Chairman’s Message
The rise of “Original Strategic Manufacturing” has speeded up the development of the design industry to an extraordinary rapid pace. As proven by a number of successful cases, countries who fully utilized the power of design as their competitive edge have gained significant economic growth. Hong Kong, being a part of the intricate global economy, is no exception. Businesses need the power of design to help them surf through and soar above the big waves of the volatile global business environment.
Proven as a value-added strategy for businesses as well as being a key element for the region’s economic growth, the concept of design is gaining increasing attention and importance in our economy. In full acknowledgement of this important fact the HKDA, being a multi-disciplinary design body, will help serve as a communication platform bridging the design users with the designers, thus achieving a win-win situation for everyone. This has been one of our core missions since the very beginning.
In coherent with the HK SAR Government’s policy in promoting cultural and creative properties in recent years the HKDA, with over 600 members from the design field, will do its best to complement with government policies while reflecting the needs of the industry. Being the communication bridge between the government and the industry as well as facilitating a close collaboration between the two parties, we aim to spread HK’s design across the region and even across the globe.
In addition, as a bridge between the academic world and the design industry, HKDA will assist in bringing the latest in terms of industry trends and career opportunities into the classroom; thus helping students to gain crucial real world knowledge and facilitating continuous prosperity for the design industry.
Focusing on the association itself, we will strengthen the communications with our current members, increase effort in new member recruitment, as well as driving more campaigns to encourage the exchange of ideas and issues in the industry. Additionally it is very important to bridge the communication between all the parties related to the field of design so that we can come up with a much clearer picture on the future development of the association and the industry. Thus, HKDA will too strengthen the contacts with other associations for more interactions and ideas sharing.
In order to achieve the “four bridges” philosophy, we will need the support of all our members as well as the individuals and parties in the design industry. And without a doubt, this philosophy will lay down a strong foundation for creating a “city of design”. In the future, Hong Kong will have a much higher demand for design.
「原創策略製作」的興起把設計行業的發展推向前所未有的高峰。這可由那些懂得利用設計作為競爭優勢從而達到經濟效益的國家中可驗證得到。香港亦不例外。在這個浮動不定的營商環境和變幻莫測的全球經濟氣候下，本地的製造業和服務行業是很需要設計從而突圍而出。
由於證實了設計是商業的增值策略和地區經濟增長的重要元素，設計在我們的社會之中，越來越備受認同和越見重要。有見及此，香港設計師協會作為一個跨界別的設計專業團體，定必提供平台，打通設計從業員和設計用戶之間的溝通橋樑，以達成雙嬴的局面。這正是我們一直以來的重任。
香港特區政府近年積極推動文化及創意產業，香港設計師協會會員達六百多名專業設計從業員，定必集思廣益，協助配合政府政策和向政府反映業界所需，作為政府與設計界的另一道溝通的橋樑，繼而將香港設計文化推廣至海內外。
此外，設計教育與設計業界之間也需要一道橋樑，香港設計師協會亦會將設計行業之新動向及人才的需求提供給學界作互動研究，好讓學界及業界的脈搏同步相流，為培育未來設計業新血的發展作出貢獻。
至於對內會務方面，香港設計師協會會加强與會員之聯繫，招募更多新會員，舉辦更多活動，締造會員之間互相交流的機會，整合會員對業內之訴求。除此之外，橋通各與設計有關之團體也是很重要的。本會將會加強與有關團體的聯繫，鼓勵互動切磋研究，為本會和設計文化之未來發展定下方向。
達成「四橋之願」還需各會員及業內外各團體及人士支持，來為「設計之都」打下堅固的基礎，未來的香港是一個更需要設計的香港。