Zhang Yang

nicolezyyy@163.com

THE 5th Shenzhen International Industrial Design Fair (SZIDF) will open in Hall 2 of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center on Sunday. The three-day fair will be attended by 271 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, according to a press conference held by the event’s organizers yesterday.

The number of exhibits to be showcased by overseas exhibitors during this year’s fair has grown by 40 percent compared with last year. Many of the exhibits will be on display in China for the first time, such as the world’s first dimensioning tool that can sketch 3-D curves and export data to CAD software, and Croatia’s first solar-powered charging station for electric vehicles.

Eight international delegations from seven countries, namely Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea, will attend the fair this year. Nearly 200 top-notch industrial designers from home and abroad have been invited to the fair.

A total of 35 events are scheduled during the fair, such as a Designers’ Night party, the awards ceremony of SZIDF Innovation Design Award, two forums, six workshops and over 20 matchmaking meetings for designers and manufacturers.

A poverty-alleviation design workshop will also be held during the fair. The workshop will enable industrial designers to help craftsmen in distressed areas improve the design of their handicrafts so that they can earn more money by selling the crafts.

The SZIDF is hosted by the city government and organized by the Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession Association (SIDA).

Feng Changhong, secretary-general of SIDA, said the fair offers a good opportunity for foreign designers to build connections with designers in Shenzhen, get access to the manufacturing resources in the Pearl River Delta region and tap the market in China.

“Our local designers can also benefit from the fair as they can learn about advanced design concepts from top-notch designers from across the globe,” Feng said.

According to her, the SZIDF might set up overseas sub-venues next year to enhance the international influence of Shenzhen’s industrial design.