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Victorian Designers On The International Stage In 2018

18 May 2017

Melbourne has been chosen to partner with the Hong Kong Design Centre for a prestigious 2018 global event that will showcase the best of Victorian fashion, architecture, digital gaming, graphic design and industrial design to the world.

It’s the first time an Australian city has been selected to be partner on the premier design event in Asia. Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement today at the Melbourne Design Showcase, an expo of Victorian designers at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, during his official visit to China and Hong Kong.

Each year, the Hong Kong Design Centre selects a partner city for Business of Design Week in Hong Kong, an internationally renowned design extravaganza which attracts more than 100,000 leading international designers and businesses from around the world.

Melbourne will be the partner city for 2018, joining an exclusive shortlist of previous Design Centre partners, including Italy, Sweden, Chicago and Barcelona.

The partnership will create exciting opportunities for Victorian businesses and designers to reach a global audience and generate new export opportunities.

From later this year, Victorian designers will collaborate with Hong Kong counterparts to deliver exhibitions, roundtables, placements for young designers and trade delegations across Melbourne and Hong Kong, culminating with Business of Design Week in Hong Kong in late 2018.

Victoria has a renowned and growing local design industry which employs more than 136,000 Victorians and generates more than $5 billion for the economy.

Quotes attributable to the Premier Daniel Andrews

“Victoria has the best of everything – and now our top and emerging designers from the catwalk, to the digital games and manufacturing industries, will be on display for the world to see.”

“This is the first time a city in the Southern Hemisphere has been chosen to partner with the prestigious Hong Kong Design Centre - it’s about creating jobs and opportunities for Victorians and adding to the events that keep Melbourne’s bars, hotels and restaurants full.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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