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Editor's note: 

The 131st Canton Fair opened online on April 15. The ten-day fair features over 2.9 million products from 16 categories highlighting innovation, green development, etc. The Canton Fair Design Award (CF Award), held for nine years, helps discover many cutting-edge products combining design and business value. GDToday and Southcn.com interviewed the CF Award jury members about their insight on the fair and the product design trends.

“Good products should also present cultural cores, and made-in-China products can go in this direction," said Shi Xiaoxi, a judge of the CF Award at the Canton Fair, when talking about the latest trends in Chinese products in a recent interview with GDToday.

It' s the second year for Shi to judge the CF Award. Since the Chinese fad has been trendy recently, he believes the important thing is how to interpret the contemporary culture of China, and the efforts will finally form the new definition of Chinese style.

Shi Xiaoxi is a judge of the CF Award at the Canton Fair.

GDToday: What do you expect about the CF Award this year? What kind of products will you be interested in?

Shi: I am always interested in products with high technology. This year, with the Metaverse concept, there will be some virtual products. In addition, transportation products are also worth looking forward to. As we are fighting against COVID-19, we also need more unmanned products.

Besides that, I am always looking forward to seeing new products that present Chinese culture to the world. Now we can find many made-in-China products that are attractive in price and quality. And they are upgrading very fast. But I don’t think this kind of product can represent made-in-China products. I look forward to seeing new products on Chinese aesthetics at the Canton Fair.

CF Gold Award (2021) - Folding Baseboard Electric Heater

GDToday: What kind of made-in-China products will you recommend to foreign buyers at the Canton Fair?

Shi: I always recommend made-in-China products with high intelligence and good looking. Good-looking products are awe-inspiring in many cases. I think those products should be beautiful and can fully display Chinese aesthetics.

As far as I know, Chinese manufacturers are pretty concerned about environmental protection. They have applied some sustainable concepts to materials and processes and have done so excellently.

GDToday: What will be the latest trends in terms of design and market?

Shi: The trend is still on sustainability. Last year many manufacturers focused on environmental protection and sustainability and produced excellent products at reasonable prices.

Also, outdoor products have been popular because of the pandemic, and many people want to go outdoors.

CF Gold Award (2021) - Foam Tiles

GDToday: What do you think a good design work should have? Do you have any advice?

Shi: Good products have more to do with design. Designers should never limit themselves and always keep their minds open and imaginative. Designers should be able to provide an excellent visual solution and know how to convert each idea into a solution with good experience.

GDToday: As a judge of the CF Awards, could you give some suggestions on how made-in-China products go global?

Shi: I insisted that good products should also present cultural cores. If a product has suitable materials and a good-looking design, people will only think it is cost-effective. However, if you can design some IP products like Hollywood does, it will bring more value. I think made-in-China products can go in this direction.

GDToday: With the rise of the Chinese fad, how can we do better in the inheritance and innovation of traditional culture?

Shi:  When it comes to the Chinese fad and the Chinese style, everyone always thinks of things in the past. It is still somewhat different from today's life, including aesthetics. The important thing is how to interpret the contemporary culture of China, and the efforts will finally form the new definition of Chinese style.

Author | Tang Qiaoyan, Will, Abby

Editor | Wing, Nan, Jerry