Hong Kong’s design community gathered in force on 25 August 2026 as the Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) staged its flagship Hong Kong Design Summit cum BDA Brand Award 2026 Presentation Ceremony Gala Dinner at The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong. The evening brought together 180 professional designers, creative pioneers and corporate executives, reinforcing the city’s position as a leading hub for commercial design innovation and cross-sector collaboration.
Guest of Honour Miss Yvonne Ip, Acting Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, opened the formal proceedings. She underlined design’s power to drive business growth and noted that the Hong Kong Design Summit, now in its third year, has become a vital platform for industry exchange. Through initiatives such as DesignMatch, she said, the event turns creative ideas into commercial results. Miss Ip also praised HKDA’s half-century contribution to the local design ecosystem and reaffirmed the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency’s partnership with the association to nurture talent, accelerate industrialisation and help Hong Kong enterprises reach international markets.
HKDA Chairman Ms Mui Kinoshita delivered a welcoming address that framed the association’s post-pandemic strategy. Centred on the formula “Two Awards, One Summit, One Platform,” the approach recognises individual design excellence, rewards corporate investment in design, and generates commercial partnerships via DesignMatch. Membership has grown from 900 to more than 1,300, a figure Ms Kinoshita described as clear evidence of industry trust. She paid tribute to the association’s founding pioneers and called for open dialogue and collective effort to build a stronger, more inclusive design sector for the next generation.
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The guest list reflected the depth of Hong Kong’s creative networks. Officiating guests included Dr Kan Tai-Keung, SBS, BBS, former HKDA chairman; Mr Steve Leung, BBS, chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre; Mr Alan Cheung, MH, chairman of the Hong Kong Design Council under the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; and Mr Kevin Yeung, chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association. Global design figures present included fashion designer Ms Vivienne Tam, lighting consultant Mr Tino Kwan, and Mr Gu Wei, Head of AIGC Design Business at Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group.
The programme divided into two clear segments. The Hong Kong Design Summit focused on commercial and educational outcomes. DesignMatch business-matching sessions created high-impact B2B encounters between corporations and design professionals, aiming to convert creative capital into immediate opportunities. An Award-Winning Brands Showcase allowed successful firms and corporate winners to present project results and market insights.
The summit’s centrepiece was a strategic tripartite memorandum of understanding signed by the School of Design of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Alibaba International Design, and HKDA. The parties committed to exploring joint academic and professional training courses (beginning with AI programmes), industry-academia partnerships for design-tech innovation, and co-organisation of forums and summits across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
The second half of the evening was devoted to the BDA Brand Award 2026 Presentation Ceremony. The competition received 150 brand entries from a wide range of industries. Entries were assessed on brand story, development and achievements, with five additional criteria: environmental and social impact, cultural impact, innovation and technology, brand image, identity and user experience, and market performance and value.
A two-stage judging process involved first-round evaluation by Prof Anthony Kong, Mr Kirin Leung, Mr Joe Wong, Mr Kenny Li and Mr Jay Leung, followed by final-round assessment by Ms Mui Kinoshita, Prof Viveca Chan, Ms Hilda Chan, Mr Bosco Leung and Mr Jimmy Li.
Sino Group’s 'GoCircular' initiative claimed the Corporate Best of the Best Award. Startup Fwah! took the corresponding Best of the Best title in the startup category. Fourteen brands received Grand Awards, among them a²CIRCLE x TENKA TAIHEI, Bone Studio, BrainX, Cohere Design, Gridword Communications, HKUST International Summer Campus, Jumbo Kingdom – Tai Pak Floating Restaurant, Leo Paper Group, LOUDER, Mini Greeny Heroes and Tiger Circle.
Additional category winners included Mercury Technology Solution (Best Innovation & Technology), Shanghai Industrial Holdings and Surplus Pork Belly Upcycling by Tam Jai Int’l (Best ESG), Artrio (Best Cultural & Heritage), and CAMEL and Guangzhou Baiyun Station (Best Branding Image). Startup category winners spanned Alpha Works, DCH Living, ISABELLE.C, The Living Art and a range of specialist design and technology firms.
The 2026 edition of the summit and awards underscores HKDA’s dual focus: elevating design as a commercial driver and preparing the next generation of designers for an AI-integrated creative economy. Structured business matching, academia-industry partnerships and rigorous award recognition continue to position Hong Kong as a premier global centre for design innovation that delivers measurable market results.
