Yesterday, the 26th IOD international design program was opened in Dali, Nanhai. (Photo by Foshan China, Lin Shen).

March 6th , the 26th Ideas on Design (hereinafter refers to IOD) international design program was opened in Dali, Nanhai. In three days, twenty international design masters will exchange ideas with more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and designers in the forums and bring new thoughts to manufacturing in Nanhai, even in China. It is learned that in order to provide more creative ideas to local industrial transformation and upgrading, Dali has been working hard to make this design program, which is held in China for the first time, to settle down in it permanently.

Design masters bring about international creative ideas

When the twenty design masters crossing their arms, shaking hands with each other and taking photos, the design program started. In the coming days, these masters will share ideas around these issues: industrial design, artificial intelligence, aerospace, special effect design, textile design, animation, architectural design, environmental design and so on. They will combine their creative ideas with local manufacturing to have a communication with entrepreneurs and designers.

It is the first time that IOD, one of the longest running and most well respected design programs in the world, is held beyond Australia and settled in China. In the press conference held in January, it was announced that more than twenty cross-industry masters would be invited to Foshan and help meet local enterprises’ design need.

KenCato, the founder of IOD said, in fact, before settling in Nanhai, several countries like Janpan, Mexico and India have invited them, but they chose Nanhai because design in Foshan has a close connection with industry. He hoped that IOD could provide entrepreneurs and designers in Nanhai and China a creative thinking system that has a great influence on the industry, society and future, building a bridge between "intelligent manufacturing in China" and global innovative design resources.

A lecture about cross-border, connection and innovation was held in the main conference room. (Photo by Foshan China, Lin Shen)

Dali: to make IOD settle down in it permanently

On the first day, a lecture about cross-border, connection and innovation was held in the main conference room. The organizer will hold special topic forums about pillar industries in Dali, such as aluminum profile and underwear. Summit forums like “the way of driving innovation of aluminum profile design from international perspective” and “the internationalization way of Chinese underwear brand” will be held to give entrepreneurs a chance to dialogue with international masters.

Huang Weiming, the town mayor of Dali said it is necessary for Dali to redefine the content of its industry and urban form with global view and innovative thinking. In the future, Dali will aim at the development of “new city & new industry”, basing on local manufacturing, taking openness, sharing and collaboration as concept, and connecting the world as a global maker town and global sourcing center.

"We hope that by holding this activity, the relationship between design and the development of Dali will become closer, making Dali become an international cross-border innovative center and attracting designers all around the world. ” Li Zhuozhi, president of one of the organizers, DeTao Group said.

It is worth mentioning that Dali is actively initiating talks with organizers to make IOD settle down in it permanently. Meanwhile, the settlement of international design city is also put on the agenda.

Written by Yuki