A star-studded lineup of over 50 global designers, creative leaders and industry executives will converge in Hong Kong in December at the city’s annual flagship design week, building a cultural and creative bridge between East and West.

Among those expected to attend are notable figures such as Carlo Ratti, designer of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic torches; architects Michele De Lucchi and Tereza Svachova, creators of the national pavilions for Expo 2025 Osaka; and senior executives from brands such as Ferragamo, Buccellati, Ducati, and Tesla.

They will attend the Business of Design Week (BODW) 2025 Summit from Dec 3-5, which will be at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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The six-day design week, set to kick off on Dec 1, will have the theme “Curiosity Ignites Design Innovation”, and will explore how curiosity has driven Italy's creative excellence across art, architecture, fashion, and manufacturing.

Speaking at a Thursday news conference, Johnson Ng Chun-wing, director of service promotion at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which is co-organizing the event, said that the event will highlight Hong Kong's role as a superconnector and super value-adder between East and West.

“Their contributions will undoubtedly enrich our discussions and inspire the entire design community,” he said.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy.

Carmelo Ficarra, consul general of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao, said that Italy is “deeply honored” to return for the third time as Partner Country, marking a significant milestone in creative ties with Hong Kong. He emphasized the event’s importance in elevating the Italian design sector’s global visibility and added that this edition will address new design perspectives centered on sustainability, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The BODW this year will feature a vibrant showcase of global design innovations, organizers said on Thursday.

Sessions will be organized around six key themes: urban visions, mobility revolution, crafted living, luxury reimagined, innovating with AI and technology, and cultural innovation and creativity. These will cover a wide spectrum of topics, including Olympic torch design, tech headquarters architecture, electric vehicles, luxury branding, and artificial intelligence.

The summit will include keynote speeches, dialogues, and forums, with select sessions presented by partners that include MGM China, the M+ museum, and Maison&Objet. To ensure wide accessibility, it will offer English subtitles and AI-powered simultaneous translation in 10 languages, including Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, and French.

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BODW 2025 will be held alongside other major design events across the city, including the international exhibition DesignInspire and the inaugural Vividly Hong Kong.

A key highlight is Maison&Objet Interieurs Hong Kong 2025, co-presented by HKTDC and France's Maison&Objet, showcasing interior design trends blending Eastern and Western aesthetics.

The summit will adopt a “tribrid” format, combining in-person, online, and broadcast elements to engage the global creative community.

Contact the writer at lilei@chinadailyhk.com