Business of Design Week 2011

Germany was partner country at 2011‘s Business of Design Week (BODW), Asia’s premier event on design, innovation and branding. The annual conference attracts international business and design leaders and provides a platform for exchanging ideas and networking.

BODW 2011 started off with an inspiring opening keynote by Dieter Rams who reminded the large audience about the responsibility of designers. He pointed out ‘visual pollution’ and the growing need for sustainable products. Dieter Rams emphasized “especially China has to catch up in this field”.

Further speakers were Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President Group Design of BMW, who spoke about resources for inspiration for BMW’s brand design, Olivier Boulay of Mercedes Benz’ Advanced Design Center, Stefan Diez, Juergen Mayer H, Markus Miele, Erik Spiekermann and many more.

GIN4B held interviews with Roland Heiler (Managing Director/Porsche Design), Stefan Sielaff (Head of Design/Audi) and Dr. Gerrit Rützel (Managing Director/Hugo Boss Asia-Pacific). Besides this GIN4B got in touch with Hagen Fendler (Chief Design Director of Handset/Huawei Device Co., Ltd.), Ralph Reichert (COO/cosmosupplylab, Ltd.) and Nils Neckel (President/Mykita Asia).

Stay tuned about upcoming articles on their work in China.

Opening Ceremony of BoDW

Victor Lo, Chairman, Hong Kong Design Centre, at the opening ceremony

Keynote Speaker Dieter Rams

Dieter Rams talking about Braun’s design philosophy

State Secretary Stefan Kapferer opening the “Brand New Germany” exhibition at BODW 2011

At the “Brand New Germany” booth

At the Brand New Germany booth

Markus Miele talking about Miele’s history

Founder Carl Miele’s philosophy

Roland Heiler, Managing Director of Porsche Design

Porsche Design philosophy

GIN4B interview with Roland Heiler, Managing Director of Porsche Design

Roland Heiler, Managing Director of Porsche Design, presenting the new Porsche BlackBerry

Stefan Sielaff, Head of Design at Audi, talking about 1998’s Audi TT which introduced a new design language

Stefan Sielaff, Head of Design at Audi

Stefan Sielaff, Head of Design at Audi, after being interviewed by GIN4B

Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President Group Design of BMW, talking about resources for inspiration for the brand design of BMW.

Dr. Gerrit Ruetzel, Managing Director Hugo Boss Asia-Pacific talking about fashion

Dr. Claudia Schaller and Stefanie Then, founders of GIN4B