June 2008
The dates of June 26-28 will prove to be the highlight in the design calendar this year in Shanghai, as 100% Design Shanghai and International Home Decor & Design (IHDD) bring an unparalleled gathering of designers and international brands to the city. Taking place at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, the launch of the first 100% Design Shanghai and IHDD will be the most prominent of its kind in the region, bringing together the most influential figures and organisations from home and abroad.
Organiser Reed Exhibitions have invited internationally-recognised Dutch designer Richard Hutten to deliver the keynote talk at the event. Additionally, Hutten will be bringing his unique and fascinating Greenhouse installation to the exhibition space. Having premiered at Salone del Mobile in Milan in April, the production stems from one of Hutten¡'s most recent and playful design inventions - artificial leaves that can be stuck to any metal surface with a lithium magnet. Not only can the leaves, which are manufactured by Gispen, transform a space into an arresting example of contemporary design, but they also have added acoustic benefits. As Hutten remarked, "It is indeed a very simple solution - a piece of plastic with a strong lithium magnet. The good thing is also that people think they are fun, they love to play with them.
Greenhouse is just one creation from the prolific Hutten, who has had work exhibited in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Toronto and Osaka to name but a few. A graduate of the Eindhoven Academy for Industrial Design and one of the most famous designers to have come out of The Netherlands, he has also had the honour of having his designs used by Philippe Starck for interiors of the Delano Hotel Miami and the Mondrian Hotel Los Angeles.
Additionally, Michael Young will be making an appearance and giving a talk alongside Hutten, a long-time colleague and good friend. Currently serving as creative director of 100% Design Tokyo, Young has been amongst the most successful and influential designers of his generation from the outset of his career. In 1995 he created MY- 022 Ltd design office in London, where he focused on a series of projects for Cappellini, Sawaya & Moroni and Magis and was given his own monthly page in Japanese publication Casa Brutus. His clients since have included Galley Kreo, Danese, Artemide, Rosenthal and Swedese and Astro bar, a nighclub design in Iceland.
At 100% Design Shanghai and IHDD, guests will not only see Hutten¡¯s innovations up close; they will also have the chance to see and hear from Hutten in person. As part of a series of seminars happening at during the event, Hutten will deliver an exclusive keynote talk on Saturday 28th June at 2.15pm, sharing his own observations and opinions with attendees. Hutten joins a range of entrepreneurs, journalists and designers that will be speaking during the three exhibition days.
The list of speakers also includes Creative Directors Tobias Wong and Aric Chen, who are responsible for the visual appearance and overall look of the exhibitions. Wong is one of the most promising designers working today, having been named the Wallpaper Young Designer of the Year and was noted as one of Forbes Tastemakers in 2007. Likewise, Chen is a prominent name in the field of journalism, having written for a range of popular publications and also served as curator for successful exhibitions in New York and France.
Seminar attendees can listen to discussions covering a range of topics dealing with design in China and abroad. Experts in the field who will also be speaking include Helen Yao, Editor-in-chief of Interior Design and Frame China magazines, Tristan Butterfield, Creative Brand Strategist for Kohler and key creatives from IDEO and Frog Design. The gathering will be a rare opportunity to hear a range of views from leaders in various design-related fields.
Another example of the international talent congregating in Shanghai from is the French organisation VIA, who will be bringing together a group of successful French and Chinese designers for an exclusive seminar and presentation. The organization, founded in 1979, works with both the industry and with the general public in promoting French creation in design. CEO of VIA G¨¦rard Laize will be joined by a range of designers, creative directors, architects and entrepreneurs in speaking at the event. Among the attendees will be Patrick Jouin, the well-known French designer who was a former artistic director for Philippe Starck. With clients such as Kartell and Alain Ducasse, Jouin¡¯s firm, which he started in 1998, is known for its experimentation with techniques such as rapid prototyping and gas injection.
Of course, these seminars are just one reason to attend the 100% Design Shanghai and IHDD this June. Another key attraction will be the unprecedented number of international design brands showcasing their products in the exhibition space. The roster now includes award-winning design studio de MVW, a collaboration between Chinese designer Ming Xu and French architect Virginie Moriette. Based in Shanghai, de MVW specialises in furniture design and sets itself apart with a unique fusion of Chinese and French cultures. The practice has received awards from the British Council and the Elle Decoration International Design Awards, as well as exhibiting at the China Design Now exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
This combination of top exhibitors from all corners of the globe and seminars featuring a host of eminent speakers ensures that Shanghai Exhibition Centre will be the key destination for the design-conscious when the exhibitions open. As the events draw nearer, more and more big names from the design world are coming onboard for what is going to be a world-class event in Shanghai this June.
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