Design Shanghai, Asia’s leading international design event, has announced details, theme and stellar line-up of exhibitors and speakers at this year's event.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Design Shanghai will take place from 8 to 11 June 2023 at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center Pudong, Shanghai, China.

This year's Design Shanghai, while embracing many changes, is set to become a place of "exemplary design" showcased from across the world, as stated by Zhuo Tan, Managing Director of Clarion Events Shanghai Limited.

World Architecture Community is official media partner of Design Shanghai 2023 and will be bringing you the latest news from the event.

Kohler Exquisite x Design Shanghai Forum Speakers

Ross Lovegrove, Adam Brinkworth, Frank Chou, Stefano Piontini and Zaha Hadid Architects Director Satoshi Ohashi are among the event's expected speakers for its Kohler Exquisite x Design Shanghai Forum - a forum is one of "the best attended and comprehensive seminar programmes" in Asia.

Themed as Beyond Sustainability lies Re-Creative Design – Design for Wellbeing, the Kohler Exquisite x Design Shanghai Forum aims to expand the role of the natural world with design by considering today's era tools and design methodologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Metaverse. 

Speakers will mainly dicuss the dynamics of "how we interact with digital space and machine intelligence demands", pushing forward boundaries "for not only a complete re-think of our relationship to physical space but of the way we see and create ourselves."

Known as one of the world’s most illustrious design events, this year Design Shanghai expects over 70,000 expected visitors over the four days. The event will showcase more than 600 local and international brands from 40 countries and regions. 

Celebrating a wealth of creative accomplishments, the design event is set to share new ideas from both the world’s rising stars and industry tastemakers. 

While the event is constantly breaking new ground, this year, Design Shanghai is expanding its capacity by 50 per cent by debuting a new exhibition hall, titled Hall 3 - which will host be a Living & Lifestyle Design Hall.

The Living & Lifestyle Design Hall will be presenting new homewares, interiors and accessories industry in China and from international suppliers.

The event also exhibits at Hall 1, dedicated to Furniture & Lighting, and Hall 2, dedicated to Kitchen & Bathroom Design and New Materials & Applications.

&Tradition

"This year marks the tenth anniversary of Design Shanghai and we appreciate the contribution, support and engagement the event has and continues to receive," said Zhuo Tan, Managing Director of Clarion Events Shanghai Limited.

"During the past decade we have provided a platform to share design ideas across China and the global stage and it has been an honour to witness the vigorous development of the design community in China." 

"This year’s edition of Design Shanghai hopes to enhance the audience's perspective through exploring the ‘re-creation’ of design." 

"For this momentous 10th anniversary we will be comprehensively upgrading the scale and content at the event, with exemplary design showcased from across the world - we cannot wait to welcome visitors, design and brands to this grand event," Tan added.

LZF LAMPS, Interiors from Spain

This year’s event will present the strongest line-up of international brands, "showcasing a wealth of sophisticated design drawn from established international favourites."

Ligne Roset, Carl Hansen & Søn, Scavolini, Humanscale, Cappellini, AXOR, Davide Groppi, Louis Poulsen, Paola Lenti, Flos, Mattiazzi, Zanotta, Interiors from Spain, Taiga Concept, OKAMURA, Porcelanosa, Bontempi Casa, Christofle, LALIQUE, &Tradition, Verpan, NUDE and Chinese designers Zinilife, CHENDARUI, 2-LA Design, Jianze, U+, ZSPACEPLUS, Frank Chou Design Studio and Kun Design, are among brands to showcase their works at Design Shanghai.

Artichoke Pendants, Louis Poulsen

The Kohler Exquisite x Design Shanghai Design Forum is one of key elements of the event, hosting high-profiled and international speakers from around the world.

The programme is described as "one of the best attended and comprehensive seminar programmes in Asia".

Visitors have attended presentations from world-renowned designers, such as Patricia Urquiola, Paola Navone, Tom Dixon, Chi Wing Lo and Philippe Starck; the latter who will be a returning speaker this year. 

The theme of the forum is Beyond Sustainability lies Re-Creative Design – Design for Wellbeing.

Paola Lenti

"The past few years have provided us with a greater awareness and understanding of our health and wellbeing, our ability to apply it to the design of our interiors, products, buildings and environment and most importantly to apply it to ourselves," said Design Shanghai. 

"Globally there is a gratifying trend at all levels of design and architecture to extend the idea of health in all its forms – mental, physical, spiritual." 

"We engage with nature in a more authentic manner, materials are natural or derived from nature, spaces are created that generate calm, serenity and refreshment." 

"Alongside the role of the natural world in design, Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse have set out whole new parameters for us to live by. How we interact with digital space and machine intelligence demands not only a complete re-think of our relationship to physical space, but of the way we see and create ourselves," the event stated.

Ross Lovegrove, Adam Brinkworth, Frank Chou, Aldo Cibic, Michael Young, Ben Wu, Chi Wing Lo, Chris Lefteri, Stefano Piontini and Satoshi Ohashi, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects are expected speakers of the 2023 Design Shanghai.

Scarlet Splendour, ZSPACEPLUS

The Feature area is a new addition to Design Shanghai, which is designed to celebrate the best up-coming designers and craftsmanship in China. Over 100 Chinese independent design studios will take the stage to celebrate the rising design community from China.

"This year will be the strongest lineup for Talents, with 20 groups this year," said the event. 

The Feature is curated by designer Frank Chou to provide a platform for young and emerging designers in China, Rong, which will feature 28 designers experimenting with the deconstruction of weaving in Chinese traditional handicrafts. 

A brand new feature Design Street at Design Shanghai 2023

The event will also celebrate the launch of a brand new feature Design Street, curated design platform by Design Burger. 

Other Feature highlights include Disappearing Borders by Jamy Yang, an immersive exhibition space by Neooold inspired by Jianghu in collaboration with architect Chen Hao Ru, New Product Launch, in which over 100 brands will debut new products.

Moreover, the Design Shanghai Picks awards will recognise the exemplary brands and designers showcasing at this event.

As the exclusive headline partner of the event for the fourth consecutive year, German automotive manufacturer Audi will present the China premiere of the newly launched Audi active sphere concept, the culmination of its innovative sphere concept vehicles showcasing its ever-evolving progressive design philosophy and vision of future premium sustainable mobility driven by meaningful technology.

Design Shanghai has become one of the biggest design shows in the world - attracting over 2,500 world-renowned design brands from over 40 countries. 

One of Asia's highly anticipated event, Design Shanghai attracts leading international and Chinese manufacturers, design-led brands, global industry leaders, architects, collectors, interior designers and design enthusiasts, alongside dynamic cultural programming unique to the city.

You can register to the 2023 Design Shanghai through the website. 

Top image courtesy of Design Shanghai.

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