Part aesthetic, part philosophy, design adds texture to life. But we should not forget the best designs are those that are useful to our lives.
Human beings’ lives are closely related to furniture. Recognizing the importance of Chinese furniture industry and keen to foster innovation in this key sector, the China National Furniture Association(CNFA) established the “Design Innovative Training Base” in 2019 to promote closer cooperation between leading global design institutes and Chinese furniture manufacturers.
Representatives from 16 organizations including Polytechnic University of Milan, HNI Lamex and members of the Council of Asia Pacific Furniture Association (CAFA) signed a letter of intent with the CNFA and the Government of LongJiang Town on the cooperation of the Design Innovative Training Base and committed to establish an information exchange centre in Longjiang, Foshan, to promote the sustainable development of furniture designs in China.
The Design Innovative Training Base is officially launched, as partner organizations including CNFA, Polytechnic University of Milan, IKEA, HNI Lamex and Pantone take part in the summit to exchange on lifestyles and designs.
Ms. Tu Qi, Vice President and Secretary General of CAFA and Vice Chairman of the CNFA, made a keynote speech on "The Road to Chinese Furniture Design and Development". After reviewing the development and evolution of Chinese furniture design from the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties to the present, she shared her vision for the future development of Chinese furniture design, stating the industry should rely on the promotion of Chinese culture, the ability to create original design, and the enhancement of international exchanges and cooperation.
Mr. Paolo Bartoli, Professor at Polytechnic University of Milan, gave a keynote speech on "Home Design Trends: an Italian Perspective which covered six major trends impacting home design: from the physical to virtual – the digital experience of design; innovations and meaning of home design; the application of the Internet; the intensification of living space; the application of real materials; and specialized consumption and mass customization.
Mr. Lars Wretman, Product Development Manager of IKEA East Asia, gave a keynote speech on "IKEA Democratic Design". He said that IKEA is not only designing products but trying to make things better in order to create a better life. He used several new product examples to showcase how IKEA combines practical, aesthetic, sustainability, low-prices, and high-quality to achieve democratic design.
Mr. Marc Fong , Design Director of HNI Lamex, gave a keynote speech on "Creating Desirable Workplace". Exploring what makes people want to go to an office, he concluded that an office should – just like a neighborhood or even your home - foster a strong sense of belonging and happiness.
The distance between our “neighborhoods” are getting shorter as people can talk in person or use technologies to learn, share and play about the many options they have when they want to eat, drink or wind down. This is “Neighborhoods” - the Workplace where people can't help but fall in love with.
Titled "Color Principles and Business Applications", Pantone ‘s keynote speech used the color application in fields such as printing, textile, software, interior design, automobile, toy, and catering, etc. to illustrate the significance of color across many aspects design. For instance, in December 2018, PANTONE officially named Living Coral the most healing color of 2019.
In 2018, Lamex Design Lab applied this new color to the Perch sofa.
In 2019, Lamex Design Lab introduced a new workplace design concept called "neighborhood." More than just a beautiful and comfortable workplace, it creates a neighborhood community filled with love and happiness. In the future, we will talk more to each other in our community, starting the day with "Good Morning, Hello" as we lean on the window to gaze at fresh morning in the city. We just can’t wait for the future workplace!