Guangzhou, China – March 20, 2024 - The China International Furniture Fair (CIFF) in Guangzhou is known as the Mecca of trade shows and a vibrant stage for design innovation. As international collaborations progress, the 53rd installment of CIFF is poised to connect the Asia Pacific region by convening prominent figures and leading design authorities from different countries and regions on March 20th for the "2024 CIFF Asia Pacific Design Summit."

With the theme of "Design Future: Artificial And Emotional Intelligence through Design," the summit will deeply explore the future of society, promote cultural exchanges, and encourage collaboration. There will be compelling speeches by renowned design experts and host roundtable discussions moderated by global design association presidents and leading designers. It will provide a platform for the fusion of innovative ideas, multifaceted exploration, and collaborative discussions on the future design trajectories.

Navigating the Future of Design in the Age of AI and EI

As technology progresses and societal structures evolve, the integration of cutting-edge artificial intelligence models like Sora is leading the charge in driving digital transformation, offering both challenges and opportunities for the design industry.

As a powerful tool and collaborator, AI technology not only assists designers in managing large amounts of data and information, but also analyzes and predicts user behaviors and preferences, generating and refining various design solutions. In addition, AI constantly introduces new perspectives and possibilities to stimulate designers' intelligence and creativity.

In the age of AI, a designer's innate creativity and emotional depth are more valuable than ever. As the Harvard Business Review recently published an article titled "Can Artificial Intelligence Teach Us How to Become More Emotionally Intelligent?" AI has the potential to improve our emotional intelligence, develop a greater sense of self-awareness, and help us with important work relationships. Improved emotional intelligence and communication skills can lead to increased efficiency, productivity, and empathy. This technology can make our teams more emotionally aligned, thereby enhancing the likelihood of business success and profitability." It can be posited that AI technology and designers are not rivals or substitutes, but collaborators and assistants.

What lies ahead for the future of design as designers forge partnerships with artificial intelligence?

In the morning session of the upcoming summit, four distinguished speakers from different countries and regions, representing diverse design disciplines, will present their views on the future of design.

Meet the Speakers

Tung Ching Yew / 張進(jìn)耀

Founder and Managing Director, SODA? (Spirit of Design Analogy Pte Ltd)

President, SIDS (Society of Interior Designers Singapore)

Tung Ching Yew is a highly esteemed figure in spatial design, boasting over 25 years of experience and serving as the Founder and Managing Director of SODA?(Spirit Of Design Analogy Pte Ltd). His leadership has propelled SODA to complete over 350 projects across 8 countries, earning recognition like the Top 50 Finalist in the Design Distinction Awards 2020 by the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI). Tung's designs have been lauded internationally, receiving accolades from prestigious competitions including the London International Creative Competition and the Paris Design Awards. Beyond commercial success, Tung's methodologies have empowered numerous businesses and organizations, with notable clients including Infineon Technologies and Changi Airport Group. He is deeply committed to nurturing future design talent, dedicating over 15 years to education and serving as an adjunct lecturer and advisory committee member at various institutions.

In 2022, Tung was elected President of SIDS (the Society of Interior Designers Singapore), where he leads efforts to elevate industry standards. His contributions have earned him widespread recognition and acclaim within the design community.

Jamy Yang / 楊明潔

Founder and Design Director, YANG DESIGN and YANG HOUSE

Most Influential Chinese Industrial Designer by Forbes

Jamy studied at Zhejiang University and CAA and received a full scholarship from the German WK Foundation to go to Germany to complete the Master of Industrial Design at the Muthus College. Then, he worked at the Siemens Design Headquarters in Munich. From 2005 to 2015, YANG DESIGN, Yang Mingjie Design Museum and lifestyle brand YANG HOUSE were successively established. Jamy has won hundreds of awards including Reddot Design Award, iF, Japanese GOOD DESIGN, IDEA, Pentawards Gold Award, and Asia's Most Influential Design Silver Award.

With a combination of German logic thinking and Chinese humanistic spirit, Jamy has formed his own design philosophy and become partner with renowned global brands including Hennessy, Hermes, Huawei, Boeing, Audi, Bosch, NATUZZI, and Casarte etc., projects covering cross many fields such as packaging, lifestyle, home appliances, vehicles, space installations and so on. His capacity to make Chinese culturally thoughtful objects is a unique asset that luxury brands should not ignore. He won hundreds of design awards all over the world, including Reddot Design Award, IDEA, Pentawards Gold Award, and Asia’s Most Influential Design Silver Award. He is committed to prove that design can change the society.

PhD Candidate – School of Architecture & Urban Design (RMIT)

Master of Design (UNSW)

Vice Chairman – Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA)

Board Member – Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA)

AIA (Assoc.), BEAM (Assoc.)

Vignesh Kaushik

Regional Director of Design Technology, Gensler (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Greater China regions)

Vignesh serves as the Design Technology Director for Gensler, the world's largest architecture and design firm, overseeing design technology initiatives across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Greater China regions. He leverages his passion for people enablement, process development, and technology innovation to lead digital transformation in the firm’s practice that spans complex mixed-use, retail, hospitality, sports and workplace projects of various scales across the region. The core mission of the high-powered community he leads is to create an advanced and sophisticated experience for our designers and clients through infinite computing possibilities in generative design, computational systems, design visualization, and software development. A recognized thought leader, he has published multiple original research papers in various technology conferences and journals and is a frequent speaker at national and international forums related to A.I., Machine Learning, Design Computation, and BIM.

Wesley Liu / 廖奕權(quán)

Vice-president, Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA)

Founder, PplusP Creations

Wesley Liu is well-known in creating harmony and warmish style interiors at all scales. After graduated with a Master degree in Design from the College of Fine Art (COFA), University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 2007, having worked with a celebrated architectural firm - CL3 Architects, he founded his design studio PplusP Creations Limited in 2009. Within the years, his works have received numerous accolades, including the Best of Year Award (US), Architecture MasterPrize (US), International Property Awards (UK), Design for Asia Award (HK), Perspective and A&D Trophy Awards (HK) and Asia Pacific Interior Design Award – APIDA (HK), etc. His outstanding works and his contribution to the industry in his region gained him the 40under40 Awards presented by the most renowned design magazine “Perspective (Hong Kong)” in 2012 (Interior Design) and 2022 (Architecture) and being conferred the honour of “10 Most Outstanding Young Persons” by the China Official in 2016. In 2022, Wesley is currently admitted to a PhD program with the School of Architecture & Urban Design in the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia.

Wesley is also very active within the design community, where his contribution and involvement allow him to be aware of what is happening in the industry at an international level as well as regional level. As an associate member of the American Institute of Architects, and serving as Board of Executive Committee in Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA) and Board of Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA), he frequently participates in design events, seminars and juror for design competitions.

“Drive, passion and tenacity are words that best describe Wesley, who constantly and curiously seeks to move forward.”

Diverse Cultural Intersections Inspire Design Innovations

The afternoon segment of the summit will host a roundtable forum, bringing together representatives from diverse design associations and designers across the Asia Pacific region. They will discuss the evolution of the interior design industry, delving into its past, present and future. With its rich in cultural and dynamic energy, the Asia Pacific region showcases a spectrum of design styles, philosophies, and methodologies, setting the stage for fruitful cross-cultural exchange and collaboration.

The 2024 CIFF Asia Pacific Design Summit will empower designers from various countries and facilitate the exploration of strengths and characteristics of design in different regions. By drawing inspiration and creativity from diverse cultural influences, participants can leverage complementary advantages, fostering mutual cooperation and progress within the design realm.

Save the Date:

Date: March 20, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Address: Conference Room 3-4 in Area A of the Canton Fair Complex, Guangzhou,China

Event Schedule:

CIFF remains committed to facilitating industry exchanges and development across various facets, including design, trade, ideology, and trends. Join us on March 20th, 2024, for the 2024 CIFF Asia Pacific Design Summit—an unmissable event!

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