SOME of the world's top designers, including internationally acclaimed design guru Karim Rashid from the United States, are in Shenzhen to speak at the Brands & Designers China Initiative 2005 (BDCI) being held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center from yesterday (Oct 25th) to Friday.

The BDCI, one of the largest events for designers in China, also includes an exhibition that is being attended by 200-plus companies and organizations from over 20 countries. The exhibition is divided into four areas, namely industrial design, graphic design, architecture design and awardees' products, as well as works from the Bauhaus school of design, an influential group in Germany that was forced to close in 1933 during the start of the Nazi regime.

The organizers hope the event would help domestic companies realize the importance of design, and build domestic brands by learning from foreign design masters.

There is a great need for talented designers in China as Chinese businesses and factories are moving from being small-scale subcontractors to becoming fast-growing brand owners and developers. The Shenzhen government pledged to build a design city as part of its development strategy in 2004.

It is the first BDCI in China. Organizers said the event would be held annually over the following five years in Shenzhen.

Editor: Wing