From March 28th to 31st, the 2024 China Guangzhou International Furniture Production Equipment and Ingredients Exhibition (CIFM / interzum guangzhou) was grandly held at the Pazhou Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou.
As one of the important activities of the exhibition, the two-day VSIL Forum, while continuing the theme of "living creation", went deep into the source of creation, successively focused on the method of design and supply chain innovation and development, and the breakthrough road of sustainable development of the supply chain, so as to create a vision of the global home furnishing industry and promote the high-quality development of the large home furnishing industry.
1. "Design + Supply Chain"
How to move forward in the future of the home furnishing industry?
Design is the soul of the home. The implementation of design is one of the biggest pain points and breakthroughs in the current home furnishing industry. At the VSIL Forum held on March 28 with the theme of "Design Peach Blossom Land - Global Home Furnishing 'Design + Supply Chain' Innovation", representatives of well-known designers at home and abroad, as well as representatives of supply chain enterprises from different fields such as decoration materials and hardware, were gathered to open up ideas and find the right starting point for the coordinated development of "design + supply chain" with six keynote speeches and a round of roundtable dialogue.
Part1.Six keynote speeches, highlights of the highlights
- Weijun Zhou, President of Sales of Schattdecor China
Back to the Future
Zhou Weijun believes that only by summarizing the past can we design the future, and the way of thinking is the basis of all thinking, decision-making and action. Therefore, in his keynote speech "Back to the Future", he pointed out the direction for the home furnishing industry with the way of thinking of the agricultural era, the industrial era, the service industry era, and the technology industry.
The traditional era of farming followed the principles of intensive cultivation and circular development, so patience and long-term planning were required. For the home furnishing industry, which has lasted for thousands of years, in the current context of confusion and pressure, patience is more important than confidence, wait-and-see is more important than action, and it is necessary to anchor the belief of "long-termism" and adhere to the respect for the healthy and steady development of the industry.
In the era of industrialization, the mode of production has changed from manual manufacturing to mechanized production, and the leading role of standardization has become increasingly significant. As far as the current development of China's home furnishing industry is concerned, there is a certain conflict between industrialization, standardization and customization under the prevalence of customization. We must understand the standardization of customization, as well as customized standards, customization and standardization are not opposites, standardized production is obviously more conducive to the industry bigger and stronger, and to achieve product interoperability, and standardization is the basis of customization, no standard customization is in the air, Only a more accurate understanding of standardization, customization can play freely and develop and grow; only countless standard parts can create a splendid custom flower; at present, the biggest obstacle to thinking in China's custom furniture industry is that customization is a revolution in standardization.
At the same time, the biggest difference between customized home furnishing and traditional home furnishing industry is that it is an industrialized product based on service. Therefore, we need to look at it with the thinking of the service industry, not only to help brand services with R&D, design, production and manufacturing, but also to improve service awareness, service level and service attitude.
In the current era of science and technology, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence and AI technology, smart home systems and smart sleep technology have developed rapidly, and the home furnishing industry is no longer a "traditional industry" in the inherent cognition, and in the future, it should accelerate the further advancement of information technology, digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing.
- Spierenburg Studio创始人、 国际知名设计师 Dick Spierenburg
《Change & Chances》/《转变与机遇》
Based on his extensive experience in the field of design, Dick Spierenburg is keenly aware of the changes taking place in the design industry and the opportunities that come with it:
1. In the future, home design will emphasize more on the versatility and flexibility of space, and the design of furniture will also tend to be practical, lightweight, detachable, easy to move and combine.
2. In design, more sustainable development thinking should be used, which can not only return to the design itself, but also effectively improve the efficiency of resource utilization, so as to help achieve the goal of sustainable development. In this process, it is necessary to pay attention to many aspects such as material selection, energy conservation and resource utilization, and pollution reduction and waste discharge.
3. The application of natural elements in home design is becoming more and more extensive, including but not limited to the use of natural materials, the integration of plants and greenery, and the application of natural colors, lights, patterns, etc.
- Ye Xiaoqing, technical and after-sales manager of Hettich Hardware China
Innovative Application of Hardware in Home Design
Hardware parts are an important part of the home supply chain. As a leading brand of furniture hardware accessories, Hettich of Germany will share the scene by Ye Xiaoqing, the manager of its technical and after-sales department in China.
Ye Xiaoqing proposed that there are two major challenges in the development of China's furniture industry:
1. With the five major trends of personalization, digitalization, urbanization, work mode change, and aging, it has become increasingly obvious, which has had a huge impact on the furniture industry. New trends bring new challenges, and how to deal with them has become a key issue.
2. When the design concepts such as Italian minimalism, handleless design, age-appropriate furniture, and space optimization design have become common concepts in the furniture industry, how to be different in the face of uniformity?
Based on the macro environment, how to achieve breakthrough development in the hardware industry? Ye Xiaoqing put forward three constructive suggestions:
First of all, thinking and creating solutions from the perspective of the end user will make the product both practical and condensed with a grasp of future trends, so as to provide a surprising spatial experience.
Secondly, it is possible to have a visionary mind, pay attention to trends, and even create their own trends, so that it is possible to shape the furniture world of tomorrow;
Finally, on the premise of satisfying functional needs, it is necessary to meet the emotional needs of consumers at the spiritual level.
- Vice President of the Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA) / Co-founder of Aura, Chow Cheuk-ming
The Poetry of Materials: Material Exploration and Expression in Design Aesthetics
As a representative of Hong Kong's cutting-edge designers, Zou Zhuoming has made great achievements in space design in the fields of entertainment, culture, catering, retail and other commercial consumption fields, and he shared in his keynote speech that "one design is one story", as a designer, we should give the design a sense of story and emotional connection, and the uniqueness and plasticity of different materials will become the "language" of "story" to meet the needs of different scenes. At the event, Zou Zhuoming shared a number of classic cases such as Chengdu COSMO and Hong Kong Cinema, a legendary cinema in Hong Kong, and proposed that we should not be limited to the definition of "material", but should break the restrictions of boundaries and broaden our cognitive horizons, so as to promote the development of materials with the times and better meet the needs of design aesthetics.
- Domus Line中国代表 Sebastian Magrin
《Switch On the Future: Trends and Innovations》/《开创未来：趋势与创新》
Lighting is an integral part of home design. According to Sebastian Magrin, lighting is one of the most vivid and dynamic elements of interior design, not only providing enough light for our living spaces, but also creating a variety of atmospheres and styles.
Lighting design is like a kind of "light and shadow magic", through clever use, can make the home space glow with a different charm. In the modern home art lighting design, attention should be paid to the balance between functionality and decoration, energy saving and environmental protection, artistry and personalization. Domus Line is actively exploring various energy-saving strategies, such as improving the efficiency of light sources, developing new materials, and adopting energy-saving technologies and equipment, to promote the industry towards sustainable development.
- Henny van Nistelrooy, Founding Partner and Principal Designer of Studio HVN
《Design Culture》/《设计文化》
Design is an interdisciplinary art that is closely linked to culture. Henny van Nistelrooy believes that finding the value and meaning of culture in design is the direction that designers need to explore, and he introduces it from four points:
1. As a special form of language, design language can carry cultural values and realize the transmission of identity through visual and sensory expression;
2. Design should be based on localization, so as to ensure that it remains unique in the global competition;
3. The design process is one of the key links to achieve the green and sustainability goals in the product life cycle;
4. Build an emotional bridge through design, which can achieve a positive emotional experience between users and products.
Part2.圆桌对话,思想盛宴
After the wonderful theme sharing, the conference entered the roundtable dialogue session. Hosted by Gao Dandan, editor-in-chief of Today's Home Furnishing, the speakers carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions on the three major topics, bringing a rich and in-depth feast of ideas to the audience.
Q1: As a designer, what do you think is the ideal state of your work, and what is the reality or imaginary "Peach Blossom Spring" that you have created for yourself?
Dick Spierenburg, Founder of Spierenburg Studio: I like to design at home or on the go, it makes me feel comfortable and relaxed. Also, because my daughter and I are working partners, the two generations designed the scene together, which is actually very interesting.
Henny van Nistelrooy, Founding Partner and Chief Designer of Studio HVN: I think my studio was born in the context of the "Peach Blossom Spring" as the driving force. In today's era of globalization, different cultures are blending and colliding with each other at an unprecedented speed and degree. We try to combine different cultures to create a unique space where different people can share the results of the design, which is what we think of as a "paradise".
Chow Cheuk-ming, Vice President of the Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA) and Co-Founder of Aura: We are working remotely and hybridly, so we need to establish an effective communication mechanism to enhance team collaboration. In the era of AI, digitalization and remote work have become smoother and more convenient. Therefore, the "Peach Blossom Spring" as I understand it should be able to meet the specific needs of different people and achieve complementary advantages.
Q2: As a supply chain brand, how to explore and meet the new needs of designers and consumers for products, and is there a corresponding methodology?
Weijun Zhou, President of Sales of Schattdecor China: The best design is actually no design, because design is for people, and it should be integrated into all aspects of our lives in a subtle and silent way. In the current era of more and more volatile supply chains, I think that both supply chain and design should return to the origin and better serve customers.
Sebastian Magrin, Domus Line China Representative: Before designing, we have to clarify two questions: why and for whom, and then we should think about how to design an experience that is more enjoyable for users. Design is not a pile-up, not more is better, but the right fit.
Ye Xiaoqing, Technical and After-sales Manager of Hettich Hardware China: First of all, we must think about the problem from the perspective of end users and help them solve their pain points. Secondly, we must have advanced thinking and develop products on the basis of making accurate predictions of future trends. Finally, product development should not be limited to functional satisfaction, but must improve the user's experience at a deeper level and make them feel happy.
Q3: Future innovation requires deeper and more creative requirements, how to promote deeper integration and collaboration in design and supply chain?
Zhou Weijun, Sales President of Schattdecor China: "Design + Supply Chain" model actually involves three dimensions, enterprises, designer teams and supply chain enterprises. Everyone knows the principle of triangular equilibrium, where the forces experienced by an object must be balanced in three directions. In fact, the same is true for us, only the balance and coordination of the three parties can achieve a win-win situation.
Dick Spierenburg, founder of Spierenburg Studio: Designers should not only hear the needs of the industry, but also understand the needs of the market and the needs of the enterprise, and give the product "emotion" from the aspects of vision, touch, and usage habits through multi-faceted communication and the expression of design language, so as to enhance the user's sense of experience.
Ye Xiaoqing, Technical and After-sales Manager of Hettich Hardware China: Design thinking and product thinking are different, so we will try our best to give product parameters to designers to help them further understand the product and open up the design boundary.
Chow Cheuk-ming, Vice President of the Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA) and Co-Founder of Aura: I think the relationship between designers and suppliers should be mutually supportive, and everyone should give full play to their respective professional abilities to help the project land, so good communication is very important.
Sebastian Magrin, Representative of Domus Line China: Many of the furniture companies we work with are family-owned manufacturers who know the materials and functions of their products very well, and they can bring us a lot of new inspiration. Through continuous learning, learning from different customers and innovating technology, we can continue to promote the development of the lighting industry.
Henny van Nistelrooy, Founding Partner and Chief Designer of Studio HVN: Actually, there is an information gap between the designer and the client, and it is difficult to describe the difference between different materials. In the future, we will consider reaching further cooperation with supply chain enterprises to build a bridge of communication and cooperation between the three parties.
2. Seek the key path of supply chain transformation
Sustainable development has become the proposition of the times
On March 29th, the VSIL Forum continued to be staged. Industry experts from HAUTE INNOVATION, LINAK, SIMALFA®, and Home Color Research Institute jointly depicted a clear route for high-quality development around the sustainable technology development of the supply chain and the opportunities and challenges of "green transformation".
- Zhang Rui, Sales Director of Linak (China) Office Domain
ESG Exploration and Practice in the Transmission System Industry
As a leader in the driveline industry, LINAK has a particularly good practice in ESG management. ESG is an abbreviation for Environmental, Social, and Governance.
In terms of improving the environment, LINAK has taken measures such as realizing "PVC-free" products, launching ZERO™ control box technology, and reducing energy consumption from 1-2W to <0.1W in the standby mode of the lifting system, and shouldering the responsibility of improving the environment by integrating the concept of sustainable development into all aspects of R&D, production and management.
From a social point of view, LINAK has always been committed to doing its best to provide better help for the well-being of society and the company's employees: supporting the work of international organizations such as the Red Cross, Medad Sans Frontières, etc., cooperating with different children's institutions to pay attention to the future development of vulnerable children, providing employees with health check-ups and equipping them with more ergonomic height-adjustable desks...... All these demonstrate the company's values of LINAK's humanistic care.
In terms of governance, LINAK has formulated a series of corporate governance guidelines, such as creating a level playing field as much as possible, formulating a code of ethical behavior, etc., and at the same time trying to promote the systematization of management principles and transparent procedures.
Promoting ESG practices has become an inevitable choice for companies in the new era, and the Linak initiative provides a good example.
- Dr. Sascha Peters, a well-known materials expert in Europe and founder of HAUTE INNOVATION
Sustainable Materials for the Furniture Industry
At present, the global warming situation is becoming more and more serious. At the heart of the fight against climate change is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the warming trend. At present, most countries around the world are accelerating their decarbonization process, and one of the most important aspects of this is the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy. Compared with the linear economic development model of "generation-collection-transportation-treatment", the circular economy model of "resources-products-renewable resources" can achieve low exploitation, low consumption, low pollution, high utilization, and reduce the negative impact of economic activities on the natural environment, which is the future development trend.
In the home furnishing industry, the research and development and application of biodegradable materials are of great significance to the construction of green and low-carbon circular development of home furnishings. At present, more and more companies and institutions in the United States and around the world have increased their investment in the research and development of biomaterials, and high-performance biocircular materials will help the world reduce its carbon footprint and reduce its environmental impact.
- Liao Kaihui, Technical Sales Manager of SIMALFA China Co., Ltd
Water-based adhesives for the upholstered furniture industry
Water-based adhesive is an adhesive made of water as a solvent, because it does not contain toxic and harmful substances, and has little pollution to the environment, it is more and more favored by people, and it is widely used in the automobile, construction and home furnishing industries, with the advantages of safe use, non-toxic pollution and low cost of use.
With the centralized implementation of policies, the intensity of "oil to water" continues to increase, and the transformation of the home furnishing industry is imminent. Water-based adhesives have become one of the important trends in the development of adhesives.
Since its establishment, SIMALFA has been committed to the production of pure water-based adhesives without adding any environmentally harmful ingredients. In his sharing, Liao Kaihui introduced the production process, application cases and solutions proposed for the unique pain points of SIMALFA® in the home furnishing industry, showing the exemplary role of SIMALFA in scientific and technological innovation and green development.
- Shen Xiaolian, vice president of the Home Color Research Institute of China Fashion Color Association
Home Color Trends in the Context of Sustainable Development - "Color Journey 24/25"
In the context of sustainability, home color trends are also full of innovation and diversity. Shen Xiaolian, vice president of the Home Color Research Institute of China Fashion Color Association, as the global color ambassador of the "Color Journey", shared the theme of "Treasures of the Earth" As the theme of the report interpretation, pointing out that the return to nature and the focus on sustainability, has had a significant impact on the evolution of the fashion trend of home color, from nature to obtain color inspiration, to create a living environment integrated with nature, has become an important direction of the home furnishing industry breakthrough, which not only brings new inspiration and guidance for the brand and design, but also triggers in-depth thinking about the concept of sustainable development.
Epilogue:
As an important part of furniture design, accessories and equipment are the key to giving furniture "vitality", and the VSIL forum with the theme of "vitality creation" has given new vitality and direction to the innovation and development of "design + supply chain", and also opened new opportunities for the development of the global home furnishing industry.
March 28-31, 2025, China Guangzhou International Furniture Production Equipment and Ingredients Exhibition (CIFM / interzum guangzhou) will be wonderful!