Overseas and domestic design companies are regarding the ongoing 136th China Import and Export Fair as an important platform to demonstrate the latest designs, providing innovative solutions for their clients in manufacturing sector.
The fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, kicked off in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on Tuesday.
Themed "Serving high-quality development, promoting high-level opening-up," this edition of the fair features more than 30,000 exhibitors showcasing 1.15 million new products.
A total of 113 design companies from 12 countries and regions all over the world participated in this edition of the Canton Fair.
Paul Cohen, an industrial designer from Australia, has participated in the fair 15 times, and found the current edition extremely busy.
"So I feel like this trade show is extremely busy, compared to last year or even the year before. A lot of people are looking for our design services are usually related to home appliance. Small electrical, small home appliance, anything to do with home or cooking, that's the type of client we're interested in. That's the type of people we're focusing on," said Cohen.
He said many of his potential clients are Chinese manufacturing companies that highly value product design and seek innovative designs for overseas markets.
"We've got a lot of people walking by, and a lot of people already having factories here. And it's my thinking that a lot of the factories do need help. To lift the quality and the design process in China, I think this is why we've got such a platform. We're providing international design thinking," Cohen said.
The Canton Fair has also attracted many Chinese design companies, which come to Guangzhou to learn about the latest global trends and design demands, helping Chinese manufacturing companies expand their overseas markets more effectively
"Many of the enterprises used to focus solely on manufacturing, often operating in a 2B manner. In the future, we need to better understand client needs for 2C approach. As a design firm, we can identify market demands of the clients through strategic analysis, allowing us to tailor design styles for Chinese enterprises that are suitable for international markets," said Yao Huiliang, general manager of an industrial design company in east China's Hangzhou City.
113 design companies shine at Canton Fair for innovative solutions
