Premsela.org | dutch platform for design and fashion

Hong Kong is investing heavily in its booming design industry. Given the region’s rapid development, the time is ripe for Dutch design to establish a presence there. Business of Design Week (BoDW), held in Hong Kong each December, is the ideal opportunity. Consisting of fairs, conferences, educational events and exhibitions, it’s one of Asia’s biggest architecture and design events.

As a ‘partner country’, the Netherlands will organise a host of events at BoDW 2008, held from 9 through 13 December. Activities will include lectures, exhibitions, a large pavilion at the design and technology fair IDT EXPO, and a matchmaking programme for Dutch designers and design firms. Speakers from the Netherlands will include furniture and interior designer Marcel Wanders, lingerie designer Marlies Dekkers and trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort.

BoDW draws a total of 10,000 visitors each year, including designers but also others such as entrepreneurs, policymakers, press and students. The Netherlands aims to strengthen its creative, economic and educational relationship with Hong Kong through its involvement in BoDW. The Dutch participation will also help to position the Netherlands as a top-quality, unique source of design, fashion and architecture.

Entrepreneurs interested in attending Business of Design Week can register through the website of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Agency for International Business and Cooperation. On 18 June there will be an informational meeting at ING in Amsterdam. To sign up, contact the Association of Dutch Designers at bno@bno.nl .

The Dutch participation in BoDW is the first activity in the three-year Open Minds programme, meant to promote the export and reputation of Dutch creative products and services in China. Open Minds is being developed by the Netherlands Architecture Institute, Premsela, the Association of Dutch Designers, the Association of Dutch Interior Architects, the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects, Modint, and Delft University of Technology, in cooperation with the Dutch ministries of Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Education, Culture and Science.