Shanghai Design Week wrapped up over the weekend. Organizers expamded the scope of this year's fair to include environmental protection and charity activities.

Designers set sights on social responsibility

It's the fourth time Singaporean interior designer George Budiman has attended Shanghai Design Week. As one of the six founders of a charity project called "Back to China" at the fair, Budiman says he's glad to see China's design industry becoming more socially aware.

"Especially in China, as we know the green environment is so crucial now, we are facing a lot of pollution issues. And being a designer, myself, we design a lot of five-star hotels and luxury projects. Every project I'm creating at the same time it damages the earth. Being a professional designer, is good to know what we've been doing and our mission to deliver good design at the same time, we need to create more awareness to the public whatever we do is for the benefit of the public, rather than just creating our own design statement," George Budiman said.

Designers also donated some of their works for a charity auction. Proceeds from the auction will go to building public infrastructure in rural areas across the Yangtze Delta. A total of 81,000 yuan was raised.

"I was the chief planner of Expo 2010. Today I donated my sketches of the expo to this charity project. We are planning to start in the rural areas around Shanghai, designing public infrastructure for free. Then we will expand around the Yangtze Delta. I think all the designers have a responsibility to make life easier and better. It means a lot to us," said Prof. Wu Zhiqiang, Tongji University.

More than 13,000 products were exhibited, up 30% from last year, with furniture and home decor items the most popular. Vendors said more products were made with green materials and that the average age of designers was younger than at past fairs.

"I believe no matter how technology changes, designers can pick it up quickly. But young Chinese designers need to develop a concept and personal viewpoint, that is the most important thing. I'm glad to see many of them are succeeding," said Zhou Ping, director of Yaang Life.

"I used to live in New York. I feel Chinese designers can definitely compete with American and European designers now," said Zhang Rui, visitor.

Nearly 90 percent of the exhibitors at the fair were from Chinese companies, up 15 percent from last year.

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