The 11th edition of Asia’s leading annual design event continued for its second day at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. This year's BODW partner country is Belgium, which spared no effort in sending their best and brightest to showcase the country’s design talents. The second day of the BODW forum saw the conference hit full stride for a full day of activities.

The Plenary Session in the morning opened with a speech by ‘The King Midas of Design’ Stefano Giovannoni whose speech explored the products he has designed for brands such as Alessi, Fiat, Toto, NTT Docomo, ZTE, L'Oreal, Oregon Scientific, Samsung and 3M. Multiple Compasso d'Oro winner Xavier Lust followed with another fascinating discussion on his furniture designs noted for their curved metallic surfaces. Top strategist Larry Keeley who, for more than three decades, has consulted for multinational companies offered an innovative session on implementing comprehensive and effective innovation.

The afternoon sessions was divided into three tracks. Issues of ‘Communications & Design’ were explored with professor Lu Jingren of the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University and founder of Jingren Art Design Studio. Also, highly anticipated Polish graphic and typeface designers Artur Frankowski and Magdalena Frankowska of Fontarte spoke about the role of typeface design in the new century. Award-winning web designer and new media artist Henry Chu of Hong Kong’s pill & pillow design studio, and Base Design’s Thierry Brunfaut whose philosophy of graphic and conceptual simplicity emphasises concise communication both gave captivating speeches on the importance of design in communication.

The ‘Space & Design’ programme generated great interest with the chairman of the world’s largest architecture firm Aedas, Keith Griffiths; award-winning Belgian architect Julien de Smedt; and Isabel Van Haute; one half of the duo of Coldefy & Associés Architectes Urbanistes (CAAU), whose dynamic and innovative spirit is reflected in their works like the Hong Kong Design Institute’s Hong Kong office.

About Business of Design Week

The Hong Kong Design Centre has been the organizer of Business of Design Week (BODW) since 2002. The annual international event is aimed at promoting design and strengthening ties between the design and business communities. Each year, BODW attracts design and business elite from around the world to Hong Kong. The world's attention is drawn to current design issues through various exhibitions, international forums and outreach activities tailored to provide designers, business leaders, educators, SMEs and the public with communication opportunities to build strong business and commercial development. It is a world-class platform for the exchange of ideas, and an internationally renowned annual design event.

Date: 2-7 December 2013

Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

> via bodw.com