INSPIRATION HALL

THE HKTDC INNODESIGNTECH EXPO HELD ALONGSIDE BODW WEEK 2016 RECENTLY WELCOMED THE START OF SOMETHING MORE — MORE IDEAS, MORE CONVERSATIONS, AND MORE DISCOVERY.

Just across from the venue of BODW 2016 lied another interesting spot for creative enthusiasts. As a part of the HKTDC InnoDesignTech Expo that was held alongside the Business of Design Week, ‘Inspirational Hall’ consisted of four main sections concerning the local and international creative industries including Brands of Inspiration, Design Education, Global Innovation, and Hong Kong Creative Force together with a series of Inno Talks that invited key individuals to share their ideas on creativity and lifestyle under the theme ’URBANOVATION.’ A pavilion curated by James Law Cybertecture under the same name explored “how design and innovation become a key driving force to urban lifestyle and development” and showcased “collaborators’ concepts and latest applications on how to upgrade our city lifestyle and urban landscape.” HKDC or Hong Kong Design Centre, as well, took part in this thematic idea by presenting an exhibition named ‘Designing a New Future’ which focused on how design and innovation are used to drive value creation and improve the well-being of society through the works of HKDC itself and collaboration with local designers.

The HKTDC InnoDesignTech Expo, Inspiration Hall, Photo by Wasawat Dechapirom

Audiences were able to catch a glimpse of some emerging creativity not only through showcasing from the DFA Awards and Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Award, but also from the international stages such as Design Preis Schweiz and the SPARK International Design Awards. Schools like the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU Design) also presented their inspiring studies and works as a part of the Design Education section so as to introduce visitors to what design attempts these young designers were working on, albeit the presentation seemed more akin to an open house. Placed in the center of the hall was ‘Checkered Playroom,’ a lightweight prefabricated building by Zhu Jingxiang from the Department of Architecture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and his team, UNITINNO Architectural Technology which was first displayed in Hong Kong after the recent Venice Biennale.

The HKTDC InnoDesignTech Expo, Inspiration Hall, Photo by Wasawat Dechapirom

Inspiration Hall also welcomed a touring exhibition from Chicago ’Great Ideas of Humanity’ as representation of BODW’s 2016 partner city. Organized by the Chicago Design Museum, this exhibition invited several artists and designers to express their creativity through an advertising campaign entitled under the same name as a tribute to Walter Paepcke’s ‘Great Ideas of Western Man’ which initially aimed to bring about more discussion concerning cultural discourse to the public and latterly acted as a platform for creative individuals and renowned thinkers to pair up, celebrate their ideas, transform them into a series of advertisements using visual language, and display them both throughout the city and internationally. Following the efforts of this exhibition, it couldn’t be denied that Great Ideas of Humanity was indeed “the start of something more — more ideas, more conversations, and more discovery.”