Hong Kong, November 11, 2003 - Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) announced today that its annual signature event Business of Design Week (BODW) has drawn a very favourable response with the number of exhibitors signed up for the design fair of the four-day main events already doubled that of last year.

To be held from December 6-9, BODW 2003 is a one-of-a-kind platform for designers and businesses to showcase and exchange innovative design ideas and strategies. Apart from four days of conferences on the overall theme of LifeStyleAsia, a parallel exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will feature many display booths of exciting, original design product ideas, and the products are up for sale as well.

"We believe the pre-Christmas timing has been a key factor of such encouraging response to date. Not only can the attending delegates and visitors witness the outstanding achievements of great and effective design ideas when applied to different aspects of Asian lifestyle, they can also acquire such unique creative successes as part of their pre-Christmas shopping," said Freeman Lau, Chairman of HKDC's Board of Directors.

The exhibition venue will consist of three special sectors: Design for Business, Design for Living and Technological Innovations.

BODW 2003 is co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council with Innovation and Technology Commission under the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government as the major sponsor. Themed LifeStyleAsia, it includes a four-day conference and exhibition, Design for Asia (DFA) Award, and a design exhibition series Designergy 7 to be held at various venues in Hong Kong during December 2003 and January 2004.

HKDC also announced that Sir Terence Conran, one of the world's best-known designers, restaurateurs and retailers, would speak at BODW 2003. Sir Terence joins Kenji Ekuan, Japan's product design guru, as BODW's keynote speakers in the opening session on December 6. Other newly confirmed speakers include representatives from Nike, Hermes, Hyatt Hotels and Cathay Pacific Airways.

"These are heavyweight additions to our already strong line-up of renowned local and international industry professionals. It is certain that BODW 2003 will outstrip last year's scale and further establish this annual event as an international platform for exchanging world-class design ideologies and recognizing design excellence," continued Lau.

Other speakers already confirmed earlier include top-flight international professionals such as Mark Dytham from Japan, Prof Apex Lin from Taiwan, Prof K P Lee from Korea, Prof David Lung of the University of Hong Kong. Other speakers include representatives from Muji, BMW Group Designworks, Philips Design, Lenovo, G.O.D., Watsons Water, Zanghellini Holt Architects (on Lan Kwai Fong projects), Shui On (on Xin Tian Di projects), Yin Expressions, Beijing's Soho China, Singapore Esplanade and others.

As the special highlight of BODW 2003, the judging process of the first DFA Award and Distinguished Designs from China has been progressing smoothly and the awards will be presented at the award gala dinner to be held on December 8, 2003.

The Honourable John C Tsang, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, will officiate the opening ceremony of BODW 2003 on December 6 while Henry Tang, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, will be the Guest-of-Honour to inaugurate the gala dinner on December 8.