The 136th Canton Fair is in full swing, and one of the highlights is the "Design in Guangdong" pavilion, showcasing the shift of China's foreign trade from OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) to ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) and OBM (Original Brand Manufacturing). The significance of industrial design has become more prominent as Guangdong has emerged as one of the world's most dynamic regions for industrial design, with over 300,000 designers contributing to its success—a number that continues to grow.
According to Yang Jie, Secretary-General of the Guangdong Industrial Design Association, this year's pavilion not only includes national-level industrial design centers like Vatti Group and Bear Electric Appliance Co., Ltd, but also features innovative units combining design and supply chain. Successful product design requires systematic support, including user research, creative design, and prototype model making. A well-developed supply chain system is the key to the rapid growth of China's industrial design sector. In addition, the pavilion hosts design-driven brands like Soseki and Bird Profound Design, encouraging foreign trade enterprises to embrace original design, pushing product innovation forward, and showcasing China's national-level design strength to international clients.
As one of China's cradles of industrial design, Guangdong boasts numerous provincial-level and national-level design centers. Yang Jie noted that buyers only needed to provide samples for replication in the past, but now Chinese companies offer comprehensive one-stop innovation services. Buyers merely describe their desired outcome, and the entire process—from development to design and production—can be handled by Chinese firms, creating an efficient innovation chain. "Made in Guangdong" is now synonymous with efficiency, fast response, quality, and strong design capabilities.
Home to world-renowned brands like Huawei and Tencent, Guangdong's presence at the Canton Fair not only highlights the rapid growth and unique appeal of Chinese design but also underscores Guangdong's potential and strength in the global market. Looking ahead, "Guangdong Design" will continue to grow alongside "Guangdong Manufacturing", meeting the challenges of the international market and driving the industry to new heights.
Source: Lingnan on the Cloud
