Denmark’s innovative style highlights Business of Design Week
(30 October 2012, Hong Kong) Asia’s leading design event is back from the 3rd to 8th December for more exhibitions, forums and programmes to explore the growing business of design. This year’s partner country is the Nordic kingdom of Denmark.
With an open-minded and creative cultural philosophy, the Scandinavian nation of Denmark is a major force in modern architecture and design. The mid-20th century Danish functionalistic style is renowned in for its industrial designs that highlights societal well-being and sustainability. Two of the world’s most famous buildings are created by Danes, Jørn Utzon's Sydney Opera House and Johann Otto von Spreckelsen's Grande Arche de la Défense in Paris. Other famous Danish products include the Egg chair (Arne Jaconsen) and the PH lamp (Poul Henningsen).
Today, the country continues to lead in creativity and innovation. Under the theme of “Design Society Denmark”, Danish presence in BODW 2012 will focus on the need to think and design future products as well as design solutions that would answer the many problems of our future society. Among the top Danish design experts coming to Hong Kong include Johannes Torpe (whose studio created Copenhagen's NASA club and was recently named Bang & Olufsen's creative director), Jacob Holm (president of furniture design studio Fritz Hansen), interdisciplinary architect Rosan Bosch (famous for developing LEGO PMD's fanciful office), Mads Ryder (CEO of famous porcelain house Royal Copenhagen), Ron Arad (the Israeli-born master of product and architectural design), the renowned American architect Daniel Libeskind and graphics legend Bo Linnemann (founder of Kontrapunkt) who has contributed to the trademark look of international brands such as Carlsberg, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and IKEA.
Other creative geniuses coming are the influential founders of Danish cross-disciplinary design studio KiBiSi, Lars Larsen and Jens Martin Skibsted. Top British architect Thomas Heatherwick will be here to explore his philosophy of space, people's livelihood and sustainable development. Another key speaker is German industrial designer Richard Sapper. The designer of the classic Tizio
Table Lamp, the Alessi Melodic Kettle and many other products now part of MOMA collection in New York, will share his experiences on creating functional aesthetics.
Other international design experts at BODW 2012 include German commercial art director Mirko Borsche, cutting-edge Japanese advertising director Masashi Kawamura (PARTY Creative Lab), Kohei Nishiyama, founder of one of the most successful crowdfunding platforms, CUUSOO.com (JAPAN) and rising Chinese architect Ma Yan-song responsible for the Absolute Towers in Toronto, nicknamed the 'Marilyn Monroe Building'. Topics covered over the conference include technology, culture, brands, design education policy, and product & fashion.
In addition to a three day forum, concurrent events around the week include the popular Detour public exhibits and displays, the Brand Asia Forum, the Technology For Design seminar, and, this year, the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) Awards cum 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner.
BODW is Asia's leading annual event on design, innovation and brands. Since 2002, it has been organised by the HKDC. Bringing the best of the global design world to Hong Kong, the week-long event encourages businesses to unleash the power of design by focusing on the vital relationship and complex interplay between design and business.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Connie Lam
Tel：(852)3696 6941
Email：connie.lam@dt-asia.com