Knowledge of Design Week (KODW 2023) Concludes Today With Over 1,500 Attended the Three Day Event In-Person To Explore ‘The Power of Design: Innovating for a Circular World’ From 14 to 16 June in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, 16 June 2023 – Knowledge of Design Week (KODW 2023) concluded today after 18 forums, nine workshops, two masterclasses and a series of meet-the-speakers and networking sessions were held at Hong Kong Palace Museum and off-site premises under the theme ‘The Power of Design: Innovating for a Circular World’. More than 40 local and international creative and business leaders from pioneering brands, companies and academic institutions gathered to share insights on how to leverage the power of design to co-create a more sustainable future.
KODW: Reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s design hub to connect the world
With a vision to reinforce Hong Kong as Asia’s design hub to connect the world and the Mainland, particularly the Greater Bay Area, KODW 2023 has solicited support from Regional Strategic Partners such as Guangzhou Design Week, Macau Designers Association and Macau Design Centre, as well as its year-round Partner Country, the Netherlands – alongside CreativeNL, the country’s platform for its creative pioneers.
Prof. Eric Yim, Chairman of Hong Kong Design Centre, said, “The strategic importance of KODW in promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration comprises both international and regional aspects. In the international aspect, Hong Kong’s positioning as an East-meets-West centre for cultural exchange aligns with its crucial role in national development as outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan. In fulfilling this role, it is vital to foster the city’s design industry and economy, while continuously create valuable platforms for international knowledge exchange.” Prof. Eric Yim further commented, “On the other hand, regionally, KODW seeks to showcase the creative power of design from the Greater Bay Area to the world, and to strengthen the area’s networking and collaboration.”
Powerhouse discussion on ‘The Power of Design: Innovating for a Circular World’
KODW is a major annual design conference organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) as the Lead Sponsor. Back in full force this year with full physical events, over 1,400 participants joined the three-day event in-person to explore the power of design under the six programme pillars, namely Social Innovation & Wellness, Culture & the City, New Urban Models, Transformative Brands, Hospitality, and AI & Technology. Movers and shakers from diverse disciplines shed light on the impact of responsible and circular design, showcased innovative practices and application, and called for collective efforts from global communities to harness the power of design to build a more equitable and resilient society.
Dutch authorities in circular design and business Pieter van Os, Program Manager International of CIRCO, and Siem Haffmans, Strategic Consultant Circular Economy of Partners for Innovation, agreed that there is a business incentive for designing circular business models as they help reduce costs, anticipate the need for resources, standardise products, and extend customer loyalty.
‘Closing the Loop: Creating New Business Values’
In our current linear economy of ‘take-make-dispose’, many values are lost; circular business models, on the other hand, can be applied to capture these values. Dutch authorities in circular design and business Pieter van Os, Program Manager International of CIRCO, and Siem Haffmans, Strategic Consultant Circular Economy of Partners for Innovation, agreed that there is a business incentive for designing circular business models as they help reduce costs, anticipate the need for resources, standardise products, and extend customer loyalty.
Generative AI Industry experts Dr. Fan Ling, Founder & CEO of Tezign.com, Maggie Wong, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Hong Kong, and Fred Sheu, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, acknowledged that AI is being used to boost efficiency, increase data and analytic skills, stimulate innovation, and tailor customer experiences.
‘Creative Power of Generative AI
Generative AI Industry experts Dr. Fan Ling, Founder & CEO of Tezign.com, Maggie Wong, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Hong Kong, and Fred Sheu, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, acknowledged that AI is being used to boost efficiency, increase data and analytic skills, stimulate innovation, and tailor customer experiences. Dr. Fan emphasised that with Generative AI will enable creators to transition from spending more time on effort to spending more time on ideas.
Sun Dayong, Founder & Chief Architect of Penda China, firmly believes that nature has much to teach about counteracting excess and building more resourcefully, and shared his creation of ‘transitional space’, an area from indoor to outdoor, weaved in harmony between nature and architecture through maximising decorations with green plants.
‘Designing for a Planet-Friendly City’
Sun Dayong, Founder & Chief Architect of Penda China, firmly believes that nature has much to teach about counteracting excess and building more resourcefully, and shared his creation of ‘transitional space’, an area from indoor to outdoor, weaved in harmony between nature and architecture through maximising decorations with green plants.
‘Dynamic Leadership: Embracing Creativity, Clarity & Empathy
Traditional models of leadership have proven to be inadequate for the unprecedented challenges we face in the 21st century. Rama Gheerawo, author of Creative Leadership: Born from Design, believes that in today’s world, empathy, creativity, and clarity are all essential qualities of creative leadership.
Rama Gheerawo, author of Creative Leadership: Born from Design, believes that in today’s world, empathy, creativity, and clarity are all essential qualities of creative leadership.
‘Creativity Empowered: Bridging Storytelling with Technology’
Local creatives Roger Proeis, Co-founder & President of Votion Studios, and Henry Chu, Creative Director of Pill & Pillow, showcased their recent interactions with technology, such as XR and the interplay of data and music, and shared how they work with brands and businesses to captivate end-users with intriguing narratives. During the panel, Chu and Proeis commented that storytelling is innately human and constitutes an important bedrock for the digitised world while technology served as a useful and complementary vehicle for execution.
Local creatives Roger Proeis, Co-founder & President of Votion Studios and Henry Chu, Creative Director of pill & pillow, showcased their recent interactions with technology, such as XR and the interplay of data and music, and shared how they work with brands and businesses to captivate end-users with intriguing narratives.
Experience KODW 2023 and the Power of Design from Anywhere in the World
For local and international communities who have missed the live events from 14 to 16 June, the events of KODW 2023 will be broadcast globally on 12 July on HOYTV, social media, and the interactive design knowledge platform kodw+ at: https://www.kodw.com/en/live.

Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) 2023 Opens on 14 June at Hong Kong Palace Museum

Gathering Global Innovators and Business Leaders In-Person to Innovate for a Sustainable Future

HONG KONG, 14 June 2023 – Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) 2023 opens today at Hong Kong Palace Museum with officiating guests include Mr. Kevin Yeung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, HKSAR Government, Mr. Arjen van den Berg, Consul General, the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong and Macao, and Prof. Eric Yim, JP, Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre, kick start the fully physical three-day event. KODW is a premier annual design event organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) as the Lead Sponsor. With the Netherlands as the Partner Country for the 2023 edition, KODW 2023 is co-organised with CreativeNL, the platform for creative pioneers from the Netherlands.
With the theme of ‘The Power of Design: Innovating for a Circular World’, KODW 2023 gathers over 40 renowned creative experts, pioneers and business leaders from the region and around the world in Hong Kong from 14 to 16 June, featuring almost 30 face-to-face events ranging from forums, workshops to masterclasses to explore innovative practices in design and businesses to create a sustainable future. KODW has arranged a series of creative and business networking opportunities during the course, and the ‘InnoDesign Leadership Forum cum CEO Dinner’ after the closing ceremony of KODW.
KODW 2023: Six Programme Pillars
Consisting of six programme pillars: ‘Social Innovation & Wellness’, ‘Culture & the City’, ‘New Urban Models’, ‘Transformative Brands’, ‘Hospitality’, and ‘AI & Technology’, KODW 2023 explores the unique and powerful role that design plays in driving positive change and sustainability. Over the three-day event, renowned industry experts and innovators from Hong Kong and around the world will showcase the application and impact of responsible and circular design in diverse facets of the contemporary world. Collective efforts of different communities and businesses are called upon to leverage the power of design to build a more equitable, sustainable and resilient society.
Officiating guests at the opening ceremony, Mr. Kevin Yeung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, HKSAR Government (fourth from left), Mr. Arjen van den Berg, Consul General, the Kingdom of the Netherlands (fifth from left), and Prof. Eric Yim, JP, Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre (sixth from left), kick start the full physical event for the week from 14 June to 16 June.
KODW 2023 highlighted keynote and panel sessions include:
14 June (Day 1)
Social Innovation & Wellness
‘Redefining Good Design for Healthy Consumerism’
Calling for design-driven change that is beneficial to all, Richard van der Laken, Co-founder & Creative Director of What Design Can Do (WDCD), The Netherlands, discusses the impact of ‘good and bad design’ on consumer behaviours, business strategies, policymaking and planetary health, complementing with examples that work (and don’t work). Van der Laken co-founded WDCD, an organisation known for tackling social challenges with diverse sectors through design-driven innovations. He mentioned in today’s panel that circularity and circular design mean something different in various countries and locations. The danger of the concept of circular design is that not everyone understands it. However, everyone understands waste and recycling, which can be the first step in the right direction towards circularity.
Richard van der Laken, Co-founder & Creative Director of What Design Can Do, shared how ‘good and bad design’ can impact on consumer behaviours, business strategies, policymaking and planetary health.
Culture & the City
‘Innovative Cultural Storytelling for the City’
D’strict is a trailblazing South Korean company known for its visually stunning fusion of digital media technology and content, and its remarkably engaging approach to cultural storytelling. L. J. Kim, Executive Director of LIVX, d’strict, presents a selection of the company’s projects, including its world-renowned ARTE MUSEUM’s upcoming global branches, and sparks a conversation on the power of innovative cultural storytelling to engage with local communities and democratise art experiences on a global scale, bringing media, art and technology out of the box.
‘Heritage in the City: Preserving Urban Legacies’
As cities across Asia undergo accelerated urbanisation, governments and businesses are faced with daily challenges to innovate for the future while preserving the past. Two pioneers in this line of work, Teo Yang, Creative Director of Teo Yang Studio and Prof. Francesca Valsecchi, Associate Professor of Tongji University College of Design and Innovation in Shanghai, discusses how modernity and tradition can coexist through creative intervention, extensive research, and thoughtful design.
New Urban Models
‘Designing for a Planet-Friendly City’
Penda China is a Beijing-based architectural firm known for drawing inspiration from nature and incorporating biomimicry, as well as involving the ‘Design with Love’ principle in all the projects. Sun Dayong, Founder & Chief Architect of Penda China, firmly believes that nature has much to teach about counteracting excess and building more resourcefully, and shares his philosophies and experiences in designing beyond functionality to live in harmony with the environment.
Hospitality
‘The Power of Luxe Design: Reshaping the Hospitality Landscape’
When translating hoteliers’ visions into remarkable opulent designs, investors and designers must take into account local sentiments and traditional values to create culturally and ecologically sustainable spaces and buildings. Veteran in luxe design Clint Nagata, Founder & Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, shares his approach in reimagining luxurious experiences that resonate with local culture and community while prioritising circular design. Nagata shared that the world of luxury has evolved in today’s world – traditionally it was about exclusivity, now it is about personalisation, about evoking emotions and experiences.
Clint Nagata, Founder & Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, shares his approach in reimagining luxurious experiences that resonate with local culture and community while prioritising circular design.
15 June (Day 2)
Social Innovation & Wellness
‘Reimagining Social Changes Through Design’
Marieke Rietbergen, CEO of the renowned Design Innovation Group (DIG) from the Netherlands, has developed a unique methodology that empowers designers and business leaders to take charge, step up and drive innovations while redesigning businesses through FUTURE IMAGINATION. Rietbergen’s approach seamlessly combine research, creative leadership and co-creation, working wonders for policy makers, business corporations, including notable names like IKEA, Worldbank, and government bodies, helping them transform their mindsets, behaviours and decision making.
L. J. Kim, Executive Director of LIVX, d’strict, introduces how innovative cultural storytelling can benefit local communities through the democratisation of experiences and locally-themed works of art through the recently launched ARTE MUSEUM in Hong Kong.
Transformative Brands
‘Closing the Loop: Creating New Business Values’
‘Sustainable Leadership and Brand Rejuvenation’
Transitioning to a net-zero world is a daunting endeavour for many industries, and reducing carbon emissions is only part of the equation. To accelerate the transition, corporations are reimagining the entire value chain. Michel Chertouh, Managing Director of Regent Hong Kong and Helen Amos, Head of Sustainability Consulting of JLL Hong Kong, will share how exceptional leadership at the core of brand revitalisation can create long-term business value while minimising environmental impacts, paving the way for a sustainable future.
AI & Technology
‘Creative Power of Generative AI’
The use of generative AI in enhancing business branding, marketing and operation has taken the world by storm. Industry leaders are investigating its potential to drive changes, improve efficiency, and collect insights and analytics with greater accuracy. Industry experts Dr Fan Ling, Founder & CEO of Tezign.com, Maggie Wong, Wunderman Thompson Hong Kong and Fred Sheu, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, will discuss the trends, tools, strategies and controversies surrounding generative AI’s commercial and design applications, as well as the limitations, ethical implications and education that must be considered prior to implementation.

‘Creativity Empowered: Bridging Storytelling with Technology’

Amid the ever-evolving digital landscape, the fusion of creativity and technology has become increasingly important in the art of storytelling. Local creatives Roger Proeis, Co-founder & President of Votion Studios and Henry Chu, Creative Director, pill & pillow, will showcase their recent interactions with technology, such as XR and the interplay of data and music, and share how they work with brands and businesses to captivate end-users with intriguing narratives.
Teo Yang, Creative Director of Teo Yang Studio (right) and Prof. Francesca Valsecchi, Associate Professor of Tongji University College of Design and Innovation (left), discussed how modernity and tradition can coexist through creative intervention, extensive research, and thoughtful design.
Discover More than Keynotes and Panels: Intimate Events to Connect, Learn, and Innovate
With the exciting resumption of a fully physical format, apart from keynote and panel sessions, KODW 2023 also offers a range of interactive and intimate events including an InnoDesign Leadership Forum cum CEO Dinner at Regent Hong Kong, Meet-the-Speakers opportunities, and networking reception for providing a platform for likeminded peers to connect, share knowledge, and inspire new ideas.
 
11 workshops and masterclasses will also take place, led by creative pioneers from the Partner Country, the Netherlands, and other countries. These sessions are suitable for anyone passionate about sustainability, from business owners, entrepreneurs, designers and architects to content creators, marketing agencies and policy makers. Highlights include hands-on workshops and masterclasses on circular and sustainable design, such as:
  • What Design Can Do– ‘Circular Design Jam Workshop: Co-Create a Sustainable Future’ (14 June): Richard van der Laken (The Netherlands) will guide participants to envision sustainable solutions in areas such as food, fashion, architecture and packaging, utilising design briefs from the ‘What Design Can Do – Make it Circular Challenge’.
  • ‘Circular Product Design’ (15 June): Siem Haffmans (The Netherlands) will share approaches to participants on transforming the current linear system of ‘take-make-dispose’ in fast-moving consumer goods, drawing from his book Products that Flow.
  • ‘The Competitive Edge: Unlocking Business Success Through Circular Design’ (14 June): Pieter van Os (The Netherlands) will showcase circular design tools used in 14 countries, and guide participants to incorporate sustainable design principles into products, services and business processes.
  • ‘From Imagination to Realisation: Design Tools for Co-Creating Lasting Social Changes’ (15 June): Marieke Rietbergen (The Netherlands) will share a unique approach through ‘IIMAGINATION’, implementing practical design processes to transform unsustainable production practices and inspire participants to become ‘circular imagineers’.
  • ‘Design with Love’ (15 June): Architect Sun Dayong (The Mainland) will let participants wear the designer’s hat and look at the world from different perspectives and uncovering hidden design potentials as well as workshops and masterclasses on AI & technology and other topics, such as:
  1. ‘XR & Technology Transformation’ (16 June): Roger Proeis (Hong Kong) will lead participants to explore the new frontiers of digital content creation and gain practical experience in XR (extended reality) studio workflows and creative processes using professional-grade equipment
  2. ‘Generative AI (AIGC) for Business’ (15 June): Dr Fan Ling (The Mainland) will share insights and case studies on the creative application of Generative AI in business and creative environments, as well as how to create own AIGC works.
  3. ‘Creative Leadership: A Global Movement’ (15 Jun): Rama Gheerawo (United Kingdom) will challenge your perceptions and empower you to lead with creativity, clarity and empathy, drawing from his book Creative Leadership: Born from Design.
More information on KODW 2023 and learn about the most innovative approaches to design for a circular world at: http://2023.kodw.org.