SaloneSatellite comes to Hong Kong—meet the brains behind the landmark event

Meet the local design pioneers leading Milan’s prestigious SaloneSatellite debut in Hong Kong

SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024, a collaboration with the famed Salone del Mobile annual design fair in Milan, opened this week at the Arts Pavilion in the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong to great fanfare.

The event, which runs through November 21 and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, is the brainchild of Winnie Yue, the founder of the International Design Furniture Fair Hong Kong (IDFFHK) and DesignWorks Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the advocacy of design and cultural matters for Hong Kong. SaloneSatellite was founded by Marva Griffin Wiltshire, who is known as “the godmother of Italian design”, in 1998; it has been a launchpad for over 14,000 emerging designers under 35 to introduce their innovative designs to the world. The SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection, established in 2018, is currently home to 300 iconic design pieces collected over the past 25 years.

As a prelude to SaloneSatellite, Hong Kong Design Annex, an exhibition conceptualised by the award-winning design duo Lim + Lu, founded by Vince Lim and Elaine Lu—both of whom are Tatler’s Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow—showcased furniture and lighting design from Hong Kong-based talents from November 1 to 7, also at the Arts Pavilion.

In celebration of the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024’s opening in Hong Kong, Tatler speaks to Yue and Lu about the exhibitions they brought to the city and their thoughts on promoting design in Hong Kong and Asia.

Above Elaine Lu

Above Winnie Yue

Elaine Lu

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Tell us more about the story behind your involvement in the Salone Satellite Permanent Collection exhibition.
Winnie Yue: I am most delighted to bring for the very first time the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024 exhibition to Hong Kong. The opportunity to collaborate with Salone del Mobile, the world’s leading design and furniture fair, and bring its footprint to Hong Kong is incredibly exciting.
It is both an honour and a treat to have over 100 award-winning pieces travel from Italy to Hong Kong for our enjoyment at the exhibition.

What themes did you find particularly important to highlight in the exhibitions?
Yue: The two exhibitions, the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024 and the Hong Kong Design Annex, represent a major milestone in showcasing our city’s design prowess to Asia and the world. There are many parallels between the two exhibitions, even though one focuses on iconic designs of emerging international talents and the other celebrates 100 per cent homegrown designers. Both exhibitions showcase the evolution of contemporary design over the past quarter of a century, the blossoming of emerging talents dedicated to design and the importance of both international exchange and local culture in design.

Elaine Lu: The Hong Kong Design Annex exhibition was born from a deep-seated desire to celebrate the unique design narratives emerging from Hong Kong. Our inspiration stems from the city’s eclectic blend of tradition and modernity, where local heritage intertwines with global influences. The two exhibitions showcase brilliant designs in furniture, lighting and products on both local and global scales. Our curation and design involvement in the Hong Kong Design Annex exhibition marks a joyous moment for us, symbolising our dedication to pushing creative boundaries and showcasing Hong Kong’s design prowess.

Above Pieces by Lim + Lu

Pieces by Lim + Lu

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How will SaloneSatellite provide valuable opportunities for emerging designers?
Yue: SaloneSatellite is the first event to focus specifically on young designers, quickly becoming the premier meeting place for entrepreneurs, talent scouts and the most promising designers. Since its inception in 1998, it has been a testament to the creative potential of designers under 35. Many prototypes presented at previous editions have gone into production, and numerous participants—14,000 designers and 270 international design schools and universities—have become prominent names in the design world.

This year, with over 100 award-winning pieces showcased in Hong Kong, the exhibition promises to be a valuable source of inspiration for local emerging designers.

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Above A previous IDFFHK event

A previous IDFFHK event

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What do you hope visitors will take away from the exhibition?
Yue: I hope to impart visitors coming to both exhibitions and talks with a feeling of inspiration and appreciation towards designs through a first-hand experience of the exhibition pieces, as well as a sense of engagement through interactive dialogues with renowned industry figures and designers.

Lu: Our hope for visitors to the Hong Kong Design Annex exhibition is that they leave with a deeper appreciation for the diversity and ingenuity of Hong Kong’s design community. We aim to inspire curiosity and dialogue, inviting guests to explore the intersection of tradition and modernity and to recognise the profound impact of design on our everyday lives.

Above Vince Lim and Elaine Lu

Vince Lim and Elaine Lu

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What are your future goals for promoting design culture in Hong Kong and the greater Asia region?
Yue: My hope for the future of design, especially in Asia, is to introduce an understanding of the international design scene, as well as a growing appreciation for the dedicated work of local celebrated designers. I also look forward to seeing more emerging local designers and a growing appreciation of design, especially among younger generations.

Lu: We foresee a future where design transcends boundaries and fosters collaboration and dialogue on a global scale. As Asia continues to shape the global design landscape, we anticipate a renaissance of creativity that honours heritage, embraces innovation and paves the way for a more interconnected world.

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Topics

SaloneSatellite Salone del Mobile Hong Kong Design Annex Hong Kong

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