An insider’s look into CIFF Shanghai 2024, China’s design centerstage

by Aisha Capulong

CIFF Shanghai 2024 puts a spotlight on excellent design through its showcase of China's cutting-edge high-end furniture

The annual CIFF Shanghai is a dynamic event highlighting the latest trends in home design and offering an immersive experience that celebrates all aspects of innovative modern living. Piqued your interest? Here’s a look at all that happened at this year’s installation of the China International Furniture Fair (CIFF) in Shanghai.

Since its inception in 2015, the East Design Show at CIFF Shanghai has become a magnet for young independent designers, solidifying its reputation as a leading platform where ideas become viable products. The theme for this year, “Ieleness“, brought a laid-back, playful atmosphere, encouraging visitors to discover the joy of relaxation through uplifting design.

The Design Dream Show (DDS) featured 170,000 pink daisy grasses and seamlessly integrated over a dozen brands to revel in the beauty of life while highlighting how the day-to-day has endless potential in becoming creative spaces with the right fixtures.

Curated by Liu Chunyi, the Siza Theme Exhibition honored the lasting legacy of architect Álvaro Siza. Featuring rare sketches, models, and product designs, the exhibition provided a rare glimpse into Siza’s iconic and timeless works — designs that have profoundly influenced architecture and remain nearly impossible to replicate.

The Design Gravity Show, centered around the theme “Gravity”, brought together leading designers and brands to explore the concept of “law of attraction” in design. Through co-curated concepts and live demonstrations, the initiative cultivated a dynamic environment where modernism and exceptional craftsmanship converged.

The Limited IN exhibition spotlit the unique grace of premium furniture brands, bringing together leading designers from both domestic and international markets with contemporary design philosophies. The exhibit acted as an exclusive insight into sophisticated lifestyles and was a celebrative illustration of the finer things in life.

A world-class home experience center, the COOMO & CIFF International Soft Furnishings Area featured more than 10 renowned mid-to-high-end brands, from Villeroy & Boch to Limonta highlighting outstanding textile mastery and luxurious fabrics.

The Grand View Tea Ceremony exhibition, themed “Zen Life”, celebrated Eastern philosophies by blending traditional elegance with contemporary design. Visitors were able to experience authentic tea rituals and an invite into Zen culture.

The Italian Lounge, created by Edimotion and designed by AIPI (Italian Association of Professional Interior Designers), focused on presenting the distinct character of Italian design. The space was dedicated to promoting Made in Italy labels in China to foster new opportunities for collaboration.

Participating brands at the CIFF Select Show gained significant exposure and connected with a focused audience of industry leaders. Global trend experts networked all throughout, driving cross-border innovation.

The Shanghai Office Life Theme Pavilion 2024 drew inspiration from traditional Chinese wooden architecture, headlining elements such as flying eaves and vertical wooden columns. The pavilion represented a contemporary approach to office life that is designed to augment social interaction and collaboration.