The 2025 Hong Kong Business of Design Week, Asia’s leading design event organized by the Hong Kong Design Centre, concluded with great success in an edition entirely dedicated to Italy. The Summit opened under the theme “Curiosity Provokes Design Innovation”, officiated by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, who underscored how collaboration with Italy strengthens Hong Kong’s role as a cultural bridge between East and West, and by the Ambassador of Italy to China, Massimo Ambrosetti. Ambassador Ambrosetti highlighted the value of Italian design and its ability to combine curiosity with strategic vision, emphasizing that the partnership with the Hong Kong Design Centre reflects a deep cultural friendship in a year marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The programme brought together eighteen Italian speakers representing some of the most authoritative institutions and companies in the sector, including Ferragamo, 10 Corso Como, EssilorLuxottica, Villari, Editoriale Domus, Buccellati, Moroso, Minotti, Molteni&C, and Pininfarina. Their contributions showcased Italy’s distinctive ability to transform curiosity into design vision and innovation. Among the most anticipated sessions were the opening keynote by Carlo Ratti on the future of cities and presentations by Patricia Viel, Michele De Lucchi, Patrizia Moroso, and Andrea Molteni, who addressed topics such as architecture, mobility, emerging technologies, new materials, artificial intelligence, luxury design, and sustainability.
The speakers also included Raffaella Paniè, Director of Brand Identity and Look of the Games at the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, who presented the creative vision for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new BODW Future Lab—an experimental co-creation platform dedicated to developing inclusive and sustainable urban scenarios—also attracted significant participation.
The seminar programme was further enriched by a series of cultural initiatives, including two exhibitions promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: “FABRICa: Italian Textile Style and Innovation”, dedicated to the evolution of Italy’s textile industry, and “The Challenge: The Innovation of Italian Design in Sport”, conceived by the ADI Museum in Milan and focused on the design of sports equipment.
With nearly fifty events, including keynotes, forums, and creative dialogues, the programme further reinforced Italy’s role as a global reference point in design and Hong Kong’s position as a strategic “East-meets-West” platform for international exchange.
