The most important design event in Asia, Design Shanghai, has announced its first Features program and Design Forum Talks. 

Design Shanghai, which is going into its eleventh year, is anticipated to see over 100,000 visitors over the course of four days. 

The exhibition will be back at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from June 19 to 22, 2024, and it will continue to highlight the advancement of Chinese design. 

Design Shanghai, becoming one of the largest design exhibitions worldwide, will house top Chinese and international manufacturers, design-led brands, executives from the global industry, architects, collectors, interior designers, and design enthusiasts.

The World Architecture Community is a media partner for the Design Shanghai 2024, and bringing you the most up-to-date highlights and news from the event. 

Beyond Craft Japan, Sekisai

"A dynamic hub of design conversations"

"After a decade of growth and refinement, Design Shanghai has established itself as Asia's premier design event," said Zhuo Tan, Event Director, Design Shanghai.

"Each year, thousands of companies engage in business here, and our diverse forums and workshops turn Design Shanghai into a dynamic hub of design conversations. It’s a place where countless designers come to learn and be inspired. 

"We envision Design Shanghai as an endless source of inspiration, where the latest design ideas and trends across various fields are showcased," Tan added.

Yuya Zhou chair

Kohler x Design Shanghai Design Forum

One of the key elements of the event is Kohler x Design Shanghai Design Forum, which has established itself as the leading global platform for thought leadership in design. 

"The New Universal Language of Design" is the theme of this year's Design Shanghai Forum, which brings together distinguished and authoritative members of the international design community. 

The theme delves into the idea that designing for the future is the most crucial aspect of design work. Since designers must work together across all domains, a universal language of design must be developed.

Thomas Heatherwick (Top Left); Aldo Bakker (Top Right); Luke Pearson (Bottom Left), Paul Cocksedge (Bottom Right)

Heatherwick Studio founder and director Thomas Heatherwick, Pearson Lloyd co-founder and director Luke Pearson, WGSN Trend Director Maggie Men, renowned author and designer Annie Sloan, Paul Cocksedge Studio co-founder Paul Cocksedge, Aldo Bakker Studio founder Aldo Bakker are among international design icons participating and speaking at this years forum.

Moreover, other speakers include Bangsheng Yang, founder and design principal of YANG & Associates Group; Chris Lefteri, founder, Chris Lefteri Design, Ed Ng, co-founder & principal at AB Concept, Masataka Hosoo, president and CEO, Hosoo Co., Ltd, Masayuki Kurokawa, Nada Debs, founder and creative director, Studio Nada Debs, Paul Priestman, Chairman and Creative Director, PULI innovation, Zhaoqing Song, founder and chief architect, Lacime Architects.

Thomas Heathewick’s Humanise stand rendering

Running in tandem with the Design Forum, there will be four inspiring workshops led by a host of acclaimed designers, starting with the Workplace Conference, Presentation Zone, Innovation Workshop, and finally, the Colour, Material and Finishes (CMF) Conference. 

A highlight for the show this year, the CMF Conference will be exploring how circularity can be woven into traditional CMF designs, with enlightening talks from global CMF industry specialists, renowned figures in the fields of architecture, product and interior design, as well as discussions from emerging designers.

Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio, will launch his book Humanise: A Maker's Guide to Building Our World at Design Shanghai on the 19th June. Thomas will also join a panel with fellow designers and architects as well as sign books at the 'Humanise Stand'. 

Image is a screenshot from the Humanise platform

The panel discussion will focus on the issues raised in Thomas' book with Mo Zheng of Antistatics Architecture, Albert Chan Kain Bon, Director of Planning and Development, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of SHUI ON LAND and Dr Xing Ruan, Dean and Guangqi Chair Professor of Architecture at School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 

Moderated by Design Shanghai Programme Director Aidan Walker. The panel will take place 20th June 15:45 - 16:30.

In The Texture of Crafts

The goal of Design Shanghai's Features is to collaborate with top design and creative studios, high-end fashion labels, and significant media outlets to produce original and thought-provoking experiences.

Leading creative and design studios, brands, and up-and-coming talent collaborate with Design Shanghai's Features program to produce one-of-a-kind exhibitions and experiences. 

Spectacular, captivating, and thought-provoking installations, projects, and collaborations will inspire visitors to interact with design in a variety of ways. 

The following are this year's features:

PATCH by Frank Chou

TALENTS, curated by Frank Chou, Hall 1

TALENTS aims to consistently foster the creative force of young designers. The theme of TALENTS 2024 will be "The Quest For The Question." Driven by creativity, designers are challenged to set their sights on discovering and solving problems. 

However, they also need to recognize whether the identified problems have practical value: can solving these problems lead to actual improvements and innovations? Is the investment of manpower and resources reasonable and feasible? These are questions that designers must carefully consider. In the pursuit of creativity, it is essential for them to maintain a rational perspective and decision-making ability.

neooold-Lands End Pot 

neooold, curated by Min Chen, Hall 3

neooold curated by designer Min Chen, features "Art·Extension" as the theme for 2024, which marks the fifth edition of the feature. The significance of extending craftsmanship has consistently been one of neooold's dedicated development directions. The exhibition design, presented by the architectural firm line+ under the direction of architect Meng Fanhao, extracts the cultural symbol of the bracket arch, a traditional architectural element, to construct a precise and melodious space. 

During the exhibition, works by over 20 brands, artists and craftsmen from both domestic and international realms will be displayed, including Aldo Bakker, Masataka Hosoo, Has Tan and Min Chen will be showcased. Encompassing ceramics, metalworking, weaving, lacquer, and other traditional crafts, these devoted works converge the origins of modern art with the deep roots of traditional craftsmanship. The exhibition is not only a showcase of artistic endeavours but also a collection of legendary stories surrounding the inheritance and development of traditional crafts.

Gorgeous Jewelllery 1.0 (2)

Gorgeous Jewellery 1.0, curated by Professor Sun Jie, Hall 3

GORGEOUS JEWELLERY 1.0, curated by Prof. SUN Jie, co-organized by the Fashion and Design Innovation Center (FINE Center) of Tongji University, China Industrial Design Institute (CIDI), and JCC International Contemporary Jewellery Art Centre, is a feast of contemporary jewellery. 

This exhibition seeks to create a unique international platform for pioneering young artists and designers to display their creativity and imagination within Asia. It is expected to feature more than 80 young designers (including a selection from more than 90 colleges around the world) and hundreds of design masterpieces, which will be formally presented to the public at Design Shanghai 2024.

Beyond Craft Japan, Sekisai

"Rong·Casting" Exhibition, curated by Lei Zhang, Hall 4

The Rong Design Library is dedicated to deconstructing traditional crafts into materials and techniques, actively exploring the future of tradition. 

"Casting" is the research topic of the ninth edition of the Rong Design Exhibition, following themes of bamboo, silk, clay, copper, paper, mortise and tenon joints, colouring, and weaving. 

In Chinese, Casting refers to a moulding process where softened material is injected into a mould, allowing it to solidify and take shape, the solidified result is called "casting." The "Rong·Casting" exhibition will invite 46 designers and artists from different fields to create, facilitating a profound collision between casting craftsmanship and contemporary design.

“Rong Casting” Exhibition

In the Texture of Crafts, curated by Craft+, Hall 3

Craft+ presents an exploration of China's rich cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship through on-site research and collaborative projects. In "Craft+Residence," they highlight diverse textile techniques of ethnic minorities. 

"Craft+Design" focuses on revitalising traditional crafts through design collaborations. "Craft+Activity" fosters community engagement, such as the "Dong Fabric 100" project, inviting designers to innovate with Dong fabric. Through interactive experiences, Craft+ invites audiences to rediscover the beauty and value of traditional crafts at Design Shanghai.

Beyond Craft Japan, Hall 3

Bridging the gap between Japan and China, Design Shanghai unveils “Beyond Craft Japan” for the first time, inviting visitors to explore Japanese beauty through materials and craftsmanship. Showcasing a unique blend of Japanese aesthetics, the pavilion offers an opportunity to experience the depth and creativity of Japanese design, whilst also uncovering new possibilities for cultural exchange between Japan and China.

Top image in the article: Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre. Image courtesy of Design Shanghai. 

All images courtesy of Design Shanghai. 

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