DesignInspire 2025 Opens in Hong Kong, Uniting Global Creativity and Commerce

The DesignInspire 2025 exhibition opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, running until 6 December with free admission for industry professionals and the public from tomorrow. Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) with co-organiser Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), the event features over 260 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, demonstrating Hong Kong's role as an east-meets-west centre for international cultural exchange.

A significant highlight is the upgraded presence of French design authority Maison&Objet, returning as Maison&Objet Intérieurs Hong Kong 2025 with two signature pavilions: Design Factory and Design Showcase. The Design Factory, curated by international curators including French trend hunter Elizabeth Leriche and COLLECTIBLE co-founders Clélie Debehault and Liv Vaisberg, features over 200 pieces envisioning future living through materials and craft. The Design Showcase connects seven design capitals – Dubai, Hong Kong, Milan, New Delhi, Paris, Seoul and Shanghai – interpreting diverse lifestyles through urban contexts. Italian brand Moroso presents Resonant Landscapes, a public art installation curated by Creative Director Patrizia Moroso that fuses sculptural form and sensory experience.

Philippe Delhomme, Executive Board Chairman of Maison&Objet, noted the positive feedback from last year's showcase and stated this year's event nearly doubles in scale, showcasing the future of interior design while gathering global industry peers and potential buyers for deeper collaboration. The event website provides full details at https://designinspire.hktdc.com.

International pavilions from the Chinese Mainland, Belgium, Czechia, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates present diverse design viewpoints. The Czech Pavilion features Prague-based brands Artisème, Braasi Industry and Pigmentarium, showcasing Bohemian crystal and porcelain craftsmanship, handcrafted urban backpacks and artistic fragrances that fuse centuries-old crafts with contemporary sensibilities. First-time exhibitors include the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia and the Macao Product Design Association, showcasing creative works with local characteristics.

Two major installations anchor the show's cross-cultural narrative. BOTTEGA HONG KONG, with renowned designer Alan Chan as Creative Director alongside UNVEIL LIMITED and Su Chang Design Research Office, reimagines everyday aesthetics through an "open carton" inspired by Italy's alimentari and Hong Kong's "si dor" neighbourhood stores. The pavilion showcases Hong Kong and Italian talent including anothermountainman; Didi Ng, the first Hong Kong finalist of the LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize; Italian fashion brand FERRAGAMO; furniture design powerhouse Moroso; glass artist Lucia Massari; Alessandro Stabile Design Studio; and photographer David Leung. Meanwhile, TINY STUDIO, curated by emerging artist Chilai Howard, takes inspiration from Hong Kong's street stall culture to shape 12 studio pavilions featuring creators from Hong Kong and Italy working across digital art, sound, scent, sculpture and hands-on workshops.

DesignInspire has partnered with Tatler to present "The A.I. Atelier," an experience zone blending design and technology that explores creativity through artificial intelligence. Supported by Gen.T and powered by Preface – founded by Tommy Lo from the Tatler Generation Tomorrow Community – the zone analyses visitors' unique design styles to generate personalised visual creations, demonstrating how AI is reshaping design language. Local exhibitors also unveil new designs, including GERI, an intelligent textile technology company collaborating with graphic design master Kan Tai-keung to debut a new series of smart handbags.

To foster professional dialogue, the InnoTalks series features 13 sessions covering sustainable design, retro aesthetics and craftsmanship. Highlights include "Time Warp – When Nostalgia Meets the Future" with local studios Nopaperstudio and Hoopla, and "Future development potential of Art Toy IP" with international designer Winson Ma analysing how designer toys forge value chains across art, collecting and commerce. Twenty creative workshops open to the public offer hands-on experiences in cyanotype printing, light sculpture, stone painting, miniature art, paper craft and candle-making, many incorporating Hong Kong motifs.

The event also promotes community inclusion through collaboration with St. James' Creation under St. James' Settlement, introducing "MusicCLAY – Noided Music Making Experience Workshop" combining clay art with electronic noise music, while the Hong Kong YMCA's the DOOOR arts space integrates art into the community. Running concurrently are three HKTDC-led events – Business of IP Asia Forum, Entrepreneur Day and Start-up Express: International Edition 2025 – creating further synergies and business opportunities through one-on-one business matching connecting participants with design service firms and innovation companies worldwide.

Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, emphasized that this year's DesignInspire unites global creative and business talents, presenting major international collaborations that underscore the event's mission as a world-class design platform where artistic exchange builds new partnerships. With Hong Kong's unique position as a global business hub, the event fosters international exchanges and collaboration across the creative industries.