A Century of Hong Kong Design

This essay illustrates the development of the Hong Kong design industry over the course of a century, from 1900 to the early 21st century, dividing its history into four periods according to the influences of the time and the features of the items produced. Firstly, the period from 1900 to the 1930s showed the “traditions of the Pearl River Delta and the Shanghai trend factor”, and largely came about as a result of the influence from Guangdong designs, such as silverware, daily necessities and posters, and from Shanghai’s fashion and home and graphic designs. Secondly, the design industry has undergone several transformations between the 1930s and the 1960s, a period marked by a transition from “made in Great Britain” to “made in Hong Kong”. During the third period, from the 1970s to the 1990s, driven by the “effects of China’s reforms and opening-up policies”, the industry adopted a business mode that focused on high-quality and high value-added production. Lastly, the writer offers her insights into the major developments at the dawn of the millennium, as she believes that Hong Kong design has shifted its focus to original design manufacturers and original brand manufacturers, breaking free from the pragmatism to embrace a variety of styles.