The 20^th anniversary of the Business of Design Week (BODW) is particularly significant as we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Since its debut in 2002, BODW has established itself as a globally acclaimed platform to promote design excellence and foster collaboration. 

This year, under the theme “Design for Change”, over 90 design masters and business leaders from different places will engage five important themes:  Brand Transformation, Culture and the City, Metaverse and Metaliving, New Urban Models, and Social Design Innovation.

In fact, for the first time since 2018, the summit will invite global creatives and thought leaders to Hong Kong in-person to engage in timely, insightful conversations highlighting the vision and leadership needed for design to become a force for good, shifting to more socially and environmentally responsible practices, which are also more resilient amid global challenges.

We are delighted to have the Netherlands, renowned for its iconic design movements and innovation, as this edition’s strategic partner.  Such collaboration also demonstrates Hong Kong’s uniqueness as a place where East meets West. 

I am also excited about the upcoming series of concurrent events, including DFA Awards, Fashion Asia Hong Kong, BODW City Programme (CityProg), deTour and DesignInspire, all of which aim to showcase the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s creative sector. 

Meanwhile, to develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange as laid down in the National 14^th Five-Year Plan, the HKSAR Government will take a series of initiatives to further promote the development of arts, cultural and creative industries.

My thanks to the Hong Kong Design Centre for bringing us these world-class events over the past two decades, scaling new heights promoting design and creative excellence year after year.

I wish BODW 2022 every success.

(John KC LEE)

Chief Executive

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region