Leading names in international contemporary design rarely look to China for inspiration. Likewise, many Chinese designers search outside their country’s borders for new ideas. Yet there is evidence that this trend is changing.Has there been a shift in the world of design,with greater interest in traditional Chinese craftsmanship and culture?

To explore what international designers may learn from traditional Chinese craftsmanship and the mutual benefits of cross-cultural exchange, Wallpaper*—the world’s leading design magazine—will host a panel discussion moderated by Wallpaper* Editorial Director Richard Cook. In the panel, a selection of international designers and industry expertswill share their experiences working with or in China and their thoughts on what the future may bring.

Note:

Please bring an ID card to rent simultaneous interpretation equipment.

Rossana Hu is a founding partner of Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, an interdisciplinary, international architectural design practice based in Shanghai. Established with her partner Lyndon Neri in 2004, the practice has won many international awards. Along with architecture and interior design, the practice’s portfolio also includes branding, installations, and industrial design, including work for Moooi, Lema, ClassiCon, GandiaBlasco, Stellar Works, Meritaliaand BD Barcelona. Hu received a Master of Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Music from the University of California, Berkeley.

British-born designer Michael Young graduated from Kingston University in 1992. He worked with Tom Dixon in London before setting up his own studio in 1994 and relocating it to Hong Kong in 2006. Known for his pared-down aesthetic, Young combines his creativity in design with the technological ingenuity of local industry and often works very closely with Chinese manufacturers. In the course of his career, he has worked with clients ranging from Coca-Cola to Cappellini, Georg Jensen to Giant Bicycles.

Thomas Lykke is the co-founder, owner, and creative director of OeO in Copenhagen, founded in 2003. He is also the creative director and co-founder of Stellar Works in Shanghai and the creative director of Japan Handmade in Kyoto. In addition to creative direction, his key fields include conceptual development, strategic design thinking, creative communication, and product design. Lykke’s client list includes Georg Jensen, Sony, Fritz Hansen, Biomega, Puma, and Copenhagen Airports.

Actor and furniture designer Harrison Liu runs a Beijing gallery in a former Ming Dynasty temple with his partner Jehanne de Biolley, a jewelry designer. Renowned in China as an actor and director, Liu discovered his passion for design and furniture when watching films from around the world. He set up his first metal furniture workshop in 1996, and today he advises Chinese furniture companies while designing his own collections. His studio is based on an East-meets-West style, and together with de Biolley he works with clients from both sides of the world.

German architect Ole Scheeren is the chief architect of Büro Ole Scheeren, with offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, and a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong. As a former partner and director of Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), Scheeren directed the office’s work across Asia.As partner-in-charge he successfully led the design of the China Central Television Station (CCTV) and the Television Cultural Centre (TVCC) in Beijing, OMA’s largest project to date. He is currently working on a series of projects, including Angkasa Raya, a landmark building in the centre of Kuala Lumpur; an 800,000 square meter mixed-use development in Chongqing; and a large-scale urban development in Singapore.

Richard Cook (Editorial director forWallpaper*)

Wallpaper* magazine

Beijing Design Week

Ullens Center For Contemporary Art