Design Shanghai 2024: highlights from the Chinese metropolis

Entrance of the fair - Courtesy of Design Shanghai 2024.

Entrance of the fair – All photos are courtesy of Design Shanghai 2024.

Design– Expanded by a third for this year’s edition, Design Shanghai 2024 has set a precedent and shown significant growth in China’s ever-growing design community. The eleventh edition of Asia’s largest international design fair returned to the design metropolis with 600 global and local brands across 40 countries from emerging and established designers. Check what we liked the most!

RELATED STORIES: Read more about Design Shanghai on Archipanic.

neooold exhibition.

The fair comprised four halls, each dedicated to different product categories. Highlights included the new Frank Chou Collection by the namesake acclaimed designer, new pieces by furniture manufacturer U+ and the Precious Home series by GID. Stellar Works launched a new collection uniting the East and West. The lineup of international brands featured Masiero and Venini from Italy, Meisser and Villeroy&Boch from Germany, Karimoku from Japan, and many more.

TALENTS exhibition.

Curated by acclaimed designer Frank Chou, the TALENTS platform and exhibition spotlighted young local designers and gave them a platform to showcase their work. Kodai Iwamoto presented an arrow-like floor lamp with indirect lighting made from aluminium, stainless steel and LED tape. Abid Javed’s Molecular Objects are re-imagined and sculpted as abstract, biomorphic forms. Furniture designer Ming-Li Chang created a table lamp with a tilted translucent hat/shade that pays homage to the hard-working women of the Dai people in Yunnan.

[su_image_carousel source=”media: 40487,40480″ limit=”0″ slides_style=”minimal” crop=”none” columns=”2″ spacing=”no” captions=”yes” dots=”no” autoplay=”3″ speed=”immediate”]

Rong, “铸造, means casting, which refers to a moulding process where softened material is injected into a mould. Based on the deconstruction research of casting, curators of the Rong Casting exhibition tasked 46 designers and artists from different fields to experiment with the casting process, blurring the lines between craftsmanship and contemporary design.

Rong Casting exhibition.

Chinese designer Chen Min curated the Neooold section, a unique blend of art and design. Built around the concept of Art Extension, it encompassed ceramics, metalworking, weaving, lacquer, and other traditional crafts, showcasing the innovative fusion of these elements. Shangdi-based studio Guji presented quirky tableware, decorative objects and artistic furniture. Dutch designer Aldo Bakker explored Japanese Urushi craftsmanship.

[su_image_carousel source=”media: 40486,40482″ limit=”0″ slides_style=”minimal” crop=”none” columns=”2″ spacing=”no” captions=”yes” dots=”no” autoplay=”3″ speed=”immediate”]

Other notable features included the Beyond Craft Japan platform, which bridged the gap between Japan and China, and GORGEOUS JEWELLERY 1.0, which comprised the work of over 80 designers. The Texture of Crafts exhibition injected new life into traditional crafts through design collaborations.

Beyond Craft Japan exhibition.

The fair’s long-term partner, Audi, presented an interactive installation showcasing how the automotive company pushed the boundaries of automotive lighting technology and design. The exhibition also featured the new Audi Q6L e-tron, specifically developed for the Chinese market.

Audi Q6L e-tron at Design Shanghai 2024

Outside the fair, the Design Shanghai experience continued in the trendy Xindiandi district. The annual Xintiandi Design Festival featured immersive and interactive large-scale installations exploring the theme of Hybrid Playground. At the AI Symbiosphere installation by VAVE Studio, visitors could look into a pond surrounded by luxurious vegetation to discover the inner wild beast in them.