MORE than a dozen design masters from Shenzhen and Hong Kong discussed future opportunities for designers in both cities in a forum held at OCT Creative Park last week.

The forum was part of the ongoing celebration of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Design Biennale that is being held through Nov. 1.

Fourteen top designers, including Stanley Wong and Tommy Lee from Hong Kong and Han Jiaying and Hei Yiyang from Shenzhen, attended the forum. They said that an increasing number of designers are getting involved in social projects to embody social concerns in their works and that the Internet and new media are providing platforms for young designers to disseminate their works and establish their own brands. Only if designers do what they want and what they are capable of can they seize the opportunity to become successful, they added.

Design is commonly perceived as a form of art, but many designers are now associating it with social and humanistic issues.

“If a design work could make contributions to society at large, it can be perceived as having social care,” Li Yuyu with Shenzhen Hapo Entertainment Co. said.

Hei Yiyang, founder of Sense Team, an internationally known creative design group in Shenzhen, believes doing social projects is self-emancipation for designers.

“In addition to meeting commercial demands, designers should spend time doing projects with humanistic concerns,” Hei said. “Designers should use their wisdom to bring happiness to society, which is an important part of social care.”

Alvin Yip, director of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said a fun and relaxed manner should be adopted when designers try to demonstrate social care in their works.

A global connection delivers a world of opportunity as well as challenges. Young designers can take advantage of the Internet to show their works and have their voices heard by the world, Tommy Lee said.

Lee’s idea was echoed by fellow Hong Kong designer Javin Mo. Mo said young designers could build a platform on the Internet to display their ideas and brands. “If people think you are good and have potential, you will get opportunities,” he said.

Ma Shenguang, creative director of Shenzhen Coidea Design Co., said the current social environment makes it easier for designers to establish their own brands. The procedure of registering a company, for example, is very simple.

“Designers will have more opportunities as long as they are absorbed in their work,” Ma said.

Han Jiaying, a graphic design master in Shenzhen, agreed with Ma.

“There are plenty opportunities in China, but the question is whether you seize it when an opportunity comes,” Han said, adding that designers should keep sharpening their skills and do what they want and what they are good at.

Han’s company has branches in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, each with dozens of designers, while Hong Kong designer Huang Bingpei only has a 10-member company.

“I was in charge of the management of the biggest advertisement company in Hong Kong, but I chose to run a small-scale company for myself,” Huang said.