrated architect Gio Ponti. Since 1 September 2017 Walter Mariotti has been Editorial Director of Domus, where he is responsible for the magazine, website, archive and new initiatives. These include Domusforum, BreraAZ, DomusAir and Worldesign.

Speakers from Italy:

Andrea Bonaceto – Artist
Born in Pisa, Andrea Bonaceto is widely known for his art practice exploring the intersection between visual art, poetry and technology. His artistic philosophy extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of the traditional canvas, creating an immersive, interactive narrative that invites viewers to engage on a deeper, more reflective level. Andrea Bonaceto has received several awards which include Forbes 30 Under 30 Italy 2019, Talented Young Italian Award, Fortune 40 Under 40 Italy 2023.

Tiziano Guardini – Fashion Designer
Born in Rome, Tiziano Guardini did his first fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in 2018 and he participated at “The Next Green Talent” organized by Vogue Italia and Yoox. He created an innovative and deeply conscious approach to fashion: ECOuture. He also produced a docu-film with Michelle Yeoh in collaboration with the United Nations and the Michelangelo Pistoletto foundation.

Piergiorgio Robino – Designer and Founder, Studio Nucleo
Piergiorgio Robino is a functional artist. He is known for experimenting with new materials, in particular the resin. He has been a guest professor at Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem;Domus Academy, Milan;University of Florence of Architecture, Design Campus;IED European Design Institute, Turin;IUAV – Venice University;Università del Salento, Lecce;Politecnico of Turin.

Gianni Giuffrida – Chief Architect Italy, Pininfarina
Gianni qualified as a member of the ARB and RIBA in 2013. He joined Pininfarina in 2014 and since then he has been leading multiple projects ranging from residential to commercial and mixed-use in Europe, Middle East and Asia, including the Air Traffic Control Tower in Istanbul and the Higold Headquarters in Foshan, which has been recently concluded.

Local speakers:

Dr. Ruffina Thilakaratne – Professor / Master of Architecture Programme Director, Hong Kong Chu Hai College;RIBA International Councilor for Asia & Australasia
Dr. Ruffina is a Fellow of the RIBA with over 20 years’ international experience in academia and the practice. With her expertise on sustainability and building physics she has led and engaged in several large-scale projects, especially in the education, science & technology, and hospitality sectors. As an active researcher, she has published extensively on climate & urban resilience, well-being and building performance.

Claudia Albertini – Senior Director, MASSIMODECARLO Gallery
Claudia is a sinologist trained as an Asian art specialist, she holds a BA in East Asian Studies, a MA in Chinese Advanced Studies and completed an “Executive Education: Business Management in the Art World”. With more than twenty years’ working experience in Asia, Claudia has grown into a reference figure in the contemporary arts field thanks to her insight in the Asian art scene and her connections within the region.

Juliana LAM – Chairman, Julius Group Holdings Ltd.;Founder & President, INNOTIER
Juliana Lam has over 30 years of manufacturing experience in the gloves & accessories industries and had managed over 20 glove factories in China and South East Asia countries. She is working tirelessly to reinvent and build a sustainable business through technologies and innovative solutions. Juliana was the only female award winner among the few Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong in 2014 and the first female President of The Association of Hong Kong Gloves Traders Limited.

Dennis Cheung – Architect & Founder, Studio RYTE
Dennis is a Registered Architect based in Hong Kong with a strong focus on digital fabrication and material innovation. He envisions a sustainable future for the built environment by marrying new technology with traditional craftsmanship. He received numerous awards including the American Institute of Architect’s Sustainable Design Award, Perspective’s 40Under40 Award, ARCASIA’s Young Architect Award, and Sina’s New Power Interior Design Award.

Click here for details.