Better Design Award Exhibition Area at CISMEF — Empowering the Future through Design!

Guangzhou, China

From June 27 to 30, the 20th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) was successfully held in Guangzhou. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and co-organized by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology and the Guangzhou Municipal Government. More than 2,000 SMEs from over 50 countries and regions showcased their innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced equipment, biomedicine, and new materials. Over 10,000 buyers attended the fair for exhibitions, negotiations, and procurement, resulting in intended transactions worth over 100 billion yuan.

▲ Better Design Award Exhibition Area

"Better Design" Envisions an Innovative Future
Design Empowers the Full Value Chain

During the fair, Huang Kunming, Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Mr. Li Lecheng, Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Wang Weizhong, Deputy Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Guangdong Province, attended the opening ceremony and toured the industrial design exhibition – the Better Design Award Exhibition Area. With the theme “Intelligent Manufacturing in the Greater Bay Area, Getting Better,” the exhibition showcased cutting-edge achievements in industrial design and intelligent manufacturing. Built upon the Better Design Award platform, the exhibition presented a comprehensive value chain empowerment model of "Product - Industry - City" through design, and was meticulously planned around three core sections: Design Empowering Product Innovation, Design Empowering Industrial Transformation, and Design Empowering Urban Futures. The exhibition has become an important window into the high-quality development of SMEs.

Over 600 Design Masterpieces on Display

Innovation in Action Demonstrates Design-Driven Growth Spanning 2,500 square meters, the exhibition brought together over 100 leading enterprises and featured more than 600 outstanding design works. In the Product Innovation Zone, over 150 pieces from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou vividly illustrated how creativity is transformed into tangible products. The Design Empowering Industrial Transformation Zone showcased key case studies from eight renowned design agencies, demonstrating how industrial design is driving upgrades across the value chain.· The Design Empowering Urban Futures Zone presented best practices from cities like Guangzhou, Qingyuan, and Shaoguan, outlining an ambitious vision for regional high-quality development. 

▲ Visitors experiencing smart products

▲ International buyers attracted by innovative exhibits

Global Call for Entries and Promotion

The Better Design Award Energizes Industrial Innovation

To promote deeper collaboration among global SMEs, an Industrial Design Integration and Development Matchmaking Session was held during the fair. A key highlight was the promotional session for the 2025 Better Design Award.

Chen Wenxin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession Association, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the competition rules and participation value. The session drew strong interest from experts, scholars, leading enterprises, and industrial chain stakeholders across China.

One-on-one business matchmaking sessions were also conducted on-site, using the competition as a platform to integrate resources and inject fresh momentum into the innovation and upgrading of the industrial design sector.

The 2025 Better Design Award is Now Open for Global Submission! As an international and interdisciplinary design competition, the 2025 Better Design Award focuses on the development of modern industrial systems and new productive forces. It aims to discover outstanding practices where design drives innovation in technology, products, scenarios, and industries. By showcasing the role of design in creating a better life and leveraging international media communication strengths, the competition aspires to build a world-class discourse platform for Chinese design.

Sources: CCTV News, Yicai, CISMEF