A Stage for Designers

2021-08-30 02:26
Beijing Review 2021年34期

The soul of a product is in its design. As the Chinese economy grows and Chinese people become more welcoming to new things, China has turned itself into a stage for designers to give full play to their creativity.

China has built landmark buildings ranging from the National Stadium in Beijing, whose structural form is popularly described as a “birds nest,” to some of the worlds longest bridges and most livable urban communities. It has also produced leading fashion trends on catwalks as well as state-of-the-art high-speed trains. Design can be found, touched and enjoyed everywhere.

How big is Chinas design industry? Though no accurate data are available, the architectural segment exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($154 billion) in 2019, which can give you a glimpse of its market size.

Of course, professionals are the greatest asset in the industry. In the huge Chinese market, designers from both East and West can pursue their inspiration. Diversity is a hallmark of Chinas design market, where products with distinctive local characteristics win recognition along with those that integrate Chinese and Western elements, as well as those inspired by foreign culture and art.

As this process continues, Chinese minds are being opened to new ways of looking at the world through the lens of design and embracing bold new visions by cutting-edge designers. Chinas huge market belongs to not only Chinese people, but also the entire world.

While improving the quality of life, modern civilization intensifies the exchanges and mutual learning between different cultures. Cultural exchanges are vital for the design industry to prosper and crosspollinate in the contemporary world.

Design is an industry that must keep pace with the times. In architecture and fashion alike, designers are always ready to embrace change.

With rising awareness of environmental protection among consumers, sustainability has become a buzzword. This concept should be incorporated into the entire creative process from design and manufacturing to the end user. At the same time, the focus is increasingly shifting to userfriendly design. BR