Now a regular fixture on the Shanghai exhibition circuit, Italian Design Icons has its roots in Nanjing’s foreign community, when a boutique expat law firm set its sights on Shanghai, from both a legal and design perspective.
Gearing up to illuminate the 800 Show in Shanghai’s prestigious Jing’an District from 24-26 November, IDI 2023 is once again to be the focal point of Italian design excellence. A resonant event, emerging from an idea by the DP Group and organised by Eastant Communication & Events, IDI has solidified its position as a celebration of the creativity found in elite Italian brands since its inauguration in 2016.
In a global context where the synergy between humanity, sustainable development, and environmental conservation plays a central role, IDI 2023 adopts the leitmotiv, “The Quality That Lights Up: The Energy of Design Integrating People and Environment”. This theme not only embodies aesthetics, but also reflects a profound commitment to the harmonious coexistence between humans and their environment, mirroring the current priorities of Italian and international design.
Protagonists of this eighth edition of IDI include prominent brands such as Casappa, Capital, Comau, Ducati, FAAM China, FMMG Group, Goglio, iGuzzini Lighting, Istituto Marangoni, EssilorLuxottica, Maserati, Piaggio Group and Pirelli.
The event is also to extend beyond specific sectors, encompassing a wide range from manufacturing, textiles and clothing, to packaging, from multicultural to sino-foreign joint ventures which highlight the versatility of Italian design in both interior and urban contexts.
The 3-day experience offers a rich agenda of activities, including enlightening talks, interactive seminars, thematic forums and stimulating B2B and B2C networking sessions.
The participation of prominent personalities, brand representatives, renowned designers, academic experts and entrepreneurs also looks set to create a conducive environment for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of visions, contributing to shaping the future of design.
Backing up a little, in collaboration with iGuzzini and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, IDI launched a design competition in May of this year. Participating students with innovative projects focused on the theme of light successfully navigated the preliminary stages and now await the outcome during this upcoming eighth edition of IDI.
The three winners thereof shall be offered the opportunity to experience iconic-lighting equipment from iGuzzini, when an international jury makes its selections on 25 November.
