Design Shanghai, one of Asia’s leading international design events organised by Media 10, will be returning to the historic Shanghai Exhibition Centre from 8th to 11th March 2017 stronger than ever. Reinforced by the success of a record-breaking 2016 edition, Design Shanghai has successfully matured and, in a few short years, earned its place alongside the most established design events in the world.
Ambitions and expectations are higher than ever, as is interest from foreign companies and media. Attracting over 46,000 visitors from 70 countries and regions, Design Shanghai offers an ideal platform for world-renowned designers and architects from across Asia and the West, highly influential property developers, as well as hotel groups, buyers, retailers, specifiers, key decision makers and journalists.
Next year’s edition will attract more than 350 exhibitors, including top international and Chinese design brands and galleries, unveiling new designs and launching never-before-seen products. Design Shanghai brings to China the best of international design, confirming the ever-growing interest in the Chinese market from leading brands. At the same time, Design Shanghai reinforces its position as a supporter of the flourishing Chinese design industry, building an unparalleled platform to connect international and local design.
A major new initiative for the 2017 edition is the opening of Design Shanghai to the city. Turning the event into a Shanghai-wide celebration of design and creativity, Design Shanghai will take over the city thanks to several offsite events organised in collaboration with its partners, offering both the local community and international visitors the opportunity to experience the city in a new light. With the Shanghai Exhibition Centre at its heart, Design Shanghai will make the entire city buzz with design tours, business meetings and exclusive networking parties.
Following last year’s fruitful collaboration, Design Shanghai and Shanghai Xintiandi - the famous Shanghai landmark - will celebrate their partnership for the next three years. Design Shanghai will expand out across the city and will launch the Design Shanghai @ Xintiandi Design Festival, an event taking place from 6-19th March 2017 in Xintiandi. Curated by Design Shanghai in collaboration with curators Song Tao, Hou Zhengguang and Cher Du, the Festival will populate the streets of the district for 14 days, showcasing a selection of interactive installations by international and Chinese designers and artists.
As part of the Design Shanghai in the City, coaches will take visitors on design tours starting at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre and ending at Shanghai Xintiandi every day from 1-9pm from 8-11th March 2017. The tours will offer a variety of stops at interesting design showrooms, museums and architectural landmarks.
Andy Zhang, general manager of Taipingqiao Project, China Xintiandi says: “Throughout the years Shanghai Xintiandi has given unrelenting support to design, cultural and art endeavours, creating an off-line shopping atmosphere that is highly interactive, participatory and creative for the public through countless design and art exhibitions. We hope that the three-year strategic partnership with Design Shanghai will provide diverse inspirations to citizens and design enthusiasts and contribute to promoting the development of original design in China.”
At the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Design Shanghai 2017 will be characterised by greater exhibition space and two new exciting additions, the Kitchen & Bathroom Design Hall and the Workplace Design Hall. These will be presented alongside the Contemporary Design, Classic & Luxury Design and Collectible Design halls.
The Kitchen and Bathroom Design Hall will focus on innovations across materials, equipment and effective space optimisation, while the Workplace Design Hall will give visitors the opportunity to discover the latest innovations in office design, source new suppliers and network with relevant industry professionals.
Next year’s show will also see the Collectible Design Hall located in a separate dedicated area, a unique space that will enhance the visitor experience and showcase only the highest level of global artistry and design presenting extraordinary one-off masterpieces. Exhibitors include Zaha Hadid Design, Galerie Dumonteil, influential art dealer Frank Partridge.
World-renowned design brands including Moroso, Magis, Driade, Visionnaire, Porada, Art Design Group, CIAC, Thonet, Antonio Lupi, Seletti, HAY, Leicht, Fisher & Paykel, Kinnarps, Cole & Son, Duxiana, Bolon, Swarovski, Alessi, Dyson, DuPont Corian have confirmed their presence alongside leading Chinese design brands such as Tai Ping Carpets, Beyond Object, W+S, YANG House, Frank Chou Design Studio, ziinlife, WUU, ROOY, Benwu Edition, EY-Products, ALiTLE and Haostyle, which will show their wares across the five design halls.
The Design Shanghai AD China Design Forum Programme will offer a comprehensive seminar programme with the most influential architects and designers - the theme chosen for the 2017 conference programme is ‘Global design, global craft, global manufacturing’. The sessions will explore what lies in the globalised future of design, craft and manufacturing, with the most influential creative minds from China and elsewhere internationally to explore the rapidly changing design industry.
Speakers include Ole Bouman, Director at Design Society and Founding Director at Shekou Design Museum and Deputy Dean of the Design and Art College in China Academy of Art Haiyan Wu, alongside, world-renowned designers such as Karim Rashid, DB Kim, André Fu, Benjamin Hubert, Luca Nichetto, Bethan Laura Wood and many more.
The exhibition will also offer bespoke installations, features and a varied programme of both onsite and offsite events.
Mike Dynan, MD of Media 10 China and event director for Design Shanghai, says: “Following the overwhelming success of last year’s edition, we are very proud to be bringingmore and more leading international design brands to China and to reveal exciting new additions for Design Shanghai 2017.
“Our commitment to provide a platform to connect international and local design is stronger than ever and we are determined to continue our support for the local creative sector and its ambition for innovation and quality.
“Moreover, as a result of the precious collaborations with our partners and supporters, we are expanding the development even further, taking over the city with a comprehensive programme of offsite events, installations and design tours.”
