Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation and brands since 2002, Business of Design Week (BODW) organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) gathers some of the world’s foremost design masters, brand leaders and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong as well as overseas, driving discourse on the value of design and innovation to inspire global audiences and explore new business opportunities.

Launched by Hong Kong Design Centre, bodw+ originates from Business of Design Week (BODW), Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation and brands since 2002. bodw+ is an interactive design knowledge platform that promotes and celebrates design excellence, inspiring and engaging the local and international design community. It is envisioned to become Asia’s leading online design portal, providing evergreen content, featuring the latest insights on seminal design trends, and exclusive interviews with creative leaders and emerging talents.

A non-governmental organisation registered in 2001 and established in 2002, Hong Kong Design Centre is a strategic partner of the Hong Kong SAR Government in advancing Hong Kong as an international centre of design excellence in Asia. Our public mission is to promote wider and strategic use of design and design thinking to create business value and improve societal well-being.

It is a pleasure to welcome you all to Business of Design Week (BODW) 2023, an annual signature event of Hong Kong’s creative and design industries.

Now in its 21st edition, BODW has emerged as an internationally acclaimed design event dedicated to fostering exchange and collaboration, and developing Hong Kong as a creative hub in Asia.  Under the theme of “Game Changers”, this year’s BODW gathers over 60 prominent design masters and visionary leaders from around the world to share their insights on three main areas, namely Urban Planning and New Urban Models, Transformative Brands and Consumers’ Experience, and AI, Technology and Future Trends.  The participants from cross-disciplinary sectors will explore the infusion of innovative design and technology to evolve the consumer experience as well as drive towards a sustainable future.

I am delighted that following the successful strategic partnership in 2022, the Netherlands will become the partner country of this year’s BODW.   It will be expanded as a    year-round exchange programme featuring outstanding Dutch circular design, with a view to co-creating innovative design solutions to tackle current and future challenges.  Such programme not only strengthens the long-term co-operation between the Netherlands and Hong Kong, but also demonstrates Hong Kong’s distinctive advantage as an East-meets-West centre which can closely connect the Mainland market with the global design community.

A series of fruitful events, including Fashion Asia Hong Kong, BODW City Programme, GBA Creative Night, deTour, and DesignInspire, will also be held concurrently to showcase Hong Kong’s creativity and design excellence.

On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I would like to express my gratitude to the Hong Kong Design Centre for delivering another high-level BODW this year.  My thanks also goes to the Netherlands being the partner country of the event and to all participants.  I wish BODW 2023 a resounding success.

(John KC LEE)

Chief Executive

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The Honourable Chan Kwok-ki, GBS, IDSM, JP

Chief Secretary for Administration, The Government of HKSAR