REN

The First Beijing International Design Triennial took place from September 28 to October 17 2011. Five international teams of curators have been invited to present the finest of contemporary international and Chinese design at the recently renovated National Museum of China situated on Beijing’s bustling Tiananmen Square.

The First Beijing International Design Triennial is an important milestone, not only for China but also for Asia. It features design as an expression of human achievement. The curatorial team formed from Barbara Holzer, Tristan Kobler and Li Degeng is responsible for the exhibition dedicated to the designers.The issues of design quality and the importance of good design in everyday life concern everyone in the field. Hence the need for an active debate about the concept of “good” and its various aspects – which means both “good design” and “good guys”.

Good design needs good designers. A deliberate decision was taken to favour designers who bring outstanding products to market using innovative materials and technologies, such as the first mobile power station or designer clothes made from recycled rejected garments. The theme of “Good Guys” is translated into a visual image, with a dragon made up of 200’000 chopsticks running through the exhibition area. This installation will hold the various design objects through the exhibition space. The exhibition presents contemporary international and Chinese design side by side and combines them in a unified format. It highlights cultural differences and parallels, fosters a discourse on contemporary design and offers a glimpse into the future of design.