Hong Kong Designers Association

What Hong Kong Designers Association does

Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA), founded in 1972, is a non-profit professional association headquartered in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. It is the first design body of its kind in Hong Kong and serves more than 1,000 registered members across six design disciplines — Graphics, Spatial, Product, Education, Digital Media, and Fashion — advocating for public interest in design and higher professional status for practising designers in government, cultural, entertainment, commercial, and industrial sectors. HKDA operates a portfolio of flagship programs including the biennial Global Design Awards (GDA), the annual BDA Brand Award, the SIDA (Sponsorship for International Design Awards) program, the Hong Kong Design Summit featuring the DesignMatch business matching platform, the Kids Design Thinking Awards (KDA), Design x Technology (DXT), the Art x Creativity Exhibition Series, and the Design Graduates Employment Supporting Scheme.

Name

Hong Kong Designers Association

Legal name

Hong Kong Designers Association

Website

https://hkda.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1972, serving 1,000+ designers across six disciplines through awards programs, business matching, sponsorship, and government-backed professional development initiatives in Hong Kong.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Professional design association
• Design awards programs
• International design sponsorship
• Design business matching
• Creative industry membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheung Wan

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The association generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions from professional members who pay dues for membership privileges including voting rights, participation in Association activities, and eligibility for Executive Committee positions.
2. Award Entry and Package Fees: Revenue generated from award programs including BDA Brand Award entry fees (HK$2,800 application fee, HK$5,000 final round judging fee, and award package fees ranging from HK$19,800 to HK$67,800 depending on award tier) and Global Design Awards participation.
3. Government Sponsorship and Grants: Significant funding from government sources including Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), Create Hong Kong (CreateSmart Initiative), Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme, and Art Promotion Office for various programs and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) is a non-profit professional membership organization that operates a portfolio of design award programs (Global Design Awards, BDA Brand Award), sponsorship initiatives (SIDA), business matching platforms (DesignMatch), conferences (Hong Kong Design Summit, Global Design Dialogues), and professional development programs for designers across six disciplines: Graphics, Spatial, Product, Education, Digital Media, and Fashion. The association unites, recognizes, and cultivates the Hong Kong design community through biannual and annual events, membership services, and government-funded sponsorship programs.

Product overview

Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of design award programs, sponsorship initiatives, business matching platforms, and professional development events. The core offerings include the Global Design Awards (GDA) for international design recognition, the BDA Brand Award for brand excellence, and SIDA (Sponsorship for International Design Awards) providing financial support for Hong Kong designers to compete internationally. Additional programs include the Hong Kong Design Summit featuring the DesignMatch business matching platform, Global Design Dialogues conferences, the Design x Technology (DXT) startup program, Kids Design Thinking Awards, Art x Creativity Exhibition Series, and the Design Graduates Employment Supporting Scheme. These initiatives collectively promote Hong Kong as a leading design capital and support designers across graphics, spatial, product, fashion, digital media, and education disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Design Awards (GDA): Biennale international design awards recognizing critical design achievements worldwide.
• BDA Brand Award
• SIDA
• DesignMatch
• Hong Kong Design Summit

Products and services

• HKDA Professional Membership Annual professional membership for designers and design educators offering networking, voting rights, participation in Association activities, eligibility for Executive Committee positions, and access to the Members Directory. Requires 3+ years post-qualification design experience or recognized eminence in the profession.
• Global Design Awards (GDA) Biennale international design award recognizing critical design achievements worldwide across multiple design disciplines, serving as a platform for designers to gain recognition and access Asian and global markets.
• BDA Brand Award Brand design award recognizing brands leading in design, promoting outstanding brand designs evaluated by professional designers and industry leaders across categories including ESG, Innovation & Technology, and Cultural & Heritage. Application Fee HK$2,800, Final Round Judging Fee HK$5,000, and award package fees from HK$19,800 to HK$67,800.
• SIDA - Sponsorship for International Design Awards Financial aid program sponsored by CCIDA enabling Hong Kong designers and design enterprises to participate in representative international award competitions through reimbursement of entry fees and related expenses. 4th SIDA covers 46 specified international and 6 local design competitions across 7 design categories.
• DesignMatch One-to-one design x business platform facilitating connections between designers and potential business partners, clients, and corporate representatives through pre-scheduled meetings at the Hong Kong Design Summit.
• Hong Kong Design Summit Premier design x business event featuring DesignMatch business matching sessions, conference sessions, trade exhibition, and award ceremonies connecting designers with corporate leaders.
• Global Design Dialogues Professional conference series bringing together global design visionaries to explore intersections of technology, sustainability, and cultural heritage in design.
• Hong Kong International Poster Triennial Biennale competition and exhibition documenting the development of local and international poster design, celebrating achievements through competition and symposium.
• Kids Design Thinking Awards (KDA) Design awards for children using sharing sessions, seminars, workshops, award ceremony and public exhibition to engage youth with design thinking for daily issues.
• Design x Technology (DXT) Initiative enabling local designers and tech companies to develop innovative products and services through entrepreneurship programs, pitching contests, talks, and conferences.
• Art x Creativity Exhibition Series Art exhibition series in the Greater Bay Area showcasing works of Hong Kong artists and designers alongside international creators, connecting Hong Kong with cities in the GBA through creativity.
• Design Graduates Employment Supporting Scheme Program matching fresh design graduates with design companies for proper training and full-time employment in the design industry, with support from Create Hong Kong.

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with HKDA for Design x Technology (DXT) 2020 program promoting innovation between designers and tech companies.
• Art Promotion OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with HKDA for Art x Creativity Exhibition Series in the Greater Bay Area featuring six art exhibitions across four cities.
• Hong Kong Heritage MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented Hong Kong International Poster Triennial 2020 documenting development of local and international poster design.
• 20 Local Professional Design Associations and InstitutionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed the 46 specified international competitions and awards under the 4th SIDA program, covering 7 design categories.
• Hong Kong Design CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in promoting design in Hong Kong. HKDA Chairman Mui Kinoshita serves as Director of Hong Kong Design Centre.
• sky100 (International Commerce Centre)minorOthersVenue partner for Hong Kong Design Summit 2025 and Global Design Dialogues event at 100/F, ICC location.
• BDA Brand Award 2026 Supporting OrganisationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple supporting organisations including design associations, institutions and industry bodies listed as partners for BDA Brand Award 2026.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Taiwan Graphic Design Association (TGDA): Taiwan's leading graphic design professional association running the influential Golden Pin Design Awards together with other design bodies. Direct regional peer with shared Chinese-language design community focus and member-driven awards programs.
• AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts): The preeminent US professional design association representing graphic designers, with a comparable membership structure, local chapters, awards programs, and advocacy mission. AIGA's model of regional chapters, design awards, and student outreach closely parallels HKDA's professional association structure for designers.
• ico-D (International Council of Design): International umbrella body for national design associations, of which HKDA is a member. Provides comparable professional frameworks, design education standards, and international networking programs for design professionals globally.
• Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC): Hong Kong's flagship government-backed design promotion body running DFA Awards, Knowledge of Design Week (KODW), and design incubation programs. Directly comparable to HKDA as the sister organization promoting Hong Kong design, with significant overlap in awards, government funding, and corporate member engagement. HKDA Chairman Mui Kinoshita also serves as Director of HKDC.
• D&AD: UK-based design and advertising association running the globally recognized D&AD Awards (Pencils), professional development programs, and member events. Highly comparable to HKDA's Global Design Awards and BDA Brand Award, with similar focus on elevating professional standards in creative industries.
• Korea Society of Brand Design (KSBD): South Korea's brand design professional association running annual brand design awards and member programs. Direct regional peer to HKDA's BDA Brand Award with comparable scope in corporate/institutional brand recognition.
• JAGDA (Japan Graphic Design Association): Japan's leading graphic design professional association publishing the annual JAGDA Year Book and running member-driven exhibitions and awards. Direct regional peer to HKDA with shared Asia-Pacific design community focus, member exhibition platforms, and biennial/triennial publication cadence.

Broad incumbents

• Design Council (UK): UK's national strategic body for design that runs the biennial Design Week and various awards, research, and policy advocacy programs. Broader peer comparable to HKDA in mission — promoting design as a driver of business and societal value — though operating at larger scale as a government-affiliated body.
• DesignSingapore Council: Singapore's national design promotion agency under the Ministry of Communications and Information. Comparable to HKDA in promoting design as a strategic economic asset via Singapore DesignWeek, Dsg (Design Business) programs, and government grants, though with a broader mandate and bigger budget as a statutory body.

Emerging players

• World Design Organization (WDO): International non-profit promoting industrial and interaction design via World Design Summit and World Design Capital designations. Overlaps with HKDA's international design promotion mission via its GDA program and GBA cultural programming, though focused on city-level design policy rather than individual designer recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGdCgvSl4WxG4Jipb6fGVGg
• Facebookfacebook.com/HongKongDesignersAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hong-kong-designers-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/hkda.official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hong Kong Designers Association