DesignInspire Puts the Fun into Innovation
7 December 2018 – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the second edition of DesignInspire is held from 6-8 Dec, finishing tomorrow. Under the theme “Co-create a Happy city,” the show aims to let members of the public experience how innovative designs can improve the quality of city life.
Dancing Robots and a Portrait-drawing Arm
Robotics is the talk of the town as smart cities and smart living begin to change the world. In the “Urbanovation” pavilion, visitors get ready to be amused by the state-of-the-art robots on display. Watch Aelos, which debuted during the 2018 Winter Olympics, performs dances and somersaults – 20 different moves in total! On the other “hand,” visitors can have their portrait drawn by the multifunctional robotic arm created by the University of Hong Kong’s Engineering Department.
Education has a vital role to play in building sustainable innovation. STEAM education, which integrates the studies of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, is having a big impact on young lives. At DesignInspire, children can have fun creating their own robots through the Robobloq platform, with its intelligent wireless electronic modules and easy-to-use drag-and-drop graphical programming software. In addition, a series of workshops covering STEAM subjects is running throughout the three-day event, including the “Mobile Virtual Reality Smart City SEAM Workshop” and “Building a Happy City” workshop.
Innovative Hong Kong Design Goes Green
Being green is as important as being smart in society’s vision for the future. Artech Graphics, which specialises in event and exhibition decoration, is showcasing an installation that exemplifies how eco design can also be good design, using the theme of the struggle that polar bears face under global warming. “Our exhibit is built using eco-friendly materials that are both light and weight-bearing, and are also easier reuse or recycle than wood and plastic. They not only are gentle to the environment but also cost a third less than traditional materials, so more and more customers are considering choosing our materials and services,” said Artech Managing Director Edward Yeung.
Wonderful designs are everywhere at DesignInspire. The Hong Kong Smart Design Awards showcase several prize-winning products that are brilliantly designed, practical, and also fun. They include a Rubik’s Cube with a Cantonese idiom theme, an automatic pet feeder and a plant waterer. Leo Yiu, who earned a merit in the awards with his Stackable Vase, said: “I used to focus on interior and homeware product design, but from this year I’m creating more brand products. I’m very honoured to have won several awards, which has helped to improve my sales and led to more and more customers seeking out my design services. During the exhibition, I was approached a number of times by packaging and product manufacturers from the mainland [Mainland China].”
Grab a Gadget from the Pop-up Shop
The pop-up shop at DesignInspire is brimming with cool gadgets to take home, including the Plump Planet Friends design stationery, toys and tote bags; door stoppers and bookends featuring cute fabric animals; cutlery and accessories with antibacterial coatings, and many more. Furthermore, visitors can take part in the many free-to-join activities scattered around the fairground such as origami, colouring games and 3D paper-model making. There’s also a gigantic capsule toy machine that is fun for children and not-so-grown-up adults alike.
DesignInspire is the place to be this weekend for the whole family to have fun!
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Jenny Cheung, a lecturer at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, says DesignInspire is a truly international event, with pavilions showcasing designs from Japan, Korea, Melbourne and various Mainland China cities. There are plenty of design exhibits that help to inspire innovation, she says
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Taking a picture at DesignInspire and sharing it on social media earns you an entry into the “Let’s Grab” game to win incredible prizes
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This animatronic baby T-Rex dinosaur walks around the Melbourne Pavilion to interact with visitors. A caution for the fainthearted – its roar sounds very real!
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United Kingdom-based INDE is bringing augmented reality tech to Hong Kong. Interact with big jaws (theme: Air, Land & Sea) and dinosaurs (theme: Back to Jurassic) on a screen – and kids will be delighted
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The HKTDC has invited professional illustrators to create live illustrations with creative visitors. The illustrators will also create portraits of the visitors throughout the event period in the afternoons
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Local key opinion leader (KOL) Angela Yuen “checking-in” at DesignInspire |
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The second edition of DesignInspire features more than 635 designs and projects to showcase the latest design concepts and innovations from around the world
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Ms Chow brought her son to an interactive workshop. She says her son loved the paper-folding workshop and interacting with robots, and believes such activities will stimulate his interest in innovation and science and engineering
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Alan Wong, creative director of Spark Nation Ltd, is thrilled to have the opportunity to talk face-to-face with designers from all over the world. For him, the Korean Pavilion is particularly inspiring and will help him develop new ideas The Korean Pavilion showcases character models made using eco-friendly paper. Light yet sturdy, their innovative designs give them movable joints
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Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Banbi Chen Tel: (852) 2584 4525 Email: banbi.yc.chen@hktdc.org
About the HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with the mainland, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities in the mainland and international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.