BODW 2009 will inspire design excellence

01 Dec '09

3 min read

With design luminaries and titans of business hailing from all corners of the world, Business of Design Week 2009 officially launches for a week of events dedicated to design, innovation and brands. From panel discussions directed by leaders in the industry to design awards, gala dinners to exhibitions of work from local and international artists, BODW 2009 will inspire design excellence and inform on the important interplay between design and business in the future of economic development.

The BODW Forum will take place from 3 December through 5 December as the centre of discussion among pioneering names in the industry. Plenary sessions on BODW Forum day 1 and day 2 will feature some of the most renowned names in the world of design. Pierre-Alexis Dumas, General Artistic Director of Hermes will lead off, while others over the course of the Forum include Ronnie Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties and China Heritage Fund; French designer Jean-Marie Massaud and renowned Chinese architect Calvin Tsao.

As the centre of focus, the 'Fashion & Apparel' Forum brings famous names in French fashion labels and international brands to the stage. Veronique Gaultier, Chairman of Jean Paul Caultier; Mao Ji-hong, Founder and President of new wave fashion Chinese brands EXCEPTION and WUYONG; French fashion designer Gaspard Yurkievich; and Manix Wong of LACLOS are just a few of those who will be present to share their incredible experience and knowledge. The 'Culture & the City' Forum to be held on 5 December will look into how the West Kowloon Cultural District Project should take its cue from other leading international projects of its kind. Confirmed speakers include Jean Nouvel of Atelier Jean Nouvel, Kathy Halbreich of MoMA, renowned architect Toyo Ito and Ben van Berkel of UNStudio in the Netherlands, among others.

The BODW Forum addresses the most pressing issues of the day; other key topics to be discussed include Product & Design, the business of intellectual property, Brands & Design, Space & Design and Communications & Design. Executives and visionaries from Coca-Cola, Wallpaper*, Evian, Bank of Communications, Gehry & Partners, LLP, W Hotels and more will open eyes to a world of design inspiration and industry success.

Hong Kong Design Centre, the organiser of BODW 2009, has chosen France as this year's partner country, promoting France's design culture and inviting a large number of the most revered names in every facet of French design to participate in the programmes and share their visions with an international audience in Hong Kong.

In the spirit of promoting design excellence, a special HKDC Awards Presentation Ceremony and Gala Dinner will be held on 4 December to recognise the best in the industry. The World's Outstanding Chinese Designer Award, Design Leadership Award, Design for Asia Award and Hong Kong Young Design Talent Awards will be presented in front of an audience of international pillars of the design and business community.

BODW 2008 saw over 100 renowned international speakers attracting more than 50,000 participants. With more than 240 media from around the world covering the event, the success last year was remarkable and laid the groundwork for BODW 2009.

Business of Design Week