Zhuo Tan Talks to TLmag About Design Shanghai 2026

TLmag: As a co-founder of Design Shanghai, tell us about the origins of this fair – when and how it came together. 

Zhuo Tan: In the early days of Design Shanghai, during the crucial research and preparation phase, our core team started with just five members. The project was initiated by Media Ten, and they brought me in to be part of the team. Recognizing me as the perfect fit to lead this ambitious venture, they made the decisive choice to move forward with me at the helm.

We swiftly built out a dedicated, cross-functional team encompassing sales, operations, and marketing, working in tandem to craft a concise yet impactful curatorial framework for the design event. My next mission took me across the globe, where I hand-picked premium, forward-thinking design brands—those with unique appeal and strong potential to resonate deeply with the discerning Chinese market.

This meticulous preparation took a year of relentless effort, global scouting, and strategic planning. Finally, in 2014, Design Shanghai launched in Shanghai with a spectacular debut. The event was an unparalleled success: almost overnight, Design Shanghai established itself as China’s premier design event, becoming an unmissable landmark that drew industry leaders, design enthusiasts, and audiences from every corner of the country.

TLmag: How has your role evolved over the past decade of the event?

Z.T.: My current role is vastly different from when I first began. When I launched Design Shanghai back in 2013, my main focus was on industry research and identifying the right international design brands to showcase at the fair. At that time, I had a small team of junior staff handling PR and marketing activities.

Today, I serve as the Event Director of Design Shanghai, overseeing the strategic and operational core of the entire exhibition. I am responsible for the professional curation of the show and the annual thematic conception, setting the creative direction and industry positioning for each edition.

In addition, I provide strategic guidance for the exhibition’s sales strategies and public relations direction, ensuring consistent market positioning and brand communication. I am also deeply involved in every critical detail of the show: from exhibition design and visual identity creation, to overall operations and cross-departmental coordination. I also manage government relations and regularly deliver keynote speeches and public communications on behalf of Design Shanghai.

I also act as the leading ambassador of Design Shanghai, representing the brand globally, promoting its influence, and sustaining its status as Asia’s premier design event.

TLmag: Talk about the evolution of Design Shanghai over the past 10 years. Some of the newer projects and initiatives…  

Z.T.: In the early years of Design Shanghai, the local Chinese design scene was quite a small community. So, after 5 years of Design Shanghai, we realized the importance of bringing in and supporting young Chinese design talents to be a part of the fair. We created the Talents Program within Design Shanghai, and invited one of the most famous young designers in China, Frank Chou as the curator of this section. In 2020, we launched the first edition and it has grown steadily ever since. Every year, we look out for young, interesting designers in China, and also outside China, and showcase them in this platform.

In addition to promoting young designers, we also serve as their agent. We provide comprehensive support, including career advice, communication coaching, and guidance on negotiating and handling business contracts and legal matters. In short, we fully prepare young designers to shine on the Design Shanghai stage and help them maximize their commercial opportunities and success through the platform.

TLmag: How has Chinese design – both independent designers and bigger brands, shifted in recent years?

Z.T.: Local Chinese brands and designers has been evolving at an incredible speed. When it comes to independent Chinese designers, we have seen a real growth and a sophistication in their design strategy. Supported by China’s strong manufacturing base, especially with so many professional furniture manufacturers across the country, they now have access to an excellent supply chain that ensures every component of their products is high-quality.

They also understand the importance of branding and marketing. Some Chinese brands that I saw emerge around ten years ago have now become well-known household names in the market, and some of them have even broken into the international market, such as HC28 and ShangXia.

However, compared with the large number of established Italian and German brands, Chinese brands still occupy a relatively small share of China’s huge market. But they are growing fast, and their future is extremely promising. I believe they will continue to gain more and more market share. As Chinese furniture brands develop rapidly, Chinese designers also have more opportunities to collaborate with them on product design.

We hope that over the next ten years, the landscape of the furniture and design industry in China will change dramatically. We expect to see more major Chinese design brands rise in the market, and more Chinese designers working not only for local companies but also for international brands that are eager to enter the Chinese market.

TLmag: Is there an epicenter of design in China – a city or region that stands out to you right now?

Z.T.: Officially, China has three creative cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Personally, I believe Shanghai is emerging as the most important design hub in the country. Thanks to Design Shanghai’s ten-year effort, we have created a huge appetite for design among Chinese consumers. We have also supported the growth of design distributors and retail stores opening across Shanghai.

I believe Shanghai is a far more international and open city. It has strong industrial capacity, and local consumers are very open to all kinds of global design. For these reasons, Shanghai has huge potential to become the leading design city in China. Shanghai also enjoys strong academic advantages, with several top-tier design schools. For example, Tongji University is one of the best universities for architecture education in China. In addition, the China Central Academy of Fine Arts — one of the nation’s leading art and design universities — is only a two-hour drive from Shanghai.

With such a constant flow of design talent surrounding the city, I am convinced that Shanghai has the greatest potential and energy to become the definitive design hub of China.

TLmag: Would you talk about one particular section of the fair and why it’s unique?

Z.T.: The New Materials Platform and their applications are extremely important for designers. From the very beginning of Design Shanghai, we have always dedicated a special section to materials. For more than ten years, Design Shanghai has developed two major material-focused platforms.

On one side, we work with a prominent Chinese designer, Zhang Lei, on his research program called the Rong Material Library. It focuses on reinterpreting and applying Chinese traditional materials in modern design. We have collaborated with Zhang Lei for more than four years, showcasing his latest material research at Design Shanghai and inspiring Chinese architects and designers with new ways to integrate traditional Chinese materials into contemporary projects. Equally, we also work with leading Western design expert Chris Lefteri. His material research and samples have always been extremely popular at Design Shanghai. Each year, Chris curates a special feature called Material First, presenting his cutting‑edge research on global material trends.

With these two major material sections, we believe Design Shanghai offers the most comprehensive platform for material resources, research and trends in the Chinese market. On top of that, we also host a two‑day CMF training program featuring top international speakers. It combines insights into the latest material trends with practical workshops, teaching designers how to effectively apply these innovative materials into their latest product designs.

TLmag: The event returns to the Shanghai Exhibition Centre this year – what makes this venue special?

Z.T.: The Shanghai Exhibition Centre is where Design Shanghai first launched back in 2014. We have always loved this venue for its unbeatable convenience in the city centre, and also for its stunning architectural beauty as one of Shanghai’s most iconic landmark buildings. We held the show here for five years, and it truly became our original home.

This year, we are incredibly happy to return to Shanghai Exhibition Centre. The positioning of Design Shanghai has evolved into a more city‑wide design festival, and this historic venue allows us to connect with the surrounding districts and use the entire city as the backdrop for our event.

This year, alongside our main exhibition at Shanghai Exhibition Centre, we have also partnered with 100 design stops across the city—all within walking distance—to celebrate design on a much broader scale. We are delighted to be back. We believe this prime, central location will strategically take Design Shanghai to the next level, as a truly citywide celebration of design.

TLmag: What is something that you are looking forward to seeing realized for this year’s fair?

Z.T.: This year, as we make our return to the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, we have a clear mission: to reclaim Design Shanghai’s rightful place as the most anticipated highlight of Shanghai’s social calendar.

We are proud to be the first major event to ignite the city right after the Chinese New Year. Just as the Year of the Horse symbolizes energy and momentum, we aim to bring that same dynamism to the industry, officially opening the design calendar with a bang.

This is the moment designers have been waiting for. It’s a chance to come together at the start of the year to discover thousands of new products, hear the latest trends from global thought leaders, and witness brand new launches from every corner of the world. More than just a show, this is a moment to source, to shop, to be inspired, and to celebrate the vibrant Spring of Design together.

Design Shanghai is open from March 19th through March 22, 2026.

Design Shanghai 

@design_shanghai