The Business of Design Week 2025 (BODW) Summit, Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation, and brands, kicks off on Wednesday, with the theme "Curiosity Ignites Design Innovation."
Launched by The Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) in 2002, this year’s summit will explore how curiosity-driven design can fuel cross-disciplinary innovation and reshape the future of business and living.
Over 50 visionary design masters and business innovators from Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Czech Republic, Japan, Mainland China, and Hong Kong will gather to engage in in-depth creative dialogues.
This year’s BODW features Italy as its year-long Partner Country, building on successful collaborations in 2007 and 2017.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui noted that this reunion at the BODW is both timely and meaningful, as 2025 also marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy.
She added that it also reaffirms Hong Kong's role as an East meets West centre for international cultural exchange.
“ Italy, a country globally celebrated for its design, aesthetics and creativity, will continue to inspire us as we reinforce our role as the creative capital of Asia,” she said.
Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau, also noted that Hong Kong is a special place to advance Italy’s strong focus on creativity and innovation.
The summit will delve into six key pillars, beginning with topics related to Urban Visions and Mobility Revolution on Wednesday, featuring speakers such as Carlo Ratti, Co-founder of CRA - Carlo Ratti Associati.
Luxury Reimagined will be the focus of the following day, with Angelica Visconti, Vice Chairman of Ferragamo, while Ron Arad, Founder & Director of Ron Arad Studio, will share insights in the Crafted Living session.
The final day will conclude with discussions on Innovating with AI & Tech and Cultural Innovation & Creativity.
