All eyes in the design world will be focused on Hong Kong from 4–9 December. Those are the dates for the annual Business of Design Week (BODW) 2017, and this year some of the biggest names from the global architecture, design, arts and business worlds will be there for a broad spectrum of programming. 

Speakers will include Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas (Studio Fuksas), Professor Jacques Herzog (Herzog & de Meuron), Ben van Berkel (UNStudio), Alberto Meda (Alberto Meda Design), Mario Bellini (Mario Bellini Architects), Sou Fujimoto (Sou Fujimoto Architects Inc.), Rocco Yim (Rocco Design Architects Ltd), Alice Rawsthorn, Mitja Borkert (Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.), Dr Paul Thompson (Royal College of Art), Oscar Farinetti (Eataly) and many more.

And if that list doesn’t have you scrambling for your tickets, we’re not sure what would!

BODW 2017 will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will be curated to the theme of ‘Italy Makes a Difference’, with Italy as the partner country this year. This global annual event organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre is a platform in Asia for business networking and learning through highlights including a summit, a gala dinner, and concurrent exhibitions and programmes.

It’s an opportunity to explore design-driven innovation through a dialogue between Hong Kong and Italy – a country that the Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, Professor Eric C. Yim JP, regards as “a worldwide powerhouse of style and design” that “has led the way in the worlds of luxury, interior design, fashion, automobile design and architecture.”

The programming will dive into themes such as ‘Brands and Innovation’, ‘Communication and Design’, ‘Product and Design’, ‘Design for Asia’, ‘Space and Design’, ‘Culture and the City’, and ‘Heritage and Design’ – the latter being a new addition to the programming categories this year.

The ‘Heritage and Design’ session will be anchored by a diverse group of leading creative minds from Italy, including luthier (string instrument craftsperson) Lapo Vettori (Paolo Vettori Daughter and Sons), product designer Giulio Vinaccia (Giulio Vinaccia and Associates), designer-artist Jacopo Foggini (Galleria Jacopo Foggini), musician and independent producer Zhu Zheqin, Dadawa (KANJIAN Creation) and more.

Key sessions to mark in your calendar include the plenary sessions with Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas and Professor Jacques Herzog on Thursday 7 December; with Ben van Berkel and Mario Bellini on Friday 8 December; and with Sou Fujimoto, Venelin Kokalov (Bing Thom Architects), Mario Cucinella (Mario Cucinella Architects) and Rocco Yim on Saturday 9 December.

And there’ll be plenty of concurrent programmes to catch including the DFA Awards presentation ceremony, Worktech 2017 Hong Kong, deTour, DesignInspire, a leadership forum on Design Education, the Business of IP Asia Forum, and Fashion Asia 2017 Hong Kong.

For more info on the programme and tickets, head to bodw.com.