Promotion: trade show Design Shanghai returned for its 13th edition last month, bringing together over 500 Asian and international brands for the four-day-long event.

This year's edition, which took place from 19 to 22 March, continued the fair's aim to platform design from China and the wider East Asian region on a global stage – spotlighting both emerging talent and established designers.

"For 13 years, Design Shanghai has championed modern design across China and Asia, witnessing the rise of a dynamic creative era," show director Zhuo Tan said.

"It's inspiring to see so many remarkable designers and artists shaping this momentum, as Asian design steps confidently onto the global stage," Tan added.

This year's edition saw the design fair return to its original venue, the historic Shanghai Exhibition Centre, which allowed for large-scale installations and a "more artistic journey for visitors".

The fair also coincided with Design in the City – an extension of Design Shanghai established in 2014 – aligning it with Shanghai's wider cultural and creative scene.

During the 4-day-long event, the forum programme was headlined by the Kohler Design Shanghai Global Design Conference, with key speakers including the director at Zaha Hadid Architects, Satoshi Ohashi and co-founder of Moooi, Marcel Wanders.

The show also presented a line-up of international brands, including Lasvit, Artisan, GUBI, Artemide, L&S Group, BD Barcelona, Glas Italia, Waldmann, Villeroy & Boch and Asian brands U+, SHANG XIA, PUSU, FNJI, foxx Chair, Past to Now and 12h.

Design Shanghai 2026 was organised into four main sections: Furniture and Lighting; Kitchen, Bathroom and Systems Design; New Materials and Applications; and Living and Lifestyle.

Within the sections were five specially curated programmes, including Talents, Made in JDZ, Beyond Craft, Collectible Design and Art and Materials First.

This year's Beyond Craft exhibition – which first launched in 2024 – saw creations spanning jewellery, objects and furniture from more than 10 brands, and highlighted traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

Among those exhibiting were Tokyo-based Domyo, showcasing handcrafted knotted cords, and fifth-generation atelier Kubo Paper Studio, offering work that draws on centuries-old paper art.

Also displayed were projects by Tokyo-based Emision, Japanese studio Kasane, Shanghai and Japan-based HARIO Lampwork Factory and Chinese studio Bing Yu Tang.

Frank Chou curated Design Shanghai's Talents showcase – a flagship exhibition launched by the design fair to platform designers under the age of 35 and "champion a new generation of designers".

China-based studio Liang Living Studio, founded by artist Hong Zhangliang, presented a study of classical Chinese vessel archetypes realised in marbled porcelain, which received the event's Best Artistic Product Design award.

Another regional studio that took part included Trigram, which was awarded the Media's Favourite Award.

The Best Commercial Product Design went to Air Sketch, and the Best Experimental Product Design was given to German designer Friedrich Gerlach.

The Made in JDZ section, curated by designer Ryan Ran, brought together ceramics, metalwork and lacquer art under the theme of Craft without Borders – reflecting how "craft is moving beyond the exhibition hall and into fashion and everyday life".

As part of the showcase, the JDZ Gallery was launched for the first time, showcasing works by a group of international artists, including Harumi Nakashima, Nikolas Iturralde Graber and Maria Ganeva.

"Traditional craft exhibitions often emphasise the technical height of craft itself, whereas Made in JDZ focuses more on an attitude of how craft can sustain itself, revive, and enter everyday life," Ran said.

The Collectible Design & Art showcase presented a series of limited-edition works, with contributions from UK-based Hugo Design, French studio Zeto Art and Indian brand MINGYU XU STUDIO.

Additionally, a Re-art Room, curated by Yiqian Zhao, collated the work of 10 artists to create a "carefully composed environment" that focuses on the physical experience of texture, form, and detail.

To find out more about the fair, visit the Design Shanghai website here.

The photography is courtesy of Design Shanghai.

Design Shanghai 2026 took place from 19 to 22 March 2026 at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, 1000 Middle Yan'an Road, Shanghai, China. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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Promotion: trade show Design Shanghai is returning for its 12th edition next month, aiming to build upon its history of platforming Chinese design and innovation to a global audience.

Taking place from 4 to 7 June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, the annual Design Shanghai presents local and international designers to celebrate creativity and the latest design advancements.

This year's event will feature over 600 design pieces in categories including furniture, lighting, kitchens, bathrooms, system design, lifestyle and materials.

According to Design Shanghai event director Zhuo Tan, the 2025 Design Shanghai will have a more people-focused agenda than previous years.

"Over the past 12 years, Design Shanghai has grown while remaining youthful at heart, consistently embracing ever-evolving challenges with unwavering commitment," said Tan.

"At the same time, we stay true to our original mission of being a bridge for east-west design exchange," she added.

"This year, we will place greater emphasis on human-centred design, making the exhibition more personal and meaningful."

Among the international brands set to display work at Design Shanghai this year are Swiss furniture brand Vitra, French glassware brand Lalique and German brand Villeroy & Boch.

Also featured are Italian brand Antoniolupi, Belgian brand Bulo, and the Japanese brands Noritake, Karimoku Case, Foxx Chair and Mori Mori.

This year marks one of the "strongest international line-ups in its history" said the organisation, especially across Asia. It spotlights 33 Japanese brands and designers, spanning independent showcases and featured exhibitions.

Among the exhibitions are Beyond Craft Japan, which explores Japanese craftsmanship, from traditional crafts to contemporary design, and displays several standout Japanese design studios' work, including Acrylic Masako Ban and Atelier Oyu.

Design Shanghai also debuts the FRONT 100 showcase presented by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, Thailand. The exhibition presents the work of 23 emerging Thai designers and aims to offer a forward-looking perspective on Thai contemporary design.

While Design Shanghai platforms designers from all over the world, it particularly attracts talent from China. According to Tan, the annual show has helped put local brands and designers on a global scale since its inauguration.

"Over the past 12 years, Design Shanghai has pioneered Chinese design exhibitions, witnessing modern design development in China," Tan said.

"During this time, the Chinese design industry has entered a vibrant and flourishing era, with numerous designers and brands emerging in the market and expressing their voices," she continued.

"This year, we continue to spearhead the industry, both as a trailblazer and a practitioner, leading the trends of modern design."

Following consumer trends in China – noted by Design Shanghai curators – the show plans to highlight high-quality craftsmanship with designs that focus on longevity.

As well as exhibiting a vast range of designs, Design Shanghai will host special features led by Chinese artists, designers and craftspeople, including its first Collectible Design and Art exhibition.

Aiming to tap into the market demand for personalised living spaces, the Collectible Design and Art show will feature a curated selection of limited-edition paintings, sculpture, installation art, photography, furniture and crafts.

Design Shanghai hopes to demonstrate how interiors can be transformed with unique collectible art and design pieces, as well as foster growth in China's design scene.

Designers featured in the Collectible Design and Art exhibition will include Chinese studio Pinwu, which creates contemporary pieces based on traditional Chinese crafts, and the Yanshan Art Center, which combines ceramic materials with 3D printing and computer numerical control carving (CNC).

ChengYan Lacquerware Studio and Mexican design group Katz Studio will also take part in Collectible.

Also taking place as part of Design Shanghai is the Global Design Conference, which will bring together industry experts to discuss how design can shape the future of society.

To learn more about Design Shanghai 2025, visit its website.

Design Shanghai 2025 takes place from 4 to 7 June 2025 in Shanghai. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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This article was written by Dezeen for Design Shanghai as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Design festivals DW! Sao Paulo Design Week and Perth Design Week are among the architecture and design events featured in Dezeen Events Guide this March.

Other events taking place during the month include SXSW, Collect, Design Shenzhen and Luleåbiennalen.

Collect
1 to 3 March, UK

Collect is a London-based fair dedicated to crafts and contemporary art, celebrating its 20th anniversary in Somerset House in 2024.

This year's edition displays more than 400 global artists, who have utilised materials such as metal, ceramics, textiles, wood, paper, fibres, resin and plastics.

The three-day event is organised by UK charity Crafts Council.

Luleåbiennalen
2 to 26 March, Sweden

Art festival Luleåbiennalen, which this year focuses on the dynamic between architecture and art, especially resilience and empowerment in times of great change.

The festival – which is directed by curators Aude Christel Mgba and Bruno Alves de Almeida – is located across four cities and towns in Sweden's Norrbotten region: Luleå, Boden, Kiruna, and Messaure.

The exhibitions on display spotlight the natural and built environments of the four host locations.

SXSW
8 to 16 March, USA

The latest edition of cultural conference South by South West (SXSW) spotlights creativity within the technology, film, music, comedy, art and sports industries.

The conference presents a programme of fringe events, including screenings, performances, exhibitions, installations, talks and networking opportunities.

Speakers at the conference include software engineer Tracy Chou, designer Deonne Castaneda and CEO of podcast streaming platform Patreon Jack Conte.

Perth Design Week
14 to 21 March, Australia

Perth Design Week hosts its second annual event with over 70 events, exploring different design mediums, such as fashion and furniture, as well as technology, architecture and photography.

With a programme of exhibitions, installations, talks, tours, workshops and film screenings, the eight-day festival is located across central Perth and the surrounding area.

The central hub of the festival is the Principles Square installation, which is a collaborative project between the festival, architecture practice OMA and furniture brand UniFor.

DW! Sao Paulo Design Week
14 to 24 March, Brazil

DW! Sao Paulo Design Week is located across seven districts in Brazil's largest city including Alameda Gabriel, Pinheiros, Vila Madelena and Higienopolis.

The design festival's 13th edition features 75 participating brands across the design, architecture, art and technology industries.

Spanning 11 days, the events include product launches, exhibitions, talks, tours, workshops, fashion shows, fairs and parties.

Design Shenzhen
21 to 24 March, China

Trade show Design Shenzhen returns to the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre following its inaugural edition in 2023.

The sister event to Design Shanghai, the trade show presents over 250 brands across the fields of furniture, lighting, textiles and surfaces.

The event also hosts a series of talks led by architects, designers and business leaders.

About Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year. The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.

Inclusion in the guide is free for basic listings, with events selected at Dezeen's discretion. Organisers can get standard, enhanced or featured listings for their events, including images, additional text and links, by paying a modest fee.

In addition, events can ensure inclusion by partnering with Dezeen. For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide and media partnerships with Dezeen, email eventsguide@dezeen.com.

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Wutopia Lab founder Ting Yu, British designer Ilse Crawford, Design Shanghai director Zhuo Tan and industrial designers Min Chen and Michael Young have been announced as Dezeen Awards China judges for 2023.

They join architects Ma Yansong and Rossana Hu as well as interior designer André Fu, who were among the first five judges to be announced earlier this month.

Dezeen Awards China 2023 launched on 8 June in partnership with Bentley Motors. Submit your entry before midnight Beijing time on 24 August to avoid late entry fees.

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, celebrating the best architecture, interiors and design in China.

Read on for more about the next five industry professionals to join the 15-strong panel who will be judging this year's entries.

Yu, founder and chief architect of Wutopia Lab, will judge the architecture categories for this year's programme.

Shanghai-based architect has been involved in master planning of various regions in Shanghai, including Shanghai Hongkou District North Bund Community and Shanghai Xuhui District Fenglin Road Street Community.

He founded Wutopia Lab with Erni Min in 2013. The studio aims to used its knowledge of Shanghai's culture and lifestyle to push forward urban regeneration through its architectural projects.

British designer Crawford will judge the interior categories for this year's awards. With a career that spans journalism, design and education, Crawford founded the multi- disciplinary design practice Studioilse in 2001.

From domestic residences to hotels and community projects, her studio is focused how design can create spaces that bring people together, that are healthy and responsible, and have built in adaptability and longevity.

Hangzhou-based industrial designer Chen will join the design judges for this year's awards.

His client portfolio spans a wide range of industries, including jewelry brand Swarovski, sportswear company Nike, fashion house Loewe, coffeehouse chain Starbucks and furniture brand Veneta Cucine.

Chen's work has been exhibited at various international cultural and design institutes, including Design Museum in London and Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Joining Chen on the design panel will be industrial designer Young.

Young founded his eponymous studio in 1993 with the aim of providing quality design services across a range of markets, from interiors to technology.

Over the past 30 years Young has established himself as one of the leading international figures in his field, collaborating with a series of brands such as high-end audio manufacturer KEF and vaporizer Omura. His work stems from his constant questioning of typologies and habits, his passion for technology and his drive to discover new ways to interpret space.

Design Shanghai's director Tan will also judge the design categories this year. Tan has more than 18 years experience in the creative industries ranging from advertising, branding and publishing, as well as events and exhibitions.

She helped to launch Design Shanghai in 2014, which has since become the largest design fair in Asia.

Enter now!

Dezeen Awards China 2023 is open for entries. Find out about all of this year's categories and entry information on our website as well as Dezeen's WeChat account. Submit your entry before midnight Beijing time on 24 August to avoid late entry fees.

Click here to find out more information about Dezeen Awards China and subscribe< to our newsletter for the latest news. Plus you can always drop us a line at awardschina@dezeen.com, or connect with us on WeChat @DezeenCN,  if you have any questions.

Dezeen Awards China 2023

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards], to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design in China. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent.

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Architects and designers in China are poised to have a greater global influence as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Dezeen Awards China judges at a talk at Design Shanghai.

Hosted by Dezeen's co-CEO Benedict Hobson, the panel discussion marked the launch of Dezeen's new regional edition of Dezeen Awards to celebrate architecture and design in China, which is open for entries now.

It featured Dezeen Awards China judges Alex Mok and Frank Chou, alongside Neri&Hu managing director Jerry del Fierro, who stood in for Dezeen Awards China judge Rossana Hu, who had to pull out due to illness.

According to Chou, who is one of the most established product designers in China, the country has a huge amount of untapped design potential.

"In Europe, there are so many design firms," he said.

"In China, we have a population of 1.4 billion, but how many designers are there? There's really a huge potential for Chinese designers to bring something different to the world."

Chou believes that emerging Chinese designers are cultivating a unique, contemporary design language that draws from China's rich history without being overly deferential to it.

"We need to shape the real modern Chinese culture," he said.

"When we talk about culture, many people equate this to history, to something in the past. But we should also be thinking about the culture of the future. What will be China's future culture?"

One firm that has successfully created a contemporary Chinese design identity is Neri&Hu, one of China's best-known architecture and design studios.

According to managing director Del Fierro, the practice's co-founders Hu and Lyndon Neri have been highly influenced by cultural theorist Svetlana Boym and her concept of "reflective nostalgia".

"Reflective nostalgia is not a nostalgia that recreates the old, it respects the old but projects something new, something inspiring," he said.

"It's not about feeling sad about something that's lost, but rather to taking elements from the past and making them fresh and new."

He believes that the conditions are right in China for architects and designers to push boundaries.

"If you work in America, and I worked in America for many years, some of the developers are very conservative," he said.

"A lot of the Chinese developers are actually ready to try something more innovative. I think there's something to be said about the culture here that allows for innovation."

Mok, who is co-founder of Shanghai- and Hong Kong-based architecture and interior design studio Linehouse, agreed.

"Transitioning from working in the UK to China was a revelation," she said.

"At first, I was a bit shocked. But very quickly I just embraced how fluid and fast it is here. We now have the opportunity to be working globally, but our heart is still in China."

Taking place as part of the Forum programme of talks at Design Shanghai 2023, the first edition of the annual trade show that has taken place since China relaxed international travel restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, the panel discussion explored how China's architecture and design scene has been impacted by the pandemic.

According to Mok, Covid-19 forced many architecture and design firms in China who previously relied on foreign workers to nurture and cultivate local talent instead.

"Everything had to be more local, which I think was a positive thing," she said.

"It became a bit more about Chinese creativity. When we were hiring, we kept getting all these CVs from foreign architects, but it was impossible [to hire them]. This meant we ended up fostering more local Chinese talent."

Del Fierro said that Neri&Hu experienced something similar, with many of the firm's foreign workers returning to Europe or the US and working remotely. According to Fierro, this had the unexpected but welcome consequence of increasing the practice's international projects.

Covid-19 pandemic created "new opportunities" for architects and designers

"Our practice is very different from three years ago," he said.

"When the pandemic happened, there were a number of our staff who wanted to return to Europe. We now have about 50 per cent of our projects diversified. Fifty per cent of them are still in China, but 50 per cent are now outside of China."

According to Del Fierro, the global acceptance of remote working will provide more opportunities for firms based in China to work on projects abroad.

"The concept of remote working is now very commonplace and we are not limited by physical travel anymore," he said.

"So suddenly, we have all these new opportunities. We are based in Shanghai, can we work in Cape Town? Absolutely! And we don't have to go there every month. So I think the pandemic caused an interesting situation to create new opportunities."

Dezeen Awards China open for entries until 24 August

Chou, Mok and Neri&Hu co-founder Hu are among the first judges to be announced for Dezeen Awards China, which launched in Shanghai on 8 June in partnership with Bentley. Further judges will be announced in the coming weeks.

Dezeen Awards China is open for entries now until 24 August 2023, but studios can save money on their entry if they enter before 13 July 2023.

There are 17 project categories to enter across architecture, interiors and design. The winners of these project categories will go head to head for the chance to be crowned one of three project of the year winners across architecture, interiors and design.

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European and US furniture brands face much stiffer competition in China from local rivals that have grown rapidly during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Design Shanghai director Zhuo Tan.

"Chinese brands are doing very well, their business is really flying," said Tan, who spoke to Dezeen ahead of the first edition of Design Shanghai to take place since China relaxed the international travel restrictions it imposed during the pandemic.

"I've spoken to the Chinese brands and they say that during Covid, their sales jumped up two or three times compared with before Covid."

"The international brands now have to work much harder in China because the golden age for western brands selling without any competition has passed," she added. "They will have to work harder to win market share."

This year's edition of the Design Shanghai trade show, which celebrates its 10th anniversary, takes place this week from 8 to 11 June and will be the biggest ever, with floorspace increasing 40 per cent compared to last year.

Like previous editions, it will bring together international furniture and lighting companies with Chinese designers and brands to create what Tan calls "a platform for engagement between eastern and western consumers and brands".

Tan still believes that there is a huge opportunity for western brands in China.

"I still think there's a very big market for them," she said. "China is big. And there are lots of cities for brands to explore which they haven't yet. In every city, you always have a premium consumer with a desire for good products. So I still think the market is huge."

But, according to Tan, international visitors to the show this year will find a much bigger and more confident contingent of Chinese designers and brands, which have benefitted from the logistical challenges faced by international companies during the pandemic and a renewed consumer interest in locally designed and manufactured products.

"It's quite obvious when you think it through, even if a European brand could come into China they would have to wait six, eight months – the lead time was just impossible," said Tan.

"A lot of projects needed the furniture immediately. So, of course, they would go for local alternatives."

"And the second much bigger trends across China is the confidence in 'made in China'," she added. "Consumers are very proud to use stuff designed and made in China. It's a big trend, driven from the top of the government and filtering into every element of people's daily lives."

Significant Chinese brands exhibiting at Design Shanghai this year include Stellar Works, Benwu, Jianze, Kundesign, Nula Living, U+ and Xue, while prominent Chinese designers Frank Chou and Chen Min are exhibiting.

These designers and brands are developing their own unique identities rather than aping their western counterparts, Tan said.

"I think the big switch from 10 years ago to today is people have stopped talking about copying," she said.

"Right at the beginning of Design Shanghai, everyone was talking about copying. But now I think the Chinese designers are more confident and their work is much better. And consumers are also more focussed on original design., there is a more sophisticated consumption in China and people are demanding more."

Tan believes that this increase in originality and quality is fuelled by a new generation of Chinese designers who were educated at leading design schools around the world but then chose to return to China to take advantage of its manufacturing industry.

This year's Talents section of the show, which is curated by Chou and showcases upcoming Chinese furniture designers, is bigger than it's ever been before, while a new exhibit at the show called Design Street shines a spotlight on young industrial designers. Tan is very optimistic about the future for Chinese design.

"In the past we maybe had 20 Chinese designers," she said. "This year, we have over 100. They're all educated at Central St Martins or other famous design schools. They learn proper professional practice and they come home for the manufacturing in China."

"Good design married with excellent manufacturing – I think there are some great things to come out of China in the future."

Dezeen is media partner for Design Shanghai, which takes place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from 8-11 June 2023. For more information about events, exhibitions and talks, visit Dezeen Events Guide.

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Promotion: Design Shanghai trade fair is set to return from 8 to 11 June 2023 for its 10th anniversary year, with an aim to explore the meeting of eastern and western design philosophies.

One of Asia's largest design events, Design Shanghai will be taking place at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center over four days in June.

As well as the trade fair, which will stretch over three halls, the event will include installations, exhibitions, a design forum and networking events.

A major focus this year is on how eastern and western design philosophies can meet and work together, with a spotlight put on brands that involve collaborations between Asia and Europe or the US.

These include Chinese brands Stellar Works and U+ as well as Danish brand Royal Copenhagen, whose porcelain nods to traditional Chinese techniques and motifs.

Among the new products set to make their global debut at the event are French brand Christofle's Mood Asia platter designed for Asian gastronomy, Chinese brand Fuli's lipstick-themed tapestry created by British fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes and new contemporary Californian furniture from Maria Yee.

Elsewhere in the fair, new products from international brands including Gubi, Mattiazzi, Flos as well as Chinese brand Jianze and Taiwan's SeeDesign will make their debut on the Asian continent.

Chinese brands exhibiting at Design Shanghai include Pentfair, which works with artisans and craftspeople from all over the world to reinvent traditional handicrafts; the playful design studio Benwu, which features curved lines and bright colours; Junse, which will present new designs by designer Shen Zhanjun informed by the human skeleton; and new brand Nula Living with its local take on minimalism.

Installations this year will include a bamboo forest by architect Chen Hao Ru in the Neooold exhibition space, which promises to create a "vortex" that leads people deep inside it while recreating a sense of "the Jianhu dream".

There is also Interlude by Chi Wing Lo, which is intended to offer visitors a moment of peace and reflection with its spatial and musical design using folding screens.

There will be two key features: Róng – Weaving, featuring the work of 28 designers who have been conducting deconstructive research into traditional weaving and knitting, and Disappearing Borders, curated by designer Jamy Yang, which explores the meeting of the physical and digital worlds.

A returning feature is the Talents showcase, where 22 groups of emerging designers will explore the linking of China and the West in the form of a "banquet", and a new display called Design Street, which is curated by Design Burger and aims to build a bridge between independent design studios and brands. Headline partner Audi will also present its "activesphere" concept vehicle.

Design Shanghai's Design Forum will include a series of talks that focus on a number of design-related topics such as memory and perception in design, holistic design, sustainability and designing for distinctiveness.

Speakers include Aidan Walker forum director of Design Shanghai and Design Shenzhen; Craig Miller, partner and project leader at Heatherwick Studio; Zandra Rhodes, British fashion designer; Ross Lovegrove, founder and director of For Love and Design.com; and Michael Young, founder of MY Studio.

Design Shanghai is celebrating its 10th year in 2023, which will also be its first for some time with no Covid restrictions, as China emerges from its years of aggressive zero-Covid policy that saw previous events postponed or cancelled.

"During the past decade we have provided a platform to share design ideas across China and the global stage and it has been an honour to witness the vigorous development of the design community in China," said Design Shanghai event director Zhuo Tan. "This year's edition of Design Shanghai hopes to enhance the audience's perspective through exploring the 're-creation' of design."

"For this momentous 10th anniversary we will be comprehensively upgrading the scale and content at the event, with exemplary design showcased from across the world."

To view more about Design Shanghai, visit its website.

Design Shanghai will take place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from 8-11 June 2023. For more information about events, exhibitions and talks, visit Dezeen Events Guide.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Design Shanghai as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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3 Days of Design, London Festival of Architecture and Design Shanghai are among the architecture and design events featured in Dezeen Events Guide this June.

Among the other events taking place during the month are IMM Cologne, Design Miami/Basel and NeoCon.

London Festival of Architecture
1 to 30 June, UK

The 16th edition of the London Festival of Architecture takes place during the month of June in London. It follows the theme named In Common, which focuses on communal spaces.

The festival includes exhibitions, tours, conferences, film screenings and workshops across seven areas of the city: Barnet, Brixton, the City of London, Clerkenwell and Holborn, Penge and Palace, South Westminster and the Royal Docks.

During the festival, the Ecocity World Summit runs from 6 to 8 June at London's Barbican Centre, exploring sustainable planning in the architecture and infrastructure industries.

Dezeen is a media partner for the Ecocity World Summit London 2023.

IMM Cologne
4 to 7 June, Germany

Design fair IMM Cologne presents 1,233 exhibitors from 139 different countries for its 2023 edition at Koelnmesse GmbH.

The fair showcases interior design product separated into three sectors: Home, Pure and LivingKitchen. Home includes furniture, Pure focuses on avant-garde designs, and LivingKitchen is dedicated to kitchen products.

Alongside the fair, the event hosts a number of networking opportunities and a series of talks led by architects, and product and interior designers.

3 Days of Design
7 to 9 June, Copenhagen

3 Days of Design celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2023, hosting more than 290 designers across 13 districts in Copenhagen.

The festival features a programme of over 470 events, including exhibitions, product launches, open showrooms, tours and talks covering interior design, furniture, lighting and materials.

Dezeen Events Guide has created a 3 Days of Design guide, highlighting the key events at the festival. Find out how to get your event listed in the guide here.

Design Shanghai
8 to 11 June, China

Four day fair Design Shanghai returns with an exhibition across three halls, showcasing established and emerging international designers.

The halls are separated into: furniture and lighting, kitchen and bathroom, and living and lifestyle. The event also hosts a series of seminars with over 100 speakers, an awards ceremony and networking opportunities.

This year, the fair celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Dezeen is a media partner for Design Shanghai 2023.

NeoCon
12 to 14 June, USA

NeoCon is an interior design fair that takes place annually in Chicago, and this year it presents over 400 exhibitors across three days.

Alongside the fair is a programme of keynote presentations and talks, CEU-certified workshops and an awards ceremony.

The event, located at the Mart, showcases products for the corporate, education, government, healthcare, hospitality, residential and retail industries.

Dezeen is a media sponsor for NeoCon 2023.

Design Miami/Basel
13 to 18 June, Switzerland

The 17th edition of Design Miami/Basel takes place this year, running alongside the Art Basel fair.

The fair presents collectible design, including objects, jewellery and lighting from galleries across the world, including Friedman Benda, Galerie Jacques Lacoste and Thomsen Gallery.

The event runs for six days at Messe Basel.

About Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.

The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks, as well as up-to-date information about what events have been cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Inclusion in the guide is free for basic listings, with events selected at Dezeen's discretion. Organisers can get enhanced or premium listings for their events, including images, additional text and links, by paying a modest fee.

In addition, events can ensure inclusion by partnering with Dezeen. For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide and media partnerships with Dezeen, email eventsguide@dezeen.com.

The post Six architecture and design events in June from Dezeen Events Guide appeared first on Dezeen.

Architects and designers in China have told Dezeen they expect domestic and international work to ramp up now that tight Covid restrictions are finally easing.

"I believe as a Chinese architect, it's an opportunity for us to take projects from overseas," said Weico founder Wei Sun.

"We will also look into doing more international projects by submitting our work into global competition," echoed FOG Architecture founder Yu Zheng.

"We look forward to welcoming the global collaborations with world's leading structure and landscape consultants back to projects in China, attracting the best international talents to work in our Beijing office," said Qun Dang, principal partner at MAD Architects.

"We are confident that there will be more to develop in rural China including cultural traveling planning, landscape design and boutique hotels," added Jianan Shan of Say Architects.

China has pursued an aggressive zero-Covid policy since the beginning of the pandemic leading to frequent lockdowns, particularly in 2022.

But, following rare mass street protests in November, travel rules have been eased and the requirement for those testing positive to quarantine in centralized facilities has been scrapped.

Design fairs seek rebound

On 27 December, China announced its decision to reopen its borders for international travel from January 8.

The news came just in time for design fairs in China, which rejected all physical events last year due to continuous hard lockdowns throughout the country.

Design Shanghai, the largest design show in Asia, was canceled in 2022. Its sister brand Design Shenzhen, originally due to launch in December 2021 but scuppered by the pandemic, has now finally confirmed that its inaugural edition will take place in March.

Shows are now eager to return bigger than ever before and attract significant involvement from overseas studios and brands.

"Everyone is more dedicated than ever to reviving the design shows in China," Design Shanghai director Zhuo Tan told Dezeen.

"This year will be the 10th anniversary of Design Shanghai," she said. "We plan to host the biggest show in terms of scale with a large number of international brands and designers physically being at the show."

"Our current focus is to invite international brands to join our show this year, increase our promotion overseas and reshape the confidence in the Chinese market."

Guangzhou Design Week, moved from December 2022 to March 2023, is also gearing up for more international partnerships.

"We will increase the exhibition space for international furniture brands to attract more of them to showcase new products at Guangzhou Design Week 2023," said CEO Wenguang He. "We also plan to launch a global design tour this year, to increase collaborations with our key global partners."

Chinese studios eyeing international expansion

Chinese architects and designers are embracing the refound freedom of international travel.

Shanghai-based interior design studio Offhand Practice has already booked an overseas design tour for the team in the first quarter of 2023.

"Travel is the most effective way for a designer to grow and gain more perspectives," said Offhand Practice founding partner Yuan Yuan.

"We also look forward to participating in more international design fairs and exhibitions this year," she added.

Say Architects' Shan is also excited about seeing new projects from around the world now that the travel ban has been lifted.

"We can finally travel internationally more regularly to see the latest projects and learn from them," Shan told Dezeen.

Beijing-based architecture studio MAD Architects has already begun global expansion, with offices in Rome and Los Angeles set up before the pandemic.

"With China's border opening now, we expect to increase the involvement from our head office in Beijing in overseas projects with more staff being able to travel for site visits and workshops more frequently," principal partner Dang told Dezeen.

The firm's China office has been directly impacted due to the pandemic restrictions. "Our global partners, consultants, and design talents were unable to visit us in China," explained Dang.

"We are saddened by the isolation and divisions caused by the pandemic or used as an excuse for it. We have been waiting and anticipating China's re-opening, because it will impact the cross-border and cross-cultural communication and interaction."

"We look forward to welcoming the global collaborations with world's leading structure and landscape consultants back to projects in China, attracting the best international talents to work in our Beijing office."

As well as working on more international projects, MAD will look to increase its investment in publishing and exhibitions as a way to strengthen architectural dialogue between East and West, she added.

Sun, the former partner at Henn who founded his own architecture studio Weico last year, will go to Southeast Asia to explore the potential of expanding the business.

"It's very common for Chinese projects to attract design proposals from international studios, with the border opening now, I don't think there will be a significant influx of international competition because it's already highly competitive," explained Sun.

"However, we rarely see international studios actively engage in other territories. I believe as a Chinese architect, it's an opportunity for us to take projects from overseas."

Unlocking a "boost of confidence"

The unlocking is also a "boost of confidence" for international studios that work in China.

"It finally ended the uncertainty Covid has created, and speeds up the work that's been delayed because of it," said Maggie Wu, principal and marketing director of Perkins&Will, who is based in the global firm's Shanghai office.

"It's definitely a boost of confidence. Of course, the in-person interaction between our Shanghai office and other overseas offices can return to normal as well."

Similarly, Danish textile firm Kvadrat is planning more in-person interaction between its China office and headquarters in Europe, including sending Chinese staff to the head office for training as well as inviting Chinese clients to Europe for tours.

Emerging Chinese studio FOG Architecture has been struggling to manage its team of 20 scattered all over the world from London to Seattle to Shanghai to Melbourne, but now it sees this dispersion as a strength.

"Everyone can leverage their time zone and local knowledge to contribute to projects, " said studio co-founder Zheng.

"We were blessed with a few commercial retail projects in the first two years of Covid. However, in 2022, the sector was hit by regular lockdowns and we realized we have reached our limits."

"We have since tried to participate in much bigger-scale architecture projects and we will continue to do so. We will also look into doing more international projects by submitting our work into global competition."

However, for Chinese travelers, international travel has not yet fully returned to pre-Covid level and is not without immediate challenges.

The US, Canada, UK, France and Italy are among those that require proof of negative Covid tests within 48 hours of departure for all travelers from China. The newly imposed measures are a direct response to China's re-opening, given the concern over rising infections in the country.

South Korea and Japan have stopped issuing tourist visas for those coming from China and require both pre-departure and arrival testing for Chinese visitors. China has since stopped issuing short-term visas to individuals from South Korea and Japan in retaliation.

But these issues have not affected the optimism of Chinese studios, which have learned to be adaptable in the past three years.

"Our studio was founded four years ago, so the majority time of our practice was under Covid restrictions," said Yuan. "We almost feel that uncertainty is the normality, which makes us more resilient to changes and adaptation."

"At Say, we always adjust our business based on the shift of market and consumer behavior," added Shan.

Restaurants to become a focus for Say

Development in rural China and restaurant design will be new focuses for Say Architects this year, according to Shan.

"Urban resources in China are becoming increasingly limited. In addition to the rebound of domestic travel post-Covid, we are confident that there will be more to develop in rural China including cultural traveling planning, landscape design and boutique hotels."

"While in the city, we will expand to restaurant design, which was hit badly by Covid restrictions," he added.

Despite the overall optimism among Chinese studios, some difficulties remain for architects and designers as the country re-opens.

Yuichiro Hori recently returned to China for the first time since moving his base from Shanghai to New York last May.

Stellar Works, the furniture brand Hori founded in Shanghai, has been forced to shift its product launch plans for the whole year following a spike in Covid infections among its Chinese manufacturing staff since restrictions started to ease.

"I've already paid the exhibition deposit for Salone in Milan this year but had to cancel, because we couldn't ship the products in time because of the production delay," Hori told Dezeen. "Usually we have to ship all products for Salone before Chinese New Year."

Stellar Works is planning to open more showrooms in North America, and has set an ambitious target to expand the business in the US. It is currently testing a modular hotel guestroom concept that will be launched in May during New York Design Week.

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Trade fair Design Shanghai has rescheduled this year's event as the city is in lockdown following a coronavirus outbreak. The show will now take place from 13 to 15 October.

Originally slated to take place from 9 to 12 June, the design fair has been moved to the autumn as China continues to feel the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with Shanghai currently under lockdown.

Postponement due to "challenges and restrictions" in Shanghai

The decision to postpone the show was made "in response to the latest government advice and challenges and restrictions to events in Shanghai during the current outbreak of Covid 19", the organisation said.

"This decision is based on advice and information from government and local authorities in China and in consultation with the show's partners, venue and team in China and internationally."

The October show will take place in the same venue as it would have in June, the Shanghai World Expo & Convention Centre. Details and updates to the programme along with associated digital initiatives will shortly be released.

Ongoing lockdown in China continues to affect design industry

Shanghai, China's biggest city, has been in lockdown since 28 March. Other cities, including Shenzhen, are also under lockdown as the omicron Covid-19 variant has spread across much of China.

The lockdown has had an impact on architects and designers in the country, with projects being put on hold and businesses closing or switching to remote working.

Restrictions in Shanghai are more severe than during the previous wave of the pandemic, according to Rossana Hu, co-founder of architect studio Neri & Hu.

"In Shanghai, it's the worst it's been, as many communities are under lockdown," she told Dezeen in March.

Design Shanghai is the latest in a long line of trade fairs to postpone their 2022 editions due to a Covid-19 resurgence. Salone del Mobile, the world's largest and most important furniture fair, moved from April to June due to safety concerns over the pandemic.

Sweden's Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair was initially postponed from February until September and has now been postponed until February 2023.

Design Shanghai will now run from 13 to 15 October 2022. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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Dezeen has partnered with Design Shanghai to present a cafe and bar designed by Michael Young at the 2021 edition of the trade show, which opened in Shanghai this week.

The cafe and bar is located at booth K207 in Hall 2 at Design Shanghai 2021, which takes place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China, until 6 June.

The space features grey corrugated walls with splashes of colour and is furnished with previews of furniture pieces designed by Young that will be launched later in the year.

According to Young, the concept for the space is loosely based on a bar he created last year at his office in Shekou, Shenzhen.

"I ended up with an opportunity to create a bar last year beneath our studio but with only a few weeks to build the concept I decided to throw in anything I could get hold of – samples, prototypes and things from the studio that we have collected from around the world," the Hong Kong-based British designer told Dezeen.

"I basically scavenged the studio together like a magpie so it became a real beer shack and a place that was not designed but created organically."

Citta Design has contributed pieces of Young's new Acre Chair for the New Zealand brand, which will be launched in Auckland in September. The space is also furnished with new editions of Young's Stool 4a for EOQ Design, which will be launched in December.

The bar is being used to launch Young's new drinks brand Beer Buddy, which developed a new pilsner called House for the event.

The beer brand is specifically designed to connect creatives at events, trade shows and gatherings around Asia. Drinkers can scan a QR code on the beer packaging to connect with other creatives attending the event.

The dark grey exterior walls of the space are decorated with swirling patterns based on the graphics on the Beer Buddy cans and bottles.

Colourful versions of this pattern have been used to add splashes of colour to the interior walls and enclose private seating areas.

The space is co-branded with Young's studio logo and the Chinese version of Dezeen's logo. The walls also feature the QR code for people to follow Dezeen's official WeChat account, which features news and features about the latest architecture, design and interiors written in Simplified Chinese.

Dezeen is a media partner for Design Shanghai 2021.

The show presents over 400 local and international brands across eight different sections alongside a programme of installations, exhibitions and the return of its annual talks programme, which this year explores the topic of regenerative design.

Design Shanghai takes place from 3 to 6 June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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Designer Michael Young is launching a new drinks brand called Beer Buddy at Design Shanghai, which features QR codes on the packaging that attendees can scan to connect digitally.

The brand, which produces a range of beers and plans to launch seltzers in future, is specifically targeted at Asia's numerous design events.

"Beer Buddy is uniquely designed to connect passionate creatives at events, trade shows and gatherings around Asia," Young's studio said.

Each can or bottle features a QR code on the label. The idea is that event attendees will be able to scan this code to connect with other creatives at the event they are at via a website, which is currently in development.

The concept and brand came about as part of an in-house project to create beers to celebrate the opening of Young's Shenzhen office last year.

The current range of drinks are all named after genres of music and feature colourful patterned artwork. The range includes a Rock and Roll wheat beer, a Disco pilsner and a Psychedelic IPA.

For the official launch at Design Shanghai, Beer Buddy has unveiled a new pilsner called House.

The brand describes it as "a super fresh and crisp pilsner brewed according to a traditional German recipe."

The beer is produced using European hops and malt sourced from The Swaen, a 110-year-old malt house in Kloosterzande, Netherlands.

"We’re not a craft brand but we use the best craft material," said Young.

"I wanted to create a taste that connects people globally not regionally," the Hong Kong-based British designer added.

"It's a design beer for quality mass production but it’s not for people who’ll drink anything – it’s for beer lovers who like consistency and know what they’re buying into."

The beer is being launched at Design Shanghai 2021 at a bar designed by Young, which is sponsored by Dezeen. Dezeen plans to partner with Young at other events around China in the coming months.

The Design Shanghai bar, which will be unveiled on Dezeen tomorrow, features grey floors and ribbed walls with the pattern on the Beer Buddy packaging used to add splashes of colour on the walls and enclose private seating areas.

It is located at booth K207 in Hall 2 at the Design Shanghai trade show, which takes place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China, from 3 to 6 June.

Other recently launched design alcohol brands include Teslaquila, a brand of tequila by electric car-maker Tesla, and Air Co, a vodka made using a process that converts carbon dioxide into alcohol.

Photographs are by Amanda Kho.

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Promotion: Design Shanghai returns to present a host of Chinese and international brands alongside a cultural programme exploring how design can have a positive impact on people and the planet.

Taking place from 3 to 6 June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, Design Shanghai will present over 400 local and international brands across eight different sections.

The trade show will be complemented by a range of installations, exhibitions and the return of its annual talks programme, which this year explores the topic of regenerative design.

Regenerative design is an idea that looks for ways that buildings and products can have a positive impact on the environment, rather than simply seeking to minimise the damage.

"As we move towards a post-covid era, in response to an increasing demand for higher-quality developments and a focus on quality of life and the environment we live in, this year, Design Shanghai will focus on regenerative design and the role designers and design innovation plays in realising new solutions that improve our living environment," said Design Shanghai director Zhuo Tan.

Named The Kohler Exquisite x Design Shanghai Forum, the talks programme features a global lineup of designers including Sebastian Wrong, Aldo Cibic, Richard Hutten, Michael Pawlyn and Thomas Heatherwick.

The cultural offering extends to a series of exhibitions and installations by designers such as Kinney Chan and Isabelle Peng Zhao, and architecture studio ORIA, which will present an installation called Touch exploring the relationship between reality and the ideal.

Chinese designer Chin Min has also curated an exhibition called Neooold, which will present the work of 12 artists, designers and makers whose work straddles the worlds of traditional artisanal craft and contemporary design.

The main Design Shanghai trade show aims to explore the synergies between eastern and western design.

International brands exhibiting include Carl Hansen & Son, Herman Miller, Flos, Ton, &Tradition and Hay.

Ligne Roset will present key pieces while fellow French brand Roche Bobois will launch a brand new furniture collection called Corail. USM Haller will showcase its World of Plants collection for the first time.

Kitchen and bathroom exhibitors include Laufen, Villeroy & Boch, Kohler, Porcelanosa and Axor.

The international brands will be joined by a host of Chinese exhibitors including Shang Xia, PUSU, 2-LA, UFOU, Studio Monana, THESHAW and first-time exhibitor U+.

Major Chinese brand Stellar Works will also launch its brand new Host collection by Sebastian Herkner at the show.

Design Shanghai will also showcase one-off, limited-edition and collectable design presented by galleries including Ya Space, the first exhibition space in China dedicated to Memphis design.

Design Shanghai's Talents section also returns to spotlight emerging local talent.

Curated by designer Frank Chou, with judges including Aric Chen and Wang Xu, the platform presents work by 14 promising young Chinese designers.

Dezeen is a media partner for Design Shanghai 2021.

We are also sponsoring a cafe/bar designed by Hong Kong designer Michael Young at the show. Details will be announced soon.

Design Shanghai takes place from 3 to 6 June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Design Shanghai as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Dezeen promotion: after two postponements earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 edition of Design Shanghai takes place this week, presenting over 400 brands in a new, larger venue.

Like many design fairs around the world, Design Shanghai had to postpone its planned March event due to the impact of coronavirus, initially pushing the show back to May before rescheduling it to November.

With the virus now largely under control in China, Design Shanghai's seventh edition is able to go ahead at the third attempt and, despite the setbacks earlier in the year, is set to be its biggest yet.

From 26 to 29 November, Design Shanghai 2020 takes place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, a new venue for the show that is 40 per cent larger than its previous edition.

"Although we have experienced unprecedented circumstantial challenges and postponement, we are now fully prepared and ready to go," said Design Shanghai director Zhuo Tan.

"We have received support from many brands and designers both in China and abroad, which is a testament to the industry’s confidence in the Chinese market. This year's show is larger than ever, and we believe that Design Shanghai will be the most high-profile design event in China and Asia this year."

Like previous editions, the show will present a wide selection of Chinese designers and brands alongside a host of international exhibitors, as well as installations, exhibitions and a talks programme.

The entrance to the venue will feature a bespoke light installation by Hangzhou-based designer Mario Tsai, who is making his Design Shanghai debut.

Called Colosseum, the installation features a series of tubular lamps that evoke the pillars of the Colosseum In Rome.

Tsai will also exhibit a new collection of his studio’s furniture and lighting, which have all been designed with sustainability in mind.

Other Chinese design studios and brands to be featured include Banlan, Wenlot, Kun Design, Femo Design, Nanchow, Frank Chou, Ugan Concept, Leedarson, Wuu, Mumo, EY-Products, Sozen, Suyab, Lightspace, UFUO and Above Studio, which received the Emerging Chinese Designer award at last year's show.

New for this year's event is the Talents section, curated by Chinese designer Frank Chou, which aims to spotlight the next generation of Chinese design talent.

International brands exhibiting at Design Shanghai 2020 include Fredericia, AYTM, Zanotta, Marmo, Ligne Roset, Andreu World and Gufram.

Brands such as Nude, Revol, Robert Welch and Iittala will present pieces at the Objects and Accessories section, which is another new section for Design Shanghai 2020.

House of Wang, a lifestyle boutique that recently opened in Beijing, will also showcase a selection of works by international designers and brands including Sé Collection, Nada Debs, Bethan Gray and Lee Broom.

Broom will present a light installation called Kaleidoscopia II, which features some of the British designer's most iconic lighting products wrapped in reflective surfaces within a dark space.

Other installations by international designers include OCTAGON by Tom Dixon and The Silk Road Hotel by French interior designer Baptiste Bohu, which will celebrate the coming together of Asian and European cultures.

Car brand Audi, which is the headline partner of the show, will also present an installation called Window into the Future at the fair entrance, which will explore the brand and present its Audi Q4 e-tron concept electric vehicle.

The Design Shanghai Forum also returns for another year, presenting talks and panel discussions from over 50 speakers over four days under the theme Design Completes the Circle.

Keynote speakers include Philippe Starck, Barber Osgerby, Chi Wing Lo, Jamy Yang, Huang Xiaojing, Kelly Hoppen, Emily Johnson, Lee Broom, Tom Dixon and Nada Debs.

Design Shanghai is one of a host of events that have been able to go ahead in China at the end of this year, as coronavirus restrictions in the country are lifted. In September, sister event Design China Beijing went ahead on schedule, with record numbers of attendees.

For visitors who are still unable to attend the event due to international travel restrictions, Design Shanghai is, for the first time, live streaming video and photos daily from the show floor, which are available to view at designshanghai.com.

Dezeen is a media partner for Design Shanghai 2020.

Design Shanghai 2020 runs from 26 to 29 November at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Design Shanghai as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Organisers of the Design Shanghai trade fair and the Festival of Design architecture conference have postponed their March 2020 events as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts travel and business in China.

Design Shanghai, the biggest contemporary design show in China, said it was moving the fair to May "to ensure the welfare and safety of visitors to our show".

Shanghai architect Neri&Hu has scrapped plans for its Festival of Design conference after "carefully evaluating the situation and potential risks." The event will return in March 2021.

The two high-profile events are among an increasing number of industry events affected by the virus, which has so far claimed 213 lives in China.

Shows in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou affected

Shenzhen International Furniture Fair, which was due to take place from 18 to 21 March, announced it has postponed its dates to June.

The Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province and Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau announced the suspension of all large trade events "to ensure health and safety of all participants".

The 45^th China International Furniture Fair, which was due to take place in Guangzhou from 18 to 21 March, is among events affected.

Meanwhile, dealers have been calling for the Art Basel Hong Kong show to postpone its upcoming edition, due to take place in Hong Kong from 19 to 21 March. The fair has yet to announce a decision.

Design Shanghai postponed for "safety of visitors"

Design Shanghai was scheduled to take place from 12 to 15 March at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre.

It will now take place in the same location from 26 to 29 May, assuming that the virus has been contained by then.

"After careful consideration and advice, we have made the difficult decision to postpone Design Shanghai to ensure the welfare and safety of visitors to our show, our exhibitors and our team," said Design Shanghai director Zhuo Tan.

"We are grateful to have confirmed new dates in the same venue with the same layout so as not to compromise the quality and success of the fair," she continued.

"We appreciate the show of support that we have received from the design community and our partners during this time."

The organisers of Design Shanghai made the decision in consultation with the Chinese government and local authorities, as well as the fair partners, venue and local team. Exhibitors were notified on 30 January.

Launched in 2014 by Media 10, Design Shanghai has become one of the region's most highly acclaimed shows for the design market. The fair was sold to Clarion Events in June 2019.

Festival of Design cancelled due to "potential risks"

Neri&Hu told Dezeen they had decided "with great disappointment" to cancel the 2020 edition of Festival of Design.

The third edition of the annual conference, which invites architects from around the world to deliver lectures, was due to be held in Shanghai at the same time as Design Shanghai.

"It is with great disappointment that we have to inform all related parties on this unexpected decision, but it seems to be the best course of action at this time, setting the health and safety of our guests and attendees as our top priority," said Neri&Hu's Rossana Hu and Lyndon Neri.

"We shall resume the Festival of Design in Spring 2021, but for now, we pray for those whose health is affected by the virus outbreak and hope that the design community will be effective in offering our own contribution to the on-going relief efforts," they added.

Coronavirus a global emergency

The first case of flu-like coronavirus infection was detected in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, on 31 December. Efforts to contain the virus have failed, with almost 10,000 cases reported in China so far and infections reported around the world.

The World Health Organization yesterday declared the outbreak a global emergency.

The Chinese government has been rapidly building a 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan in a bid to contain and treat patients suspected of contracting the coronavirus.

The 25,000-square-metre Huoshenshan facility in Wuhan is expected to be in operation by 3 February, while a second 1,600-bed hospital called Leishenshan is set to be ready by 5 February.

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Bubbling forms of silicone foam cover the furniture pieces in Chinese studio Lewu's Borrowing for Birth collection, which was launched at Design Shanghai this month.

To create the collection of tables and stools, the studio covered second-hand furniture pieces with a viscous liquid solution that releases hydrogen and bubbles to form a silicone foam.

The erratic nature of the coloured liquid as it foams and hardens to form a frothy shell creates an organic jumble of shades and textures.

"The natural growth of the silicone material brings unpredictability to the results," said Lewu.

The studio gathered abandoned furniture found at second-hand markets near their base in Hangzhou to form the structure of their designs.

"Furniture is constantly replaced and abandoned in people's lives. They become garbage and useless in the waste market," Lewu told Dezeen. "We're trying to give new life to wasted things, to reflect on what it is, to help people take a new look at abandoned objects."

Presented at this year's Design Shanghai, which took place between 6 and 9 March, the Borrowing for Birth collection aims to explore the relationship between materials and nature.

"We think that designers should not conquer materials, but listen to them," Lewu said. "The subject of creation is no longer man but material and nature, so designers are like nature's assistant."

When creating the collection, Lewu was inspired by the way natural phenomena like coral and moss attach themselves to the surface of objects. The designers wanted to recreate this idea with silicone foam.

"We think that foaming materials can also parasitically attach themselves to the surface of an object in a way," explained the studio.

"The tactile feeling of the original object is changed after attachment, and it becomes wonderful and elastic at the same time," said Lewu.

Using a similar method of smearing furniture with a liquid that hardens to form a foam, the studio moved the collection on by developing the Thorn table.

It features a bubble-like mass that has been pierced by neon green-painted bamboo sticks, intended to reflect the conflicting and struggling nature of the human psyche.

"Thorn conveys the relationship between the constraint and struggle of the id and ego: mutual constraint and break-off," said the studio.

The regular geometric bamboo sticks and the natural foaming, coloured bubbles form an interesting conflict and contrast," explained Lewu.

Design Shanghai took place this week at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre. Other projects on show included a furniture series made of iridescent, electroplated steel by Buzao and a chair inspired by the form of a paperclip by 8 Hour

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Hangzhou-based designer Jun Jie Zhang aims to show the softer qualities of bamboo with his series of woven light shades, which were displayed during this year's Design Shanghai.

The Bamboo Softness lighting collection features bent lengths of bamboo arranged to create organic, hollow shapes to be used as lamp shades.

The lamp shades are part of a collection by Chinese design studio Sozen, which was founded by Zhang in 2011.

Presented at Design Shanghai, which took place between 6 and 9 March, the shades include wavy patterns composed of intersecting sets of parallel lines, which form intricate shadows when light is projected through them.

Zhang began researching and experimenting with bamboo-weaving eight years ago, focusing particularly on the traditional techniques used south of the Yangtze river in China – one of the largest areas of bamboo production.

During his years of experimentation, Zhang was surprised to find that bamboo has elastic properties, despite being a naturally rigid material. He decided to explore this further by creating a series of woven products.

His Bamboo Softness project aims to test the limits of bamboo's elasticity and to show its softer characteristics.

"Bamboo is very strong and tenacious, but it also has its soft side. The softness of bamboo seems soft but is endowed with some rigidity inside, in the eastern way," he said.

The designer used computer-aided design (CAD) to simulate the "flowing state" of clouds, before using thin longitudinal and latitudinal strips of bamboo to recreate by hand the three-dimensional composition of this digital model.

Zhang made use of the natural elasticity of bamboo when forming the curved shapes of the lamps, aiming to make the pieces seem as smooth and flexible as possible.

Focusing on materials, crafts and technology, the Hangzhou-based practice aims to integrate elements of traditional Chinese culture into objects designed for the modern day.

Zhang's work focuses specifically on the relationship between digital technology and ancient craft techniques. Before founding Sozen, he studied at China Academy of Arts in Shanghai and still teaches there in the industrial design department.

Design Shanghai took place last week at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, and also featured a furniture series made of iridescent, electroplated steel by Buzao, and a range of seating inspired by the looped shape of paperclips

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Shanghai furniture brand Stellar Works has for the first time launched products in China rather than Milan, unveiling pieces by Neri&Hu, Jens Risom and Space Copenhagen at the Design Shanghai fair.

The brand presented new designs by Neri&Hu and Space Copenhagen, plus additional reissues of mid-century pieces by Jen Risom.

The brand will launch further items at Milan design week next month, but its decision to unveil part of the collection in China is a first for the company and a vote of confidence in China's burgeoning contemporary design scene.

"It's the first launch for us in Shanghai because every year in the past we have always launched in Milan," said Stellar Works founder Yuichiro Hori.

"Milan is very important, but it's also important to say we are in Shanghai, that Shanghai is becoming international and that there's lots of design movement here."

As part of a long-running collaboration with Shanghai architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, who are the brand's creative directors, Stellar Works launched the Discipline sofa, Bund table and Cabinet of Curiosity: Dress.

The Discipline sofa features a horizontal wooden base that sits low to the ground on delicate metal legs, with a cushioned back rest and a buttoned upholstered seat.

The piece can be configured from a small two-seater sofa, up to a 20-metre-long bench, or placed back-to-back.

The Bund table is an addition to the existing dining chairs, stools and lounge chairs in the Bund collection, which is named after the well-known waterside thoroughfare in central Shanghai. It has a marble base and a brass top.

Meanwhile the Cabinet of Curiosity: Dress is the companion piece to a previous release called Cabinet of Curiosity: Read. The wardrobe has a walnut-wood frame and veneer-laminate panels. Items stored inside are visible through a tempered-glass structure.

"The wardrobe rests on a metal trolley inspired by scenes from a ceramic factory, before the cart enters the furnace," Neri&Hu explained. "The furnace represents the trials and tribulations we all encounter in life, from which we offer up sweat and tears, pain and pleasure."

Stellar Works has completed its Slow collection by Danish design studio Space Copenhagen by adding a two-seater lounge chair, oval coffee table and a folding tray table. They are made from walnut and ash with leather upholstery and each has a pared-back silhouette with minimal decoration.

Along with the other pieces in the collection, the pieces are inspired by the chair Space Copenhagen designed for 108, a restaurant in Copenhagen.

The new additions to the collection by late Danish-American furniture designer Jens Risom include the reissued U430 armchair, first introduced in 1955, as well as a bookcase, a coffee table and a desk.

Other furniture collections on show at Design Shanghai include iridescent furniture by emerging Chinese design studio Buzao, and seating based on paper clips by Shanghai-based studio 8 Studio.

The fair, which has grown into China's biggest contemporary furniture and lighting event since its launch in 2014, ran from 6 to 9 March.

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To coincide with Design Shanghai, we've curated a Pinterest board celebrating the best architecture and design that the city has to offer, including a shopping centre with a tessellating diamond facade by UNStudio and iridescent furniture created from electroplated stainless steel. Follow Dezeen on Pinterest ›

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Shanghai-based design studio 8 Hour has released a range of seating, which is inspired by the "changing forms" of a paperclip.

Called Clips, the furniture collection features a bench and two chairs with rounded metal frames and padded seats.

Presented at this year's Design Shanghai, which takes place between 6 and 9 March, the seating series is available in an assortment of bright or contrasting colours.

Available in either a black, grey or electric blue steel frame, and a grey or blue upholstered fabric seat, the collection takes its visual cues from the looped shape of a metal paperclip, conventionally used to hold sheets of paper together.

"Our Clips range is inspired by the changing forms of paperclips and then we have taken that idea through to design new shapes of furniture," 8 Hour designer Sherry Xu told Dezeen.

"We attempted to use our funny imaginations to create interesting senses and joviality through conflicting colours and circuitous lines," Xu continued.

The first item in the collection is the Clips chair, which is available with either a high or low back.

It has a padded, domed seat and a metal frame that makes up both the legs and the back of the chair, which is shaped like a semi-circle.

The bench features a flat, rectangular seat. The legs are formed from lengths of metal tubing soldered to the frame of the seat.

"Clips is an amazing item. Its shape is flexible and very identifiable," said Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts graduate Xu.

The design studio, which focuses on furniture and product design, was founded in 2015 with the intention of creating products inspired by everyday life.

8 Hour is also showing its Jellyfish tables and Mirror Mirror pieces at the fair.

"Our inspiration comes from daily life. We work and live in Shanghai so we are influenced by the diversification and vitality of this city; people, things and the city are merging together," said the studio.

Design Shanghai is taking place this week at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre. Other projects on show include a furniture series made of iridescent, electroplated steel by Buzao.

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Blue-tinted glass and iridescent stainless steel feature in Chinese design studio Buzao's latest furniture collections, which were launched at Design Shanghai this week.

The Null collection features blue-toned, transparent glass, intended to evoke "stability, calmness and rationality", while the Hot collection has an iridescent and "violently psychedelic" colour palette.

Presented at this year's Design Shanghai, which takes place between 6 and 9 March, both furniture collections aim to draw on the "existing beauty of the materials", as well as their "natural imperfections and irregularity".

"What matters most is the artistic properties of uncertainty or abnormality within a substance," Peng Zeng, the brand's director, told Dezeen.

The Hot collection, which features a side table, an upright column, a tea table, a table and two benches, uses electroplated stainless steel to create an "uncontrollable" and changing rainbow-hued pattern.

"Unpredictable electroplating is the result of uneven distribution of positive and negative electrons. This uncontrollable quality is the life of the product," said Zeng.

Each piece in the collection is made of a series of rectangular beams, inspired by the wooden pallets commonly used on construction sites.

"The extremely dazzling illusional colours contrast with the rough humble forms, producing psychedelic, jumping and surreal dramatic feelings," explained Buzao.

The Null collection is also designed to generate unpredictable and changing outcomes.

Featuring a bench, a side table, a table lamp, a pendant lamp and a wardrobe, the furniture items appear to be made from thick blocks of blue-tinted glass that create a gradient effect when illuminated by light.

"The design as a whole presents a transparent body with a thickness. The overlay of visible materials and the sense of its volume strengthen the existence of the glass in space," said Zeng.

Like the Hot collection, the furniture items in the Null collection consist of geometric forms such as rectangles and circles.

Buzao was first launched in 2017 as an offshoot of design studio Bentu, whose projects include a series of terrazzo furniture made from recycled ceramic waste and a collection of furniture made from crushed ceramic shards.

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