Another year, another design season, and your social media feed is about to be flooded with posts from Guangzhou Design Week. As someone who’s dived deep into this event for five consecutive years, I want to share a different perspective—how to transform this design extravaganza into your personal inspiration hub and industry accelerator.

Know the Basics, But Don’t Stop There

Essential Info

• Dates: December 5-8, 2025 (I suggest arriving on the 4th to avoid morning rush hour)
• Venues: The Poly-World Trade Expo Center, International Procurement Center, and Haizhu International Convention and Exhibition Center triangle
• Daily Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (though some forums may run into the evening)

The More Important Details

Transportation around the Pazhou area during the event can be challenging. I usually stay somewhere along Metro Line 8—it’s more affordable than hotels right by the venues and surprisingly more convenient. Download the “Guangzhou Metro” app in advance and link your payment method to save time buying tickets.

H2：Reading Between the Lines: Beyond the “DEAR!” Theme

It looks like an exhibition, but it’s really a barometer of the design industry. This year, these areas deserve your attention:

Poly Hall, 1st Floor, Zone A

The international brand section. The key isn’t just looking at products, but observing their exhibition design. Italian brands often hide their latest techniques in the details—you’ll need to look closely. Bring a magnifying glass; some surface treatments are truly worth examining in detail.

Haizhu Hall, B2 Zone, Emerging Designers Area

This is where you’ll find trends for the next three years. Visit on Friday morning—that’s when designers are most likely to be at their booths and available for deeper conversations.

Materials Innovation Zone (Poly Hall, 3rd Floor)

Don’t just touch the samples. Remember to ask:

• What’s the mass production cost for this material?
• What’s the minimum order quantity?
• Are there any actual implementation cases?

These questions help separate viable innovations from conceptual experiments.

Guangzhou Design Week 2025

My Four-Day Battle Plan

Day 1: Quick Scan & Flagging

9:00-10:30 Start from the top floor of Poly Hall and work your way down—this route avoids the biggest crowds

11:00-12:00 Flag booths worth revisiting for deeper conversations

Afternoon: Attend 1-2 industry forums to understand this year’s hot topics

Evening: Organize collected materials and note down questions for tomorrow’s conversations

Day 2: Deep Dive Day

Morning: Revisit flagged booths with specific questions

Afternoon: Attend professional forums with your business cards and prepared questions

Evening: Designer gatherings at PaTi—perfect for unofficial industry insights

Day 3: Fill the Gaps

Morning: Cover any missed important areas

Afternoon: Business matching sessions—where serious collaborations happen

Evening: Rest and recover. High-intensity viewing requires energy management

Day 4: Wrap-up & Synthesis

Morning: Final quick walkthrough to catch anything you might have missed

Afternoon: Closing forums for next year’s trend previews

Evening: Immediately organize all materials and contacts while everything is still fresh

The Pro’s Playbook

About Visiting the Kanod Factory

While Kanod isn’t exhibiting directly this time, their factory is indeed just an hour from the venues. If you’re interested in furniture manufacturing processes, here’s a tip: contact them on the afternoon of the second day. That’s when most professional visitors are in forums, so your chances of booking a tour are higher. The factory shows you how designs become finished products—an experience you can’t get at the exhibition.

kanod Factory details

These Details Make the Difference

• Prepare two types of business cards: standard professional ones + specially designed personal cards (to make yourself memorable)
• Wear dark business casual clothes with the most comfortable athletic shoes you own—trust me on this
• Essentials in your backpack: power bank, mints, notebook, wet wipes

Turning Inspiration into Value

The real work begins when the exhibition ends. I suggest starting to organize your findings on your return flight:

1. Immediately send follow-up emails to key contacts, mentioning specific details from your conversations
2. Categorize and tag sample photos with potential applications
3. Document those “lightbulb moments”—they’re often more valuable than specific products
4. Create a three-month action plan to transform your insights into actual projects

One year, a conversation I overheard in the final hour of the exhibition later became the starting point for an important team project. The magic of Guangzhou Design Week lies in these ever-present, unexpected discoveries.

Looking forward to possibly meeting you at the most interesting booth in Poly Hall.