Reed Exhibitions recently concluded another successful edition of 100% Design Shanghai and IHDD. The dual interior décor events, held from November 3 to November 5 at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, registered significant boosts in numbers compared to their 2010 editions.
In 2011, 100% Design Shanghai and IHDD attracted 147 exhibitors and brands from 16 countries and regions. As well as the strong showing of local and international exhibitors, the show also welcomed a total of 13,767 visitors to the event, 15.15% more than in 2010.
It was not only in number of visitors that 100% Design Shanghai and IHDD 2011 saw an improvement, the quality of attendees was also significantly higher, with 397 Diamond Club members making their way through the shows’ doors. This figure represents an increase of 168.24% over 2010.
Across the three-day event, interior design trade professionals were able to take in a diverse array of furniture, bathroom décor, lighting installations, kitchenware, home accessories and wall/floor coverings, while also networking with key professionals from across the local and international interior design trade.
Josephine Lee, Senior Vice President of Reed Exhibitions Greater China, expressed optimism for the continued growth prospects of the event. “We’re delighted at the success of this year’s 100% Design Shanghai / IHDD exhibition. It was clear that visitor numbers were well up on last year and there was a real buzz around the show. For a while now we’ve been talking about how China is undergoing a reputational transformation: from simply being viewed as a cost-competitive manufacturing hub to holding its own among the world’s creative and innovative heavyweights. The standard of visitors, exhibitors and displays at this year’s show reinforced the progress the local interior décor industry continues to make. And that’s fantastic news for every level of the design sector.”
One of the main value-adding aspects of this year’s event was the highly rated talks featuring the leading creative minds in global interior design. Kengo Kuma, a renowned Japanese architectural scholar, spoke on “Anti-Object”, an analysis of how houses are more than mere bricks and mortar, to a packed auditorium.
Organized by the Dutch Design Fashion Architecture Program and Dutch Design Workspace Shanghai, Dutch Design Day celebrated the exuberance and individuality of Netherlandic design. The day was an in-depth exploration of how the integrated, multidisciplinary approach of Holland’s designers consistently yields new ideas, fresh technologies and sustainable solutions to complex issues. It ended with a keynote address from Richard Hutten, one of the most internationally successful and influential Dutch designers of his time.
GreenFest, another popular on-site attraction, was a response to the unprecedented rate of China’s urbanization. Bernard Lim, Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s School of Architecture moderated a lively panel discussion on how to improve the performance of building systems and reduce the environmental impact of construction.
Creative Director Michael Young chose to feature eight brands in the first ever Shanghai version of the highly anticipated Director’s Cut showcase. Among the selected products were items from the new Dutch brand, NgispeN, as well as Richard Hutten and Jerszy Seymour, designers known for modernizing classic concepts.
The feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike was largely positive. Jacky Yao, Senior Manager of 3M China Limited’s Business Unit was pleased his company had contributed a display to the exhibition. He said of 3M’s high quality self-adhesive film, “During 100% Design Shanghai 2011 we used 3M DI-NOC Architectural Finishes for the interior and exterior to illustrate the “design-free, free design” concept. We look forward to forging even stronger working relationships with the designers we met, and to creating more beautifully crafted works.”
Sun Yun, Design Director of Hangzhou Interior Architecture Design, was equally effusive in his praise of the show, and happy to have visited: “This exhibition is a great place for China's interior designers to connect. We are definitely coming back to visit next year!”
100% Design Shanghai and IHDD 2012 will take place from November 1 to November 3 next year. Look forward to your participation!