China’s design market is booming, especially in major cities. There is huge untapped potential that extends far beyond the already established metropolises. Despite challenges like managing a growing number of events and the need to spread efforts throughout the year, there is great optimism for the future of design in China. Energy, creativity, and a growing audience are very positive signs. Design Shanghai, the fair directed by Zhuo Tan, has once again risen to the challenge, promoting dialogue within the Asian market through a richly structured cultural program.
Within the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre in Pudong, the dialogue between East and West was articulated across four pavilions, expanded by a third for this year’s edition: “Furniture and Lighting”, “Kitchen and Bathroom”, “Living and Lifestyle”, and “New Materials and Application”. Hall 1 brought together the best furniture and lighting brands, with a prominent international presence: French luxury glassmaker Lalique, Italian lighting brand Icone Srl, Italian luxury outdoor furniture brand Ethimo, the Italian lighting company Masiero, Japanese wood furniture manufacturer Karimoku Case, Spanish ICEX – which presented the brands Agora, Viccarbe, Colección Alexandra, LZF Lamps, and RS Barcelona – German manufacturer Bretz, and Czech lighting designers Sans Souci.
Among the noteworthy Chinese companies, one cannot overlook U+, one of the most popular furniture brands in China, appreciated for its modern and minimalist style. It offers furniture and furnishing accessories with a simple and elegant design, characterized by clean lines, neutral colors, and natural materials. They target a young audience looking for a contemporary aesthetic for their homes – an emerging target in today’s China – and boasts a strong online presence and a growing number of physical stores in major Chinese cities.
Why Garden, on the other hand, is a Chinese furniture brand led by designer Meng Ye, a prominent name in the Chinese design scene, recognized for his ability to blend traditional and modern aesthetics. The brand stands out for its use of natural materials, attention to craftsmanship details, and an aesthetic that evokes the serenity of nature. Why Garden pieces, often unique or limited editions, are conceived as true collector’s design objects. Based in Hong Kong, but with an Italian soul, is Livintwist, a company specializing in outdoor furniture, which presented its Flo collection at the fair, an ode to the simplicity and serenity of nature.
In addition to the commercial showcase, Design Shanghai dedicated ample space to dialogue and in-depth analysis with the third edition of the Sustainable Design China Summit. The event, led by Orianna Fielding, offered an international platform to more than 60 architects, designers, and thought leaders invited to discuss the themes that will shape the future of sustainable design. Prominent names included Tinhanei Lee of Marriott International, Chris Choa of OUTCOMIST, Carlo Ratti, Erez Ella of HQ Architects, and Stephan Nicoleau of FullCycle. Pressing issues such as the transition to net-zero cities, decarbonization of the built environment, the development of 3D printing in architecture, and the rise of eco-sustainable hospitality and tourism were at the center of an intense and engaging debate.
Linked to the Summit, the “Materials First” installation, curated by Chris Lefteri, an expert in materials and CMF, transformed materials into protagonists. It showcased over one hundred samples, divided into circular, innovative, and waste-derived materials, inviting visitors to reconsider their role: not just technical solutions, but narrative elements capable of inspiring new perspectives.
