Teaming up with Melbourne as its partner city in 2018, this year’s edition of Business of Design Week (BODW) in Hong Kong, 3 – 8 December, will be themed ‘Think – Collaborate – Create’.

Design in its many guises will be covered off through seminars, masterclasses, exhibitions and events, with a focus on design and innovation within the contexts of space, product, culture, branding, communication and the city.

Here are five key events we can’t wait to attend.

1. BODW Summit’s Plenary sessions

Kick start your day with one of BODW’s four Plenary sessions (taking place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday). They feature a pretty impressive line-up of design experts like Professor Rob Adams AM (director of city design and projects of City of Melbourne); Ben van Berkel of UNStudio; the acclaimed industrial designer and architect, Ron Arad; and Japanese architect, Toyo Ito.

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Toyo Ito

2. Brand Asia Forum

Will explore the future of brands and how shifts in lifestyle are transforming businesses and changing the way we connect and communicate. Influential leaders on this panel include Antonio Colombo of Cinelli & Columbus, and Tony Chambers of TC & Friends (and former editor-in-chief of Wallpaper*).

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3. Space and Design session

Join a cross-regional contingent of speakers which includes MARCH Studio, One Plus Partnership Limited, Flack Studio, Teo Yang Studio, and Meaghan Dwyer of John Wardle Architects. Dwyer gives us a hint of what we can expect: “My presentation will outline some of [JWA’s] recent work in Melbourne. Each project can be understood through its significant contribution to the public life of the city.”

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Carol Ross Barney. Photo by Witten Sabbatini.

4. Carol Ross Barney Masterclass

Renowned architect, urbanist, educator and design principal of Ross Barney Architects in the US, Carol Ross Barney, will be discussing the making of liveable cities and how to design for social good.

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5. Melbourne Pavilion at DesignInspire

This international exhibition, curated by NGV’s Ewan McEoin and Phip Murray, is the ultimate roll-call of all things Melbourne design. More than 90 designers will be on display in this Victoria-centric exhibition which steps between topics of design and – play, making, wellbeing, identity, invention and learning. HK’s BODW Melbourne program is supported by the Victorian Government via Creative Victoria.

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Start planning your BODW schedule. Enter the following code MD3RD78 and receive a 30 per cent discount when purchasing tickets online – a special treat for Indesign readers. 

Heading to BODW in Hong Kong this year? Get in touch and let us know.