With the successful conclusion of the 2024 Hebei International Industrial Design Week, numerous exhibitions and high-end dialogues attracted the participation of design elites and industry leaders from both home and abroad. As a key platform for showcasing Hebei's manufacturing industry, the event highlighted innovative design achievements and cutting-edge technologies from local national-level industrial design centers, specialized "little giant" enterprises, manufacturing champions, and leading tech firms. These results showcased Hebei's efforts in accelerating industrial design, transforming manufacturing, and facilitating the conversion of scientific achievements into practical applications.

Industrial design has become a vital force in transforming Hebei's manufacturing from traditional to intelligent production, and from Hebei products to Hebei brands. Its impact has been substantial.

1. Design Empowering the Revitalization of Traditional Industries

Hebei, traditionally an industrial powerhouse, has a robust industrial system centered around steel, equipment manufacturing, petrochemicals, building materials, food, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. However, Hebei's industrial development once faced challenges like insufficient innovation, low R&D investment, lack of talent, and weak integration between technology and economy.

In response, the provincial government has vigorously promoted industrial design, driving the industry’s rapid development. Since 2017, Hebei’s industrial design sector has grown from ground zero, progressing from initial stages to becoming an influential leader, marking a significant transformation of Hebei’s manufacturing industry. Industrial design has thus become a new hallmark of Hebei manufacturing.

This transformation began in 2017 when the Hebei Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) implemented a series of policies to support industrial design, including special funds and plans to boost the industry’s development. Public service platforms for industrial design, such as the Hebei Industrial Design Innovation Center, Xiong’an Future Industrial Design Research Institute, and Qinhuangdao Zhongrui Design Port, were established to integrate advanced design experiences and support regional industry development.

The introduction of Shenzhen’s design expertise played a pivotal role in accelerating industrial design development. Hebei also adopted a collaborative approach through a provincial-city innovation center meeting system, forming a unique professional, market-oriented, and social force to promote industrial design in the province. In just seven years, nearly 1,700 manufacturing companies have engaged in over 700 industrial design collaborations, contributing to the success of multiple industrial clusters such as the pet food, sports goods, and remanufacturing industries.

Hebei’s enterprises, empowered by industrial design, have revamped product branding, appearance, and market positioning. From C.LI, a luxury brand launched by Hebei Chunli Leather, to the transformation of Hebei Hejian glass industry, which saw a 60 billion yuan increase in output in just one year, the province's manufacturing has witnessed significant quality upgrades.

2. Using Industrial Design as a Platform to Promote "Hebei Design"

Since the establishment of Xiong'an New Area in 2017, Hebei's collaboration with Shenzhen’s industrial design team has led to the creation of a global design innovation hub. This initiative aims to facilitate the connection between domestic and international design institutions and manufacturing enterprises, fostering a fertile ground for innovation.

The Hebei International Industrial Design Week and the Golden Reed Industrial Design Award have become important platforms for showcasing Hebei's design capabilities. The event has organized over 230 forums, exhibitions, and matchmaking sessions, attracting more than 2,150 enterprises from over 70 countries and regions. These activities have successfully promoted products like smart streetlights and logistics facilities to Xiong'an, contributing to the region's design-driven development.

Through the "Week + Competition" model, more than 460 Hebei enterprises have engaged with 900+ design institutions from around the world, resulting in nearly 1,880 cooperation agreements. Additionally, Hebei has actively integrated into the global industrial design ecosystem by participating in international design events like the London Design Festival and Shenzhen International Industrial Design Exhibition, fostering global exchanges and strengthening Hebei’s international competitiveness in design and manufacturing.

Innovative Hebei enterprises, such as CRRC Tangshan’s variable train units and Wei’s Blue Mountain SUV, have leveraged industrial design to enhance functionality and aesthetic appeal. These efforts have significantly raised the profile of Hebei's manufacturing and design on the global stage, strengthening China's design influence and cultural confidence.

3. Industrial Design Facilitating the "New Quality" Transformation of Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry is the cornerstone of emerging productive forces and industrial transformation. To promote deep integration between industrial design and manufacturing, Hebei has mobilized policy support, service empowerment, and collaboration among industry organizations, universities, and enterprises. These efforts have been focused on enhancing the penetration of industrial design, improving service adaptation, and building a robust public service system.

Since 2017, the number of national and provincial industrial design centers has grown from 3 to 18 and 166, respectively. These centers are now setting the benchmark for innovation and driving industrial transformation across the province. Hebei has also seen a tenfold increase in the number of industrial design enterprises, reaching over 520, many of which are branches of renowned design firms from advanced regions like Beijing and Shenzhen.

The province has further outlined plans to build 10 more provincial-level industrial design research institutes by 2027, aiming to enhance public service capabilities and support the continued growth of Hebei’s industrial design sector. This ambitious goal will further elevate Hebei’s design innovation capacity and help the province's manufacturing industry move toward a more advanced, intelligent, and sustainable future.

In conclusion, the 2024 Hebei International Industrial Design Week has showcased the province's successful transition toward a more design-driven economy. By integrating design innovation with industrial development, Hebei is positioning itself as a leader in China’s manufacturing transformation, with industrial design playing a crucial role in this process.