The Hong Kong Smart Design Awards 2021 (HKSDA) has come to a successful close. Over 400 entries, 64 impressive winners were born. A remarkable testament to the creativity during a global pandemic. Overview of the winning products, some welcome the future of smart living, while others help us better transition into the new post-pandemic normal. Evidently, technology has become an essential ingredient in today’s design.
Industry Movers & Shakers grace the Awards Ceremony
Shining Light on original Hong Kong design
The HKSDA 2021 Presentation Ceremony has invited a honourable guest : Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, JP, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Mr Liu Yan-jun, Deputy Director-General of Commercial Office of Economic Affairs Department, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R. as well as Mr. Victor Tsang Chiu-hok, Head of Create Hong Kong (CreateHK).
Some of our acclaimed jury panelists also graced our event, including Mr. Kenny Sham, Director, Head of Marketing (Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau) The LEGO Group; Mr. Elmond Cheung, Vice President, city’super brand, City Super Group and Mr. Ken Fung, Executive Director & Vice President, Sales and Operations, German Pool Group Company Limited.
Mr. Benson Pau, Project Convenor of the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards and Chairman of the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association, says, “For the past decade, HKSDA has spotlighted on three major goals: transforming industry practices for close to 1000 local companies; spreading our city’s designs to local and overseas markets; and finally shining an international spotlight on Hong Kong-made brands so everyone around the world realises our creative potential.”
Mr. Eric Sun, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association and Chairman of HKSDA Advisory Committee, says, “Through HKSDA, hopes to embrace Hong Kong design power and help HK designer to expand the global export opportunities. HKEA support local design talents to further strengthen their market competitiveness amid this tough epidemic to prepare for the bounce back when the economy gradually recovers. We would establish an Training Program to support SDA awardees by building their own product line.
HKEA will collaborate with different association or industry elite company to carry out the support services for awardee to upgrade their business in the following scopes.
- Product Development
- Branding Building
- e-Commerce
- Crowdfunding
HKSDA 2021’s latest inclusion of two technology-themed categories – Smart Living and E-sport & Video Games – reflects the needs and trends in our increasingly digital and intelligent world. Some of the submissions have even integrated new technology and programming into their designs.
The Gold Winner for the Leisure & Travel category is the “On the go Wireless charging pack for iPhone”, which allows for portable charging via a lightweight wireless charger, D-Strap and the device itself. In the Home & Houseware Category, meanwhile, the “Rice Delivery Robot” took Gold for cleverly utilising programming, LiDAR, depth cameras, and ultrasound sensors to plan the best, obstacle-free delivery route. In the Electronic & Technical Toys category, finally, the Gold recognition went to CHR1S Plus+, through which children can learn basic coding through programming the robot to walk.
About Hong Kong Smart Design Awards
The Hong Kong Smart Design Awards (HKSDA) has been devoted to unveil the brilliance of Hong Kong original design to the world and encourage local manufacturers and exporters to reform business strategy in attaining “Design x Strategy x Technology = Smart Business” since 2012.
Marching to its 10-year milestone, HKSDA has become an industrial signature event among local sectors including gifts, product design and procurement and built renowned reputation of its quality among overseas buyers through an a spectrum of local and oversea activities catering for both B2B and B2C, i.e. trade fairs to reach out buyers, roving exhibition in shopping malls or community to raise public’s awareness of HKSDA.
Over the years, HKSDA keeps its dynamic momentum by the expansion of eligible product category from Gifts to Home & Houseware (launched in 2017 edition) and Toys & Games (launched in 2020 edition). It aims at further extending the beneficiaries to enlarge the pool of design talents to be nurtured to achieve the ultimate goal “Brand Hong Kong as the most influencing Design Force in Asia”.
For more information, please go to www.sdawards.org.hk
About The Hong Kong Exporters' Association
Founded in 1955, The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) is committed to closely liaising with local and overseas trade organizations, safeguarding the interests of the Hong Kong export trade and expanding business opportunities for Hong Kong exporters. We endeavor to develop Hong Kong as a trading hub for exporters. Currently, the HKEA corporate members specialize in diverse areas of export and re-export trade, as well as manufacturing. Since 1975, HKEA initiated and organized the HK Toys and Gifts Fair, HK Gifts & Houseware Fair and HK Premium Show. Apart from establishing “HKEAPavilion” to promote Hong Kong products in recent years, we are devoted to mobilize the industry to develop original design and brands to enhance their competitiveness. HKEA also organizes the “Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Awards” and set up “DesignHK” at prominent overseas fairs to feature and showcase to international buyers our innovative, creative and quality products. For more information, please go to HKEA website: www.exporters.org.hk
About CreateHK
The CreateHK is a dedicated agency set up under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau in June 2009 to lead, champion and drive the development of the creative economy in Hong Kong. It co-ordinates Government policy and effort regarding creative industries, focuses Government’s resources catering for the promotion and speeding up of the development of creative industries in Hong Kong, and works closely with the trade to boost the development of creative industries. For more details, please browse CreateHK website : www.createhk.gov.hk