SEESAW ROUNDTABLE installation by Isabelle Peng Zhao @ Design Shanghai 2021 - Courtesy of Design Shanghai.

Design Shangai 2021. SEESAW ROUNDTABLE installation by Isabelle Peng Zhao – All images: courtesy of Design Shanghai.

Design – From 3 to 6 June, Design Shanghai 2021 – the biggest edition so far – showcases more than 400 local and international brands from 30 countries and regions across 8 categories spanning from luxury and collectibles to furniture and accessories for the bathroom, the office and the kitchen. This year, the largest and leading international design event in Asia explores the great potential of regenerative design.

Stellar Works @ Design Shanghai 2021 - Courtesy of Design Shanghai.

Stellar Works @ Design Shanghai.

“As we move towards a post-covid era, in response to an increasing demand for higher-quality developments and a focus on the quality of life and the environment we live in, this year, Design Shanghai will focus on the role designers and design innovation plays in realising new solutions that improve our living environment.” Says Design Shanghai’s Show Director, Zhuo Tan.

U+ @ Design Shanghai 2021 - Courtesy of Design Shanghai

U+ @ Design Shanghai.

EXHIBITORS – FLOS, Roche Bobois, USM, Carl Hansen & Søn, Kohler, Venini and HAY are only some of the international brands. All eyes are also on leading Chinese brands such as Shang Xia，PUSU，2-LA, Sun @ Six, UFOU, Studio Monana and THESHAW. First-time exhibitor U+ showcases its Shan Qiu Zhi Ge Sofa Collection of chairs and sofas. Stellar Works launches the Host furniture collection designed by Sebastian Herkner. Yemu1978 presents bespoke furniture made from wood that industrial furniture manufacturers have discarded.

YEMU1978 @ Design Shanghai 2021 - Courtesy of Design Shanghai

YEMU1978 @ Design Shanghai.

EXHIBITIONS – In collaboration with YA SPACE, the first Memphis furniture exhibition space in China, the Collectible Design Hall showcases extraordinary one-off pieces and limited edition works from international and Chinese designers represented by renowned design galleries. Promising young Chinese designers present their works in the TALENTS section curated by Frank Chou. Audi, the top-tier partner of Design Shanghai 2021, has created a walk-through installation at the entrance to the show where visitors can discover, among other things, a sustainable textile innovation the company is proud to bring forward.

Shang Xia @ Design Shanghai 2021 - Courtesy of Design Shanghai

Shang Xia @ Design Shanghai.

INSTALLATIONS – The Seesaw Roundtable installation by Isabelle Peng Zhao is a “metaphor of harmony and balance exploring the relationship between humans, objects and society.” Chinese architecture studio ORIA presents Touch, an installation reflecting society’s misplaced relationship between reality and the ideal. “The perspective ladder encourages conversation about ourselves and real life.”

TOUCH installation by ORIA @ Design Shanghai 2021 - Courtesy of Design Shanghai

TOUCH installation by ORIA @ Design Shanghai.

TALKS – Design Shanghai 2021 also features a rich program of talks with international architects and designers such as Thomas Heatherwick, Aldo Civic, Richard Van Hutten and Sebastian Wrong.

DesignShanghai2020 - AUDI Pavilion at the main entrance.

DesignShanghai2020 – AUDI Pavilion at the main entrance.