Asia’s largest international design event series, Design Shanghai, presented in partnership with Audi, celebrated its 10th anniversary from 8th-11th of June. In total, the show welcomed 77,254 visitors over the four days and showcased more than 600 local and international brands from 40 countries and regions. The show welcomed visitors from 33 countries: Malaysia , Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, UK, US, Vietnam, Spain, Australia, Canada, Christmas Island, Denmark Finland, China Hong Kong, China Taiwan, and China Macau. Expanded by 50% this year, the globally celebrated show explored how eastern and western design philosophies can work together synergistically across three vibrant halls.
Over the four days, Design Shanghai celebrated a wealth of creative accomplishments and shared new ideas from both the world’s rising stars and industry tastemakers. The three halls were bursting with life and energy as leading international and Chinese manufacturers, design-led brands, global industry leaders, architects, collectors, interior designers and design enthusiasts all immersed themselves in the latest design launches. Showcasing curated exhibitors, features and talks, the show brought together integrated and innovative design from China to the global stage.
Craftsmanship
The Furniture & Lighting Design Hall brought together contemporary design, classic design, workplace design brands, and the most cutting-edge design for visitors. Leading international design brands flocked to the show this year to present their latest works and to connect with the Chinese market. The key Italian players showcased their craftsmanship; Paola Lenti presented its contemporary furniture range whilst Capellini presented Homage to Mondrian by Shiro Kuramata, a celebration of one of the pioneers of abstract expressionism, Piet Mondrian; Arcebis presented Due Più designed by Nanda Vigo; Flos released four new collections: My Circuit, Taccia White, 2097-75 / Matte white, and Skynet Suspension designed by Marcel Wanders. French craftsmanship and heritage exuded from Lalique, Disderot, La Boite and Ligne Roset. Michael Young, a British industrial designer, launched his own furniture collection under the same name. Other European brands captured visitors’ attention, Lladró displayed its artistic porcelain creations whilst PORCELANOSA, Belgian brand SIXINCH and Bosnian and Herzegovinian brand Artisan, exhibited its high-end furnishings. HAY, &Tradition, Verpan and Frandsen (presented by Nine United) showcased the very best of Danish craftsmanship.
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Uniting East and West design, the Furniture & Lighting Hall also spotlighted local Chinese design and talent. Queues surrounded U+ – a modern furniture brand that combines Eastern and Western design philosophies – with many eager to see the debut of the Shijin Chair. Stella Works presented the China debut of the ‘Utility Lounge Chair Two Seater’. Ziinlife and EXCEPTION de MIXMIND, both rooted in local culture, explored design possibilities. KUNDESIGN, an outdoor home brand showcased its String series; The Shouter, a pioneering high-end home collection brand showcased a series of vibrant homeware products. XUE, founded by Xue Shuping – with the mission of “creating a modern home with a sense of Chinese cultural identity” – premiered the “Idle Stop Bed”; CHEN DARUI premiered its China Chair and VINEKO showcased 6 collections of outdoor furniture. FRANK CHOU COLLECTIONpremiered its Stand coffee table, Page table lamp, and Sketch series in collaboration with LIVINTWIST; JINLE ZHU presented a new series of works with “Magic East: The Path of the Unknown”, Benwu Edition exhibited a number of playful modern products featuring curved lines and vibrant colours this year – among them is the Triplet coat rack. High-end lighting brand Singchan Design previewed their new fragment series consisting of the Fragment 7 and Fragment 8.
For those seeking the most pioneering kitchen and bathroom design trends, the Kitchen & Bathroom; New Materials & Applications hall catered to just that. Design Shanghai presented modern, simple and luxurious kitchen and bathroom design styles alongside innovative design concepts and materials. Sustainable design concepts and how to integrate them into kitchen and bathroom facilities were explored and cutting-edge materials were showcased by Gabriel, PoliLam Tarkett and Abet Laminati. Exhibitor highlights included high-end ceramic manufacturer Villeroy & Boch who showcased a variety of new product offering from its Island Collection; AXOR displayed the One Matt White, a collection of elegant archetypes for the wash basin, bathtub and shower and Axor Shower Composition, a sleek, modern, ultra-slim shower. Eggersman, the oldest family-owned kitchen manufacturer in Germany, showcased its Nami island designed by Yabu Pushelberg.
Accessories
To mark its 10th anniversary, Design Shanghai introduced a brand new hall Living & Lifestyle. A brand new home for interiors and accessories, the Living & Lifestyle hall is an upgraded and expanded section to showcase international suppliers of accessories, textiles, fabrics, soft furnishings, wall covering, flooring art, tableware, interiors and outdoor accessories. The show presented an exceptional selection of high-quality products from established brands and fresh talent. FULI collaborated with Dame Zandra Rhodes, to present the global debut of the tapestry Lipsticks, an evolution of the lipstick pattern from 1968, one of Rhodes’s classic print designs. Christofle wowed visitors with its impressive display of “MOOD”. Living & Lifestyle saw new launches from Rorstrand, the second oldest brand of ceramics in Europe, launching its Höganäs Keramik plate 19 cm horizon, British brand Aynsley who launched its Butterfly collection, LIANGMU launched a variety of new products around traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, and celebrated Danish brand Royal Copenhagen debuted Ruby Red.
This year’s Features celebrated the best designers, the evolving design community and craftsmanship in China. Design Shanghai 2023 collected 1000+ new products from all exhibitors and carefully selected nearly 50 pieces to create the New Product Launch gallery in Hall 1, showcasing the best-selected new design pieces. TALENTS curated by Frank Chou returned with 22 groups of young designers, linking China and the West in the form of a “banquet”, interpreting “Chinese characteristics”. Chen Min, the Chinese industrial designer and founder of Chen Min Office and curator of neooold, invited famous architect, Chen Hao Ru, to create an exhibition space with the theme of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in the Forest”. The Róng Weaving Design Exhibition displayed the works of 28 designers, who for the past two years have worked on pieces that bring traditional weaving into the future. Disappearing Borders presented by industrial designer Jamy Yang explored the involving relationship between people, objects, and nature in the digital age. Chi Wing Lo’s art installation INTERLUDE not only embraced all coming to the Design Shanghai, it also was a bridge connecting people and their ideas. Composed of a series of screens that meander, fold and define a semi-exclusive chamber, the musical and spacial interlude offered visitors a moment of detachment and reflection, a place to reorientate and rejuvenate. As a new section of Design Shanghai 2023, Design Street, curated by the well-known design platform Design Burger, gathered the most creative industrial designers from home and abroad. It presented a new platform for a series of designer groups in an aggregated manner, grafting a more direct bridge between independent design studios and brands, providing a new way of voice, communication, and cooperation, and promoting the mutual development of China’s industry and design.
Authentic
Known as the most well attended and comprehensive seminar programme in Asia, The Kohler Exquisite x Design Shanghai Design Forum once again did not disappoint. Over four days and four stages, Design Shanghai welcomed the strongest lineup with nearly 230 speakers from across the globe presenting at the Design Forum, sharing new ideas on how we can engage with nature in a more authentic manner.
This year’s theme ‘Beyond Sustainability lies Re-Creative Design – Design for Wellbeing’ was discussed by international icons including Ross Lovegrove, Founder & Director FOR LOVE & DESIGN.com, Michael Young, Founder of MY Studio, Aldo Cibic, Designer, Architect, Founder of Cibicworkshop, Zandra Rhodes, “Princess of Punk” and British Fashion Designer, Adam Brinkworth, Founder of Brinkworth Design, and Stefano Piontini, Partner of Vudafieri Saverino Partners (Shanghai) Design Consulting Co. Seminar topics ranged from ‘The Digital Era, Memory and Perception in Design’ to ‘Wellbeing at Work’ and ‘Unleashing the Power of the Metaverse and AI: Implications and Opportunities’. Chinese talents were also invited to their wisdom and insight with talks from Satoshi Ohashi, Director China for Zaha Hadid Architects, Ben Wu, CEO & Design Director of W DESIGN, Tony Chi, Founder of tonychi studios, Xiang Li, Founder & CEO of X+Living Architectural Design, Wang Ziling, artist, Xie Ke, Founder of Signyan Design and Jamy Yang, Founder, Xie Ke, Founder of Signyan Design and Design Director of YANG HOUSE.
Design Shanghai concluded its 10th year with a stellar lineup of exhibitors, speakers and engaging features. Design Shanghai has been dedicated to identifying and nurturing emerging Chinese designers and brands, providing them with a global platform to showcase their work. Over the past decade, Design Shanghai has witnessed and contributed to the unprecedented growth of numerous young designers, many of whom have even become pillars of contemporary design in China. It is comfortably the most significant international design show in Asia and will return next year (19-22 June 2024) with an additional hall.
Audi, the exclusive headline partner, demonstrated its progressive, people-centred vision for future premium e-mobility with the China premiere of its fourth “sphere” concept, the Audi activesphere. Audi kicked off the show with its panel talk “The Future of Mobility – Designed for Well-being” with the activesphere designers from the Audi Design Loft in Malibu, Charles Lefranc, Design Manager, and Ryan Schlotthauer, Interior Designer, as well as Esther Francis, Vice President, FAW Audi Sales Co., Ltd. The discussion provided a deep dive into the car’s innovative features and Audi’s “inside out” design approach.
Outside the venue’s entrance, Audi presented a walk-in installation “Reconnect with Nature – celebrate the escape”. A WeChat app lets visitors interact with a virtual interface and enjoy a video-based augmented reality (AR) experience.
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