The Dehua session of the 2024 Quanzhou Innovation Conference, which featured the 2nd Dehua World Ceramic Design Conference and the 8th He Chaozong Cup Ceramic Industrial Design Awards Ceremony, took place recently at the Dehua Convention and Exhibition Center.

　　The event was hosted by the Quanzhou Municipal Government and co-organized by the Dehua County Government. It was jointly undertaken by the Dehua Science and Technology Bureau, Dehua Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, and the National Ceramic Industrial Design Institute.

　　The conference announced the latest members of the World Ceramic Design & Intelligent Manufacturing Alliance, held a talent achievement signing ceremony for the He Chaozong Cup, presented awards to competition winners, and recognised the 2023 Dehua County-level Industrial Design Centres.

　　Through a cross-regional industry forum, high-level face-to-face dialogues, and a world-class exhibition focusing on traditional ceramics, new materials, and intelligent manufacturing applications, the event showcased Dehua's innovative spirit as the "World Capital of Ceramics."

2024 Quanzhou Innovation Conference – Dehua Session

　　Empowering Dehua Ceramics through Innovation and Intelligence

　　Ceramics remains a pillar industry in Dehua, playing a leading role in both the local economy and livelihoods. From January to July this year, Dehua's ceramic industry cluster reached a total output value of RMB 33.06 billion, a 23.86% increase year-on-year. Exports totalled RMB 2.035 billion, up 18.42%.

　　To foster sustainable growth, Dehua has prioritized the development of industrial design, positioning it as a strategic driver of innovation and application. A series of design-focused competitions have deepened integration across the industry chain, innovation chain, and value chain, forming a unique industrial design ecosystem and positioning Dehua as a national hub for ceramic industrial design.

　　The World Ceramic Design Conference aims to aggregate global design resources and promote high-quality, innovation-driven growth. The inaugural conference last year attracted over 100 top designers worldwide, who shared multi-dimensional perspectives on innovation through workshops and salons. Building on that momentum, this year's event expanded its global "design network" even further.

3D-printed ceramic equipment on display

　　Deepening Global Collaboration and Driving Design Frontiers

　　Established during the 2023 Dehua World Ceramic Culture Week, the World Ceramic Design & Intelligent Manufacturing Alliance has grown rapidly over the past year. It has attracted broad participation from domestic and international stakeholders, advancing key outcomes in cultural-tech integration and enabling new innovations in the ceramic industry.

　　At this year's conference, 26 new members—including the China-Europe International Design and Culture Association, the Hong Kong Industrial Designers Association, and the Shanghai Design Capital Promotion Centre—officially joined the alliance, infusing it with new energy and ideas.

　　The conference also convened over 100 leading figures from the ceramics and design industries. YANG DESIGN Partner and Strategy Director Huang Xiaojing delivered a keynote titled "China Design Trends Report", sharing case studies and exploring cutting-edge design concepts, offering valuable insights for local entrepreneurs.

　　To expand dialogue and collaboration, the event also launched the "Ceramic Origins and Connectivity Program," linking experts online and onsite across themes such as "Tea & Ceramics Fusion," "Ceramics Intoxicate China," and "Creative Ceramic Regions." These sessions fostered interdisciplinary dialogue between ceramics and tea, alcohol, and cultural industries, exploring market-driven innovation and merging tradition with contemporary demands.

　　"The exhibition presents globally relevant design concepts for ceramics, offering new insights into cost-efficiency, application scenarios, and industry upgrades. It also provides valuable momentum for Dehua to integrate more fully into global industrial design," said an organiser.

　　New Art, New Materials, New Smart Manufacturing:

　　Empowering the Ceramic Industry Through Design

　　As a key event spotlighting ceramic innovation, the He Chaozong Cup Ceramic Industrial Design Competition continues to honour groundbreaking designs that set global benchmarks. This year's edition received 5,571 entries from 21 countries and regions, awarding one Grand Prize and four Gold Prizes, among other accolades.

　　"We design not just for design's sake, but with the market in mind," said Lu Huayu, General Manager of Dehua Shanggu Ceramics. His team submitted the "Mingxin" Travel Tea Set—a teapot with four cups inspired by Ming dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming. When assembled, the tea set forms a bust of the philosopher.

　　Award-winning works were also showcased at the "Rebirth of the Three Realms" parallel exhibition. The exhibition, themed "New Art, New Materials, New Smart Manufacturing," highlighted innovative approaches to reduce costs and increase efficiency. It promoted the use of new ceramic materials, the expression of new application scenarios, and offered a visual feast of contemporary ceramic aesthetics, all of which support Dehua's integration into global industrial design trends.

　　Beyond the product displays, smart equipment also caught attention. Micro Ceramic Technology Co., Ltd., for example, demonstrated a 3D stacking printer using a special clay that can produce complex ceramic sculptures directly from digital blueprints. This eliminates the need for traditional moulding, drying, and carving processes. Designs can now be printed in just three days with precise detail and seamless assembly.

　　"This conference advocates for the adoption of new ceramic materials, new usage scenarios, and upgrades in smart manufacturing. It reflects a new era of innovation and transformation for the ceramic industry," said Lü Huiming, an expert from Jingdezhen University's School of Economics and Management. "The integration of new technologies and processes is breathing new life into traditional ceramics in the digital age."