The Value of Design in China: An Exploration Through Ten Case Studies

This special feature on “The Value of Design” aims to broaden the discussion beyond design itself, from the Christmas factories of Chinese manufacturing to collective housing on the urban periphery, from the reuse of scrapped shared bicycles to the industrial revolution that rapid 3D printing may bring. The value of design in China lies in the social and temporal context, in the future, and in the personal lives of every individual.。

* The following cases are on display at the Design Interconnect Exhibition “The Value of Design in China”

Thanks to Design Interconnect for the interview assistance, the ranking of this edition is not in order.

This is a set of furniture made from scrapped parts of Mobike bicycles. The scrapped parts underwent rigorous recycling and re-sorting, and after being designed by designers, they became new furniture. This process showcases Mobike’s (now renamed “Meituan Bike”) “full lifecycle” plan and exploration of sustainable development concepts. Mobike collaborated with the YUUE design studio in Berlin, releasing five pieces of furniture—recliner, standing lamp, coffee table, desktop organizer, and candlestick—all of which were made from scrapped parts of Mobike, giving them the potential for rebirth.