BODW 2025: curiosity as the engine of design innovation

The 2025 edition of Business of Design Week (BODW), one of the most important annual design flagship events in Asia, organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and with the support of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), concluded on December 6th. From December 1st to 6th, Hong Kong transformed into a vibrant global design hub, celebrating the fusion of Eastern and Western creativity under the theme "Curiosity Provokes Design Innovation."

This year's event held particular significance, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union and the 55th anniversary between China and Italy. Italy was designated as the Partner Country for the 2025 edition, recognising the excellence of ‘Made in Italy’ and its ability to blend artisanal tradition with contemporary innovation. The Summit attracted over 15,000 in-person attendance and a vast global online audience, demonstrating Hong Kong's role as a "Super-Connector" and "Super Value-Adder" in the global design community. 

The BODW 2025 Summit, held from December 3rd to 5th at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, brought together over 60 design experts and business leaders from around the world alongside a new initiative bodw Future Lab. Developed around six main themes (Urban Visions, Mobility Revolution, Crafted Living, Luxury Reimagined, Innovating with AI and Technology, and Cultural Innovation and Creativity), the event hosted keynote speeches, panels, and fireside chats with a strong Italian presence featuring representatives from FERRAGAMO, Buccellati, EssilorLuxottica, 10 Corso Como, Pininfarina, Minotti, Molteni&C, Moroso, VILLARI, and the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Carlo Ratti

Dr Carlo Ratti, co-founder of CRA – CARLO RATTI ASSOCIATI and designer of the Olympic torches for Milano Cortina 2026, opened the Summit with a speech that set the tone for the discussions. Ratti shared the urgent need for design thinking, interdisciplinary solutions, and intergenerational collaboration to address the challenges of the climate crisis and demographic decline. Questioning "the idea of the Promethean architect or designer," Ratti emphasised that today, at a time when the planet has already changed, design must focus not only on mitigation but also on adaptation.

In the closing speech, Carmelo Ficarra, the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao,  stated, "For all the work we have done together in the past 12 months, I think we have started something important, which is a long-term cooperation. I have received a lot of positive feedback from participants and speakers who participated in the event this year. We are very privileged to be your partner this year, and are looking forward to strengthening relations between Italy and Hong Kong."

Prof Viveca Chan, Vice Chairman of HKDC, added, "We’ve worked so closely together over the past year, sdoing exhibitions, workshops and training together. Participants and designers I talked to were very inspired by the rich heritage, culture, and history of Italy, which they successfullyblend with  modern design and technology into their works. On the other hand, our cross-cultural discipline and cross-sectoral exchange in Hong Kong, dynamism and entrepreneurship also inspired our Italian delegation. Altogether, it has been an extremely fruitful and rewarding experience for both sides."

Alongside the BODW Summit, the concurrent event DesignInspire 2025, organised by HKTDC, brought life to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from December 3rd to 6th. This Business-to-All fair, with free admission upon registration for industry professionals and the public, was designed to promote ideas, innovation, and collaborations among creatives, brands, and institutions from around the world.

Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau

With over 260 brands from 14 countries and regions, numerous workshops, InnoTalks sessions, and business matching opportunities, the event offered concrete opportunities for exchange and international networking. The edition dedicated ample space to the creative dialogue between Hong Kong and Italy, confirming our country's central role in the international design landscape.

One of the most representative projects of this partnership was BOTTEGA HONG KONG, conceived by renowned designer Alan Chan and inspired by classic Italian food shops: a space that celebrated the craftsmanship, materials, forms, and narratives typical of “Made in Italy”, reinterpreted through a contemporary and cross-cultural lens.

The "BODW In the City 2025: CurioCity HK" initiative, sponsored by CCIDA, brought design directly to the city streets with over 40 themed events distributed across various Hong Kong districts. In parallel, deTour 2025, the annual design festival curated by designer Adonian Chan, explored the theme "The Shape of Yearning" through 17 installations by local and international designers, offering over 40 workshops, 12 dialogues, and more than 80 guided tours.

Business of Design Week 2025 has showcased Hong Kong's role as Asia's creative capital and laid the foundation for lasting collaboration between Italy and Hong Kong. The baton now passes to Switzerland, which will be the next Partner Country for Business of Design Week 2026, as announced during the closing ceremony.

Opening image: Ayoung Kim, Screening of Dancer in the Mirror Field on the M+ Facade, 2025. Commissioned by M+ and Powerhouse, presented by Julius Baer, 2025. Image courtesy of M+, Hong Kong