Café des Sciences: Rethinking Design

Our 22^ndCafé des Sciences will focus on design, we will invite two prominent designers working in Shanghai and globally: Mr. Hongchao Wang, Creative Director and Co-founder of Benwu Studio, and Mr. Jean-Philippe Bonzon, Founder of Jpbdesign Studio, to give us a tour of their design products and share with us their thoughts on design over this special period.

They will discuss the art and science behind creating functional tools and interiors. What are some major steps during the design process? How do designers look at consumerism and sustainability?

Event Rundown

*program from 18:30 – 20:00 will be live broadcasted via Zoom

18:00-18:30 Registration

18:30-18:35 Welcome Speech

(Dr. Felix Moesner – Science Consul & CEO, Swissnex in China)

18:35-19:05 Presentation

(Mr. Hongchao Wang – Creative Director & Co-founder of Benwu Studio)

19:05-19:35 Presentation

(Mr. Jean-Philippe Bonzon – Founder of Jpbdesign studio)

19:35-20:00 Discussion and Q&A

20:00-20:30 Networking Reception

Speakers

Bio

Hongchao Wang
Creative Director & Co-founder of Benwu Studio
Born and raised in China (1989) educated in the U.S. and Switzerland, Hongchao graduated with a master degree in design for luxury & craftsmanship from ECAL (École cantonale d’art de Lausanne), where he studied under the tuition of Designer Nicolas Le Moigne, Thilo Brunner, Jaime Hayon, and Bethan Wood. Hongchao had worked in design studios such as Stephen Burks, Søren Rose, and Fabrica. He is also a lecturer at the IND department of XJTLU since 2015.
Bio

Jean-Philippe Bonzon
Founder, Jpbdesign studio
Awarded by many prizes including the Swiss Design Awards, Jean-Philippe Bonzon is a Swiss designer based between Lausanne (Switzerland) and Shanghai. He is developing his design brand called Jpbd based on a radical aesthetic and simple functionalities for products and furniture. He is also exploring different horizons like scenography and art installations. Paper, bamboo, enamel, and jade is part of these Chinese materials he used to create and define his playful design with his point of view with an inspiration of the Asian Culture. On the other side, Jean-Philippe teaches design at the “China Academy of Art” in Hangzhou and the Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique in Shanghai.

Past Design Projects from Benwu Studio

Past Design Projects from Jean-Philippe Bonzon

Café des Sciences

Café des Sciences is an event series at Swissnex in China initiated in 2019, offering a platform for Swiss spotlight scientists, start-ups, artists and designers to present their projects and connect with the local community. The lectures offer a casual setting in which speakers can present their work and engage with the attendees during a Q&A period. Audiences are welcomed to enjoy the networking reception with Swiss flavor after the talk. Starting in 2021, the lectures are scheduled to take place on the third Thursday of every other month at Swissnex in China or our partner spaces.