For Immediate Release

DESIGN CHINA BEIJING 2019CONNECTS DESIGN TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Over 30,000 visitors attended the second edition of Design China Beijing over 5 daysSustainability and green creativity featured prominently from exhibitors and special projects

Frank Chou Design Studio at Design China Beijing 2019

[Beijing, 18 September 2019] The second edition of Design China Beijing ended on 16 September and welcomed over 30,000 professional audience and public visitors over five days. Design China Beijing 2019 featured more than 200 leading brands from China and around the world, showcasing more than 1,000 pieces of furniture, kitchenware, electronics, lighting, materials, home decoration, and office furniture, 13 conceptual installations, 50 forum talks, and numerous satellite activities around the city. The fair focused on the theme of sustainability––sustainable design, the sustainability of design, the past and future of craftsmanship, and diversified symbiosis––and exhibitors and designers explored how

design could be innovative and green. At Design China Beijing 2019, some international brands unveiled new collections, and more than 20 Chinese designers presented their original designs.

Designers and brands who have always been committed to the sustainable development brought inspiring products, material research, installations, and forums to the fair. Natured Square Co-Founder Lay Koon Tan shared how to transform waste into luxury goods. Neuni Group introduced “material heroes”, a series of recycled materials combined with innovative technology. Yemu1978 expressed their respect to mother nature through unique furniture pieces made of raw wood. Xinyu Weng, Founder of YUUE, talked about his idea of salvaging discarded share bikes. Ringco X DNA promoted “#nopapercups” campaign with products designed exclusively for the fair. Jun Li, Deputy Editorial Director of AD China, ATLAS founders Catherine McMahon and Jenny Chou, and PINWU Design Studio Founder Zhang Lei each shared their interpretation of “green innovation” and their pursuit of "sustainable inspiration" to find a balance between Man and Nature.

Sanctuary Lamps by THESHAW 12 Hours at Design China Beijing 2019

With the growing recognition and appreciation of Chinese Design in both domestic and international markets, Design China Beijing continued to showcase Chinese design studios and brands including Frank Chou Design Studio, Maxmarko, Kun Design, Seed Design, lightspace, HYM, IIINSITU, ABOVE, THESHAW, and Slat alongside brands which seek inspiration from traditional Chinese aesthetics such 12 Hours, Yemu1978, Sozen, Ruyi, EY Products, Sozen Create, Landwood, Moodmu, Thrudesign, Fineth, Mumo, and Too Black Furniture.

GOOD DESIGN COMPANY Manabu Mizuno Exhibition at Nali Patio, Beijing

More than a dozen designers created installations around the fair to engage the audience sensorially and to dynamically investigate the main theme. AntiStatics brought a sculpture installation to the Opposite House, Design China Beijing’s hotel partner, using recycled materials, artificial intelligence, and bionics concepts. Cao Feng, founder of design furniture gallery BACK to 20th and collector Wei Wang presented the exhibition Illuminating Modernism, paying tribute to French modernists such as Le Corbusier and Bernard-Albin Gras. Feng Liu of Black Drama again deconstructed familiar daily scenes and re-arranged objects to examine the design in public life and urban ecology. Jamy Yang investigated the question “why we design” through an interactive installation titled [design]. Min Chen's OBJECT TASTING invited thousands of visitors to participate in a pool about the definition of art, design, and craft. Lenovo ThinkPad collaborated with Gensler and Steelcase to stage "ThinkPad Smart Creative Space". A solo exhibition by Manabu Mizuno, the creator of the Kumamoto Bear and founder of “good design company”, opened at Nali Patio during the fair as a satellite event.

Illuminating Modernism by BACK to 20th and Wei Wang

Design China Beijing presented “Kohler Exquisite – Design China Beijing Forum” with the support of KOHLER, the world's leading kitchen and bathroom brand. In nearly 50 thought-provoking discussions, designers and other industry leaders talked about sustainable design, technological innovation, traditional cultures, art, and design education. Highlights include Fabio Novembre, Scientific Director of the Domus Academy School of Design in Milan, talking about the inspiration and journey of his iconic design, and Dayong Sun, founding partner and principal architect of Penda, sharing his design concept of "LESS IS LOVE ". German designer Sebastian Herkner encouraged people to appreciate beauty in the design process. Furniture designer Bethan Gray discussed the luxury experience and innovative craftsmanship. Beryl Hsu, executive editor in chief of IDEAT China, discussed alpha generation with Binke Lenhardt and Hao Dong, founders of Crossboundries.

Diana Guzijan, Xinyu Weng, and Nadine Sterk at Kohler Exquisite – Design China Beijing Forum

As a premier platform for international brands to enter the Chinese market, Design China Beijing 2019 brought together some of the world's leading design brands such as Gaggenau, Zanotta, Slamp, de Sede, Natuzzi, TON, Erwin Sattler, and Volevatch. Cabana and Apartment 101, two high-end furniture boutiques, brought a refined selection of international brands. Additionally, Perrier made its debut at Design China Beijing with the Central bar, and Absolut created a 4,000-sqm outdoor bar and pop-up restaurant in garden, providing leisure and entertainment space for visitors.

Rattan Chairs Presented by Central Academy of Fine Arts

In addition to design brands, Design China Beijing 2019 highlighted the academic sector of the industry by inviting four design academies in China to showcase student design works. Furniture design students from Tsinghua University presented some innovative chairs and stools. The School of Urban Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) brought chairs inspired by Huaiyuan's traditional rattan weaving techniques. China Academy of Art challenged the traditional manufacturing process and explored the possibilities of new materials. Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art showcased student furniture design. Jun Fei, professor of art and technology at the School of Design at CAFA, and Eric Schuldenfrei, Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, respectively gave enlightening lectures at the forum.

"Even though this is only Design China Beijing’s second year, we are proud to say that this year's scale has not only doubled, but nearly tripled since last year," said Zhuo Tan, Director of Design China Beijing and Design Shanghai. The theme this year is "sustainable design", and we are delighted to see more and more designers taking this concept as their mission to practice and explore. The vision of Design China Beijing and Design Shanghai is to promote the innovative development of the design industry, and the issue of sustainable design will not end with the end of the Beijing show. We will continue to promote sustainable design and lead the design industry towards a sustainable future."

ABOUT DESIGN CHINA BEIJING

Design China Beijing showcase iconic international design brands as well as a strong roster of local design brands. The fair attracts influential architects, interior designers, property developers, hotel groups, retail buyers, designers, press, and design-savvy public to see and

specify the very latest furniture, lighting, textiles, accessories, materials and conceptual installations from over 200 leading international and domestic design brands and galleries.designchinabeijing.com ABOUT DESIGN SHANGHAI

Design Shanghai is Asia’s leading international design event, breaking new ground and setting a precedent in Asia’s ever-growing design community. Showcasing the best design brands and galleries from across the globe, Design Shanghai provides a unique and exciting platform to network, exchange and establish long-term business relations with Asia’s top architects, interior designers, property developers, retailers, collectors, and private buyers.Design Shanghai aims to explore how eastern and western design philosophies can work together synergistically across the halls: Contemporary, Classic & Luxury, Collectibles, Kitchen & Bathroom, Workplace and New Materials & Applications. The event also features bespoke installations, an inspirational design forum and exciting networking events.Design Shanghai has fast earned its position alongside the most established design events in the world and become one of the must-see events in the international design calendar.

ABOUT CLARION EVENTS

Clarion Events is one of the world's leading events organisers, producing and delivering innovative and market-leading events since 1947. In more recent times, the firm has grown into a truly international business, with a portfolio of events and media brands across a range of vertical markets. Clarion provides a range of services to the design, fashion, furniture, and interiors sector through market leading brands including Top Drawer, Premium Berlin, Lighting Design Awards, and January Furniture Show. clarionevents.com

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