Organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), Business of Design Week (BODW), Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation, and brands will be returning with a stronger than ever lineup from 27 November to 2 December. Themed ‘Game Changers’, BODW 2023 empowers audiences to set ambitious goals and drive innovation, contributing to sustainable businesses and communities

“BODW 2023 will gather over 50 international, regional and local creative leaders for an inspiring week-long programme across the city. Among them, we have already confirmed heavyweight speakers for the BODW summit, especially from the Mainland and ASEAN countries,” states Professor Eric Yim, Chairman of HKDC. “This enables us to showcase the development of Chinese culture and creativity through design to a wide international audience. It also helps us fulfil our key roles under the 14th Five-Year Plan and align with the strategy of the HKSAR Government.”

Says Mr Arjen van den Berg, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "The Netherlands is proud to be partnering with Hong Kong in a year-long exchange program around the business environment, sustainable fashion, and products and brand-new design to forge long term international cooperation, promote exchange and exchange of ideas and knowledge and co-creates innovative solutions for current and future challenges." Believing the circular-design-focused BODW ties in with DesignInspire’s core value of sustainability. Anna Cheung, Director, Service Promotion at HKTDC further elaborates, “As the co-organiser of the BODW conference for more than two decades, the HKTDC is delighted to create synergy with the event through our flagship creativity promotion, DesignInspire.” Cheung continues, “I am confident that this year’s BODW infused with Dutch creativity will be a major success.”

Presenting over 50 global pioneers and more than 30 thought-provoking keynotes, Power Talks and panel discussions, the BODW Summit focuses on three key subjects, namely Urban Planning and New Urban Models, Transformative Brands and Consumers’ Experience as well as AI, Technology and Future Trends to inspire intelligent placemaking with an infusion of innovations and technology and empower the industry to drive towards a revolutionary consumer experience and a sustainable future.

The Keynote TRANSFORM NOW! A Visionary Guide to the City of Tomorrow, features visionary architect, Ben van Berkel, the Founder & Principal Architect of UNStudio. This explores the very essence of positive innovation and discovers how continuous transformation comes to life in projects like the eagerly anticipated Lyric Theatre in Hong Kong and the stunning STH BNK by Beulah in Melbourne.

Another Keynote: DFA Special: Embracing a lifetime of Japanese Aesthetics: Minimal Design, Innovation, and Technology showcases Kenya Hara’s insights. Hara shares deep insights into the core principles of his aesthetics and their practical implications in addressing Japan's evolving challenges, from rapid urbanisation to an ageing population, elaborating on how design can serve as a catalyst for crafting a sustainable future, not only for Japan but for the world at large.