DesignInspire 2025 Exhibition Opens in Hong Kong with Expanded International Participation

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 and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council with co-organiser Hong Kong Design Centre, the event features over 260 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, demonstrating how design connects culture, industry, and everyday life.

A key highlight is the return of French design authority Maison&Objet under the upgraded banner Maison&Objet Intérieurs Hong Kong 2025, featuring two signature pavilions: Design Factory and Design Showcase, along with business lounge Le Club. Centred on the concept of "Crossroads," the curation presents cross-cultural design language spanning dialogue, sustainable innovation, and avant-garde craft. Philippe Delhomme, Executive Board Chairman of Maison&Objet, noted the positive feedback from last year's showcase and highlighted that this year's event nearly doubles in scale, aiming to showcase the future of interior design. The event website provides full details at https://designinspire.hktdc.com.

The exhibition features international pavilions from places including the Chinese Mainland, Belgium, Czechia, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. The Czech Pavilion gathers Prague-based brands Artisème, Braasi Industry, and Pigmentarium, showcasing Bohemian crystal and porcelain craftsmanship, handcrafted urban backpacks, and artistic fragrances. First-time exhibitors include the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia, and the Macao Product Design Association.

Renowned designer Alan Chan and emerging artist Chilai Howard anchor the cross-cultural narrative with their respective showcases. BOTTEGA HONG KONG, with Alan Chan as Creative Director, reimagines everyday aesthetics through an "open carton" inspired by Italy's alimentari and Hong Kong's "si dor" neighbourhood stores, featuring collaborations with Hong Kong and Italian talent. TINY STUDIO, curated by Chilai Howard, takes inspiration from Hong Kong's street stall culture to shape 12 studio pavilions with unique designs, hosting creators from both Hong Kong and Italy working across digital art, sound, scent, sculpture, and hands-on workshops.

DesignInspire 2025 includes 13 InnoTalks sessions and 20 creative workshops covering sustainable design, retro aesthetics, and craftsmanship. Highlights include "Time Warp – When Nostalgia Meets the Future" and "Future development potential of Art Toy IP," where international designer Winson Ma analyses industry trends. The event also features "The A.I. Atelier," an experience zone blending design and technology powered by Preface, exploring how artificial intelligence reshapes design language.

To foster collaboration and industry development, DesignInspire hosted an exclusive VIP preview today, bringing together leading creative organisations, international enterprises, and buyers. Participating companies span department stores, retail and residential development, hospitality and lifestyle brands, interior design practices, and food and beverage groups from various regions. The event runs concurrently with three other 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.