Hong Kong is a city that unleashes creativity. This exhibition, under the banner "Creative Ecologies" explains the reasons why. We invite visitors to the Hong Kong design exhibition space at the new design cluster, The Bridge 8, Phase 3 at 550 Jumen Road, Luwan District in Shanghai will be launched from 15 May and run until 31 October on an exploration of the city's ever-growing design power as well as its creative DNA. The word "ecology" implies inter-related systems that together make up an environment. "Creative ecologies" are the systems that are fast turning Hong Kong into a magnet for international talent as well as an incubator for some of Asia's most progressive designers and creative service enterprises.
Hong Kong is best known to the world as a manufacturing powerhouse that has become a world financial capital and services hub. Less well advertised are the ways in which it has become a creative capital. Hong Kong's industrial background has given its design community unusual strength on the business end of design – using design as a key component in brand building, product marketing, and product innovation.
Our business mindset rests on top of unparalleled institutions and assets, ranging from freedom of expression, high standards of governance, and efficient infrastructure. Our geographic setting, at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, anchors us at the center of one of the world's rising mega-cities – a region of dynamic evolution. The Pan-Pearl River Delta is home to more than 100 million people, produces 30% of China's exports, and is undergoing a swift transformation into a consumer society in the next phase of growth. These are the creative ecologies that have come together in a fertile fusion of design concepts and business opportunities.
This eclectic mix is also forging a lifestyle in which mega regional growth, globalization and thinking beyond the curve are the new norms.
Come join us to view "Hong Kong: Creative Ecologies". The three "creative zones" of the exhibition will describe the creative ecologies that make Hong Kong so vibrant; present some fifty examples of Hong Kong's creative landscape of innovators, locally and overseas based designers, design icons, and brands; and thirdly, present a glimpse of young designers just beginning to make their names.
We invite you to come, learn, and enjoy our creative city in fast progress.
Thematic Zone One: "Creative Ecologies"
The first thematic zone projects a visual, iconic and conceptual introduction to Hong Kong's "Creative Ecologies".
Creative Environment
The keyword is "Buzz". Our vibrant and cosmopolitan lifestyle is based on freedom of ideas and expression, openness and inclusiveness, an East-West cultural mix aided by low taxation and flexible access to capital, a global exposure through communications, ideas, and opportunities.
Creative Entrepreneurship
The keyword is "Speed". We have the fast reflexes, flexibility and resourcefulness to be successful entrepreneurs and build businesses.
Creative Competence
The keyword is "Efficiency". We know what it takes to deliver world-standard services – highly developed human capital, the rule of law, intellectual property protection, and a low tax regime. These underpin the creative impulse and entrepreneurial spirit alike, by offering a secure and reliable platform for the hard work that goes into successful design as well as business success.
Creative Thinking
The keyword is "Experimentation". Hong Kong is a free port of ideas as well as goods and services. Such freedom creates an environment conducive to fusion and sudden leaps of insight and creativity – the soul of experimentation.
Creative Connections
The keyword is "Connectivity". Hong Kong is connected not only to the Pearl River Delta and Pan-Pearl River Delta, but also to the world. Like no other city, Hong Kong is five hours by air to major Asian cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, and New Delhi. This means Hong Kong is close to major markets for its services – and can draw upon regional and international resources and production bases at short notice.
Creative Talent
The keyword is "Magnet". Most important of all, Hong Kong attracts creative talent from China, the region, and internationally, drawn by its business and manufacturing opportunities and efficiency. International designers and entrepreneurs have set up bases, infusing new energy and knowhow, complementing the drive and energy of local designers and entrepreneurs.
Thematic Zone Two:
The Creative Landscape
The second thematic zone, presents viewers with a macroscopic overview of the best and brightest of Hong Kong design, ranging from individual designers, to innovative design-based businesses, brands and systems.
Legacy Innovators
Creators of unique designs and concepts that are linked to China's cultural heritage yet affirm universal values, such as Kan Tai Keung, Gary Chang, Chiu Kwong Chiu, Rocco Yim, etc.
Image Builders
Versatile and practical, this group has had a deep influence on markets and set standards for excellence in execution and delivery, such as Stanley Wong, Freeman Lau, Alan Chan, Tommy Li, etc.
Street Smart
These designers live and breathe hip culture, taking their inspiration from the streets and beyond. They include producers of film, animation, books, games, and toys. Some of their creations have achieved iconic stature, such as Alice Mak, Siuhak, Michael Lau, etc.
Brand Creators
These are the designers and often the owners behind successful brands with regional and global presence. In this group are included the design directors of global architecture, interior design, cars, industrial and luxury product companies, such as Vivienne Tam, Arnold Chan, Dennis Chan of Qeelin, Chelsea Lau of Ford Motors, Raman Hui of Dreamworks, Douglas Young of GOD, etc.
Breakthrough Concepts
Whether they innovate in terms of technology or networks, this group represents the confluence of design, technology, and infrastructure that make Hong Kong work so well. The group includes inventors of robots and high-tech scanning systems as well as iconic systems architecture such as the Hong Kong International Airport, Alvanon, Altai Technologies etc.
International Talent
Entrepreneurial and creative talent from all over the world are drawn to Hong Kong's business, assembling/manufacturing facilities and market outreach. Some like Innermost and Direct Design are houses commissioning a bevy of international talents, others like Michael Young, is a powerhouse of cutting edge design innovation. The robot by Cory Kidd of Intuitive Automata is a technological breakthrough.
Thematic Zone Three:
The Future Generation
Fifty young designers have been invited to present creative solutions to 50 identical sculptures – created by Danny Yung of Zuni Icosahedron. The installation as a whole will present variations on the theme of "a better tomorrow" as an expression of youthful energy and ideals.
香港怎样激发创意能量？是次展览在"香港：创意生态"的大前题下，爲您解读香港创意发展的基因、了解创意産业的力量。
生态系统源自衆多相辅相依的成份，通过互动而形成更具结构及规模的整体，爲地区培育了衆多杰出的设计师和富创意的企业，亦同时吸引了大批国际专才。
香港在举世眼中，由一个制造业枢纽发展爲国际金融服务中心；在同时，亦蜕变爲一个充满创意的都市。 香港作爲理想的营商天地，当中重要原因便是意识到设计创新乃建立品牌、市场推广和企业发展不可或缺的因素。
除了优越的经贸环境外，香港人更具备敏锐的营商触觉及精於兼收并蓄的思想，加上本土自由开放的传承、巩固的经济系统、高度自治、背靠珠江三角洲的制造业基地、连接国际网路；诸般优势共同缔造了创意概念与商机的绝佳契合，迸发蓬勃的创意发展。
这缤纷的境况促成了一种精彩及多元化的生活方式，一衆皆充份利用地区性以致全球化的茁壮增长，并以创新思维带来突破。
"香港: 创意生态"展览将在上海新兴的创意産业园区，8号桥3期 (卢湾区局门路550号)举行，展期由二0一0年五月十五日至十月三十一日。 我谨此诚邀阁下支援和参与，在展期间前来共同探究香港生机勃勃的设计産业，及其创意基因！
展览分三部分：
香港：从制造基地至金融服务中心至发展中的创意都市的基础 － 地理、环境、精神、生命力、实力；
设计概览：设计、品牌、设计营商、创新科技、公共系统 / 服务及突出的代表人物；
创意新一代。
第一部分 - 创意生态
以影像展示及概念陈述，勾划香港的创意生态：
创意环境 = 生命力：
香港是一个中西荟萃的城市，开放、包容、多元化、具言论自由、充满活力及机会，演变成爲一种独特的文化环境，吸引了灵活求变的外地设计专才前来发展；
创意企业精神 = 敏锐：
香港商业群体和企业家具备敏锐触觉，极其灵活及机智地以极速执行营商意念和策略；
创新能力 = 效率：
香港拥有健全法制、实行低税制、注重知识産权，加上享誉全球的基础架构、社会服务，让企业可安心茁壮，持续运作。 例如香港机场、地铁系统，便是国际公认及很多国家采用的典范；
创新观念与实践 = 勇于尝试：
香港不止在经贸上营构了一个自由度高的港口，整体氛围也鼓励自由思想的不断求新，充满机遇，让人才充分发挥所长；
优越的枢纽地位 = 联系：
珠江三角洲爲中国南方经济发展的枢杻，而香港作爲珠三角的领先城市，坐拥得天独厚地理优势，背靠中国兼处於亚洲中心，与北京、上海、东京、新德里，新加坡等亚洲主要城市仅五小时飞行距离之内，令设计师体验到不同的服务、需求及市场情况，迅速吸取各地资源；
创意专才的集中地 = 吸纳：
香港的低税制、高效率、有利营商的环境、毗邻全球发展最快之中国内地市场，吸引全球创意精英於此地发挥所长，与本地设计及企业人才激发火花。
第二部分 - 创意景观
香港设计杰作之荟萃。展品归纳在六个范畴内，分别源自独立设计师或以设计爲经纬的企业及品牌。
创意先驱：
他们具深厚的文化基础，明晰概念及鲜明表达的精髓，在藴含中国元素之馀，也得到国际性的认同，建立了具影响力的传统。 当中包括靳棣强、张智强、赵广超、严迅奇等等。
形象、品牌建立：
这批专业设计师多才多艺，在行业竪立卓越典范，爲品牌革故立新，赋予崭新形象。
包括黄炳培、刘小康、陈幼坚、李永铨等等。
本土文化演绎：
这些街头及本土创作/设计者活跃於电影制作、动漫创作、书籍、游戏及玩具设计领域，当中不少作品更晋升爲具代表性的文化指标。如麦家碧、小克、刘建文等等。
品牌营商：
成功打入国际市场的设计师或品牌建立者。 他们拥有自主品牌，或担当国际级品牌的设计/创作总监，包括知名的建筑、室内、汽车、工业及奢华品领域设计。
如谭燕玉、陈仕芳、陈瑞麟(Qeelin)、刘家宝(福特汽车)、许诚毅(Dreamworks)、杨志超(住好D)等等。
创新科技：
这些作品以创新科技加强作业模式，更在制造业及基建设计上，巧用科技而缔造更美好的生活 。 当中包括香港国际机场、Alvanon、奥泰尔科技等等。
海外专才：
这群来自全球的创意才俊汇聚香港，不论在制造业或是市场推广上皆带来新颖意念及突破，当中包括Intuitive Automata、Innermost、Direct Design、Michael Young等等。
第三部分：创意新一代
50位香港年青设计界新星，获邀在进念艺术总监总监荣念曾设计的 "天天向上" 模型发挥才思，一衆作品亦回应了"天天向上"表达出的一股活力和理想正能量。
