top of page

Our
Conference

​​Location: Hainan, China

Date: Nov 23, 2024

Participants: 300

Name: World United Design Conference

Hainan | The 2024 World United Design Conference Officially Opens

On the morning of November 23, 2024, the World United Design Conference officially opened at the Convention & Exhibition Factory in Haikou.

​

The event was jointly organized by:

  • Organizing Committee of the World United Design Conference

  • Global Think Tank of the China International Creative Design Promotion Week

  • Asia United Cultural and Arts Center Ltd.

  • Asia International Foundation

  • BOP Consulting (UK)

  • World Green Design Organization

  • John Howkins Creative Economy Lab

  • Asia Illustration Association

  • Hainan University

  • China Chamber of International Commerce – Hainan Chamber

  • World United Design Center (Hainan) Ltd.

  • Beijing International Design Week

  • Hainan Cultural Exchange Promotion Association

  • Hainan International Cultural Exchange Center

  • Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association

  • Shenzhen Digital Creative Industry Association

The event was co-organized by:

  • Dongpo Culture Research and Communication Center of Hainan Province

  • School of International Communication and Arts, Hainan University (International Digital Film Academy)

  • Knowledge Navigator

  • Mark Hu Cultural & Creative Platform

  • Taiwan Young Designers Development Base

It was hosted by:

  • Communist Youth League of Hainan University

  • Hainan Asian Foundation for Arts and Culture

  • Asian Academy of Arts

22061751317044_.pic_hd.jpg
Global Guests Gather in Hainan
​

The conference brought together leaders from international design organizations, institutions, platforms, and top designers across related industries.

​

Opening remarks were delivered by:

  • Zhenlian Chen, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles

  • Jie Guo, Vice Chairman of the China Cultural Promotion Association

  • Lei Xing, Secretary-General of the World Green Design Organization (Belgium)

  • Yudong Wang, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee of the World United Design Conference

24951751721642__edited.jpg

Jie Guo, Vice Chairman, Chinese Culture Promotion Association

Vision and Mission of the World United Design Conference
​

Shouzhen Xu, Secretary-General of the World United Design Conference and Chairman of the Asia Foundation for Arts and Culture, introduced the mission of the conference:
To implement the Master Plan for the Construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port—specifically the goal of building the Hainan International Design Island—and to support the “Thousand Sails Going Global” international cultural trade initiative.

​

The conference also responded to the UN resolution of the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development (2021), launching under the theme New Creativity · New Design · New Civilization, and the slogan Shared Planet · Asian Design. Relying on the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port and International Design Island, the event served as a platform for international creative exchange and global investment promotion.

24961751721647__edited.png

Yudong Wang, Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the United World Design Conference (UWDC)

Highlight I: Global Joint Design Initiative Released
​

The first major highlight was the release of the Shared Planet 2049 Global Design Initiative by John Howkins and the Organizing Committee of the World United Design Conference.

This initiative continues the spirit of the 2021 UN Year of Creative Economy and focuses on the future of design toward 2049. It proposes a unified vision for global creative cooperation in response to the rise of the digital economy and artificial intelligence, advocating for cross-sectoral collaboration to build an integrated global creative economy framework.

​

Who is John Howkins?

John Howkins is a member of the Creative Economy Advisory Committee at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and one of the original theorists of the global creative economy.

​

He coined the term “creative economy” and helped the UK government formulate IP-based creative industry policies in 1997, sparking a worldwide creative economy movement. He also played a pivotal role in the passage of the UN resolution on Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.

​

Since 2004, he has been invited by more than ten Chinese cities and has made substantial contributions to the growth of China’s creative industries.

John Hawkins, member of the Creative Economy Advisory Board of the United Nations Development Programme and father of the world's creative economy

Highlight II: World United International Designers Alliance Launched
​

The second major initiative was the launch of the World United International Designers Alliance, which will leverage the advantages of Hainan Free Trade Port to connect regions such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Greater Bay Area, and Hainan Island into a coordinated design ecosystem. The alliance seeks to aggregate top global resources and foster international collaboration.

​

​

Highlight III: Creation of the World’s First Design Investment Fund Platform
​

The third highlight was the establishment of the world’s first World United Design Investment & Innovation Fund Platform, based on the concept of “data asset yield rights.”
By linking project developers, investment institutions, IP owners, local governments, and media, the platform aims to create opportunities for both designers and investors, forming a sustainable design-centered creative ecosystem.

24971751721664_.pic_hd.jpg

Zhiyuan Lu, President of Hainan Charity Federation

Highlight IV: Launch of the 2024 Global Design & Investment Co-Creation Map
​

The 2024 World United Design & Investment Co-Creation Map was officially released. Built on the UNESCO Creative Cities Network base map and enhanced with GIS-powered “Super Digital Map” technology, the platform supports digital IP development related to urban renewal, smart cities, and rural revitalization. It also serves as a smart platform for investment promotion and international cultural exchange.

​​

​

Highlight V: Global Design Masters Gather for Creative Dialogue
​

Renowned figures from the global design world participated in high-level dialogue, including:

  • John Howkins – Father of the Global Creative Economy

  • Masayuki Kurokawa – World-renowned architect and industrial designer

  • Eun-Kyung Lee – Internationally acclaimed teddy bear designer

  • Lei Xing – Secretary-General, World Green Design Organization (Belgium)

  • Dongliang Chen – Special Vice President, China Industrial Design Association

  • Dongcheol Kim – Expert in environmental psychology and spatial perception

  • Eugenio Lanzetta – IEED, International Ecological Environment Design Alliance

 

Their discussions addressed global design resource coordination, China-Europe cultural exchange, and design services in international trade—sharing cutting-edge visions from across disciplines.

Think Tank Certificate Ceremony
​

A Global Think Tank Certificate Ceremony was held for the China International Creative Design Promotion Week.

​

John Howkins, as the conference’s international convener, awarded certificates to:

  • Zhenlian Chen – Vice Chairman, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles

  • Di Lu – Professor, School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University

  • Hongwei Wang – Professor, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

  • Dong Wang – Professor, Department of Philosophy, Peking University

  • Jing Jia – Professor, School of Economics, Peking University

  • Baoguo Cui – Professor, Institute for Cultural and Creative Development, Tsinghua University

  • Zicheng Ye – Professor, School of International Relations, Peking University

  • Jingsheng Jia – Professor, Department of Textile & Fashion Design, Tsinghua University

 
​
Forum: Policy, Ecosystems, and Hainan as a Design Origin
​

The Design Leaders Forum, chaired by Yudong Wang (Co-Chair of the World United Design Conference and Chairman of Beijing International Design Week), brought together top thinkers, including:

  • Jingsheng Jia – Professor, Textile & Fashion Design, Tsinghua University

  • Hongwei Wang – Senior Professor, Visual Communication, Tsinghua University

  • Cunzhen Lin – Associate Dean, School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts; Designer of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics emblem

  • Wenling Kang – General Manager, Tenjoy Culture, Fantian Group

  • Xiaolin Chen – Professor, Head of Design Department, Sichuan University

 

They offered insights and policy suggestions on how Hainan can become a global source of design innovation by respecting the logic of creative industries and cultivating a healthy design ecosystem through strategic policy and international cooperation.

bottom of page