We are excited to learn that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has designated 2012 as Hong Kong Design Year (HKDY). The year long program aims to nurture young talent, create value for businesses, focus on sustainable design and celebrate excellence and the city's strengths and achievements as a creative, design led city. Some of the exhibitions sound fantastic, such as the Toys Paradise Exhibition featuring around 800 toys made in Hong Kong over the decades. We've also marked the Greater China Illustration Awards Exhibition on our must see list, as well as the Hong Kong International Jewellery show but there are plenty more to choose from - check out the calender for more information. We'll aim to bring you some highlights as the year progresses, as 2012 is looking like a year ripe with potential for design afficionados in Hong Kong.

Posted by Lauren Evans

The Design for Asia Awards recognise the best and most influential designs across Asia. Products were judged in September of this year by a panel of leading design professionals at the Hong Kong Design Institute. We are thrilled to have won a number of awards in the product and industrial design category with Setu winning Gold, Arras awarded Silver and SAYL merit. Setu and SAYL’s awards add to their growing lists of recognition from across the globe and Arras’ Silver award builds on its recent success at the 2011 Australian International Design Awards. We look forward to receiving our awards at the Gala Dinner to be held in December, we'll be sure to post back after the event.

(from left) The award winning Setu, Arras and SAYL

Australian readers will be familiar with painter Ben Quilty's highly esteemed work, most recently through his winning entry in the Archibald prize with his portrait of Margaret Olley (see below). The good news for Asian readers is that Quilty will be exhibiting in the Hong Kong International Art Fair this month (26 - 29 May 2011), allowing you to get up close and experience the physicality of his luscious use of paint. We are big fans, get along if you have the chance.

On a side note, don't you just love the photo of Quilty's studio (below), which is situated in the Southern Highlands of NSW  - a place dear to this writers heart. We think all studios should have a compulsory slow combustion fire and crotcheted rugs in the winter...