Dezeen Magazine

Bird's eye view of Shenzhen, China

Design Shenzhen invites "pioneers in the fields of culture and creativity" to explore the future of design

Promotion: the inaugural edition of Design Shenzhen takes place next week and will showcase the future of design from international brands and local designers.

The four-day fair, of which Dezeen is a media partner, starts from next Monday in Shenzhen, China, and will feature the latest design and technology through global product launches, installations and curated exhibitions from over 200 brands, including Sony Design and Audi.

"Our aim for Design Shenzhen is to launch an exhibition in the Greater Bay Area that has an impact within Asia and on the international stage," said show director of Design Shenzhen, Raymond Wang.

"As a brand-new exhibition, we invite industry pioneers in the fields of design, culture, creativity, etc., and look forward to bringing the vitality of design to Shenzhen."

Image of Audi's new RS e-tron GT car
Audi will present RS e-tron GT at Design Shenzhen 2023

Automobile brand Audi will present its new car, the RS e-tron GT, while highlighting its new technology, aesthetics and sustainability solutions, as well as the brand's vision for premium mobility.

Sony Design will make its debut in China at Design Shenzhen with an exhibition titled "Nature Resonance", which will immerse visitors in a journey of the "natural cycle of life" using the brand's latest technology.

Also on show will be an exhibition showcasing the winning products of the Japan Good Design Awards. Curated by industrial designer Xiaoxi Shi, the exhibition will present dozens of award-winning Japanese designs that intend to enrich society.

Meditative room with a blue interior
WellConnect will explore human connection to technology

Design Shenzhen will also present WellConnect, curated by UK tech startup DavidHugh, Design Shenzhen and Guoke Longhui Fund. The event will include a "meditation cave" that takes visitors on a sensory journey of light and sound in a bid to explore "the human connection to technology".

WellConnect will also present new lighting solutions for health and wellbeing from technology brand Dose and lighting brand Ostuni, which aim to demonstrate how good design can benefit people's mental and physical wellbeing.

Chinese industrial designer Min Chen has curated an exhibition as part of Design Shenzhen called Neooold. Under the theme of "Have a Cup of Tea", Neooold explores the tea culture from China and the UK, showcasing the work from designers Aldo Bakker, Dan Tomimatsu and Chi Wing Lo.

Three silver vases
Neooold exhibition will showcase different teapot designs from China and the UK

Also included in Design Shenzhen are a display of Swedish lift brand Artico's background lift designs created by product designer Alexander Lervik and artist Eveline Kroon.

Lighting brand Waldmann will also showcase its lighting solutions using the latest LED technology. Swiss air quality technology company IQAir will also exhibit its latest design including CleanZone, SkyInfinity and Atem Desk.

Design Shenzhen also includes over 40 talks from prestigious architects, designers and tastemakers to share their insights around the theme "Regenerative Design – Design for Wellbeing: Humanity, Sustainability, Technology".

Speakers include Italian architect Carlo Ratti, who will talk about the "hydroponic farmscraper" named Jian Mu Tower that will be built in Shenzhen, and the "hot heart" decarbonised thermal energy system for Helsinki.

Architect, multidisciplinary designer and new media artist Leon Krykyhtin, design partner of Ennead Architects Peter Schubert, partner and managing director Asia at Snøhetta Robert Greenwood and architect and associate director of MVRDV Peter Chang, will also speak as part of the talks.

Dezeen is a media partner for the event and will publish highlights from the show once it has taken place.

Design Shenzhen takes place from 27 February to 2 March 2023 at Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Shenzhen, China. 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 Shenzhen as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.