On Wednesday, 29 October 2025, HIMKI Bandung Raya held the “Design Encounter: Networking Session with France Design Week”, a special forum designed to open conversations between Indonesian and French design practitioners.
The session brought together two key speakers:
- Isabelle Verilhac – representing France Design Week
- Laurent Badier – Designer & Artistic Director
This event marked an important step in HIMKI Bandung Raya’s ongoing efforts to expand its international network and deepen its understanding of global design developments, especially from Europe and France.
A Space To Learn From French Design Perspectives
The Design Encounter was created as a networking and knowledge-sharing platform. Through this session, HIMKI Bandung members and invited participants had the opportunity to engage directly with design figures from France.
The discussions focused on:
- Exchanging experiences and practices in the design field
- Sharing insights on European, particularly French, design trends
- Understanding how design is approached in different cultural and market contexts
By having direct dialogue with speakers such as Isabelle Verilhac and Laurent Badier, participants were encouraged to see design not only as a matter of aesthetics, but also as a powerful tool for storytelling, branding, and cultural expression.
Strengthening International Networks For Indonesian Design
For HIMKI Bandung Raya, this event was more than just a one-off program. It was part of a broader strategy to:
- Expand international networks between Indonesian furniture and design players and global creative communities
- Open doors for potential collaborations, residencies, or joint projects in the future
- Encourage local designers and businesses to be more confident in positioning their work at the international level
By connecting with France Design Week and French design practitioners, HIMKI Bandung Raya is helping its members gain exposure to different ways of thinking about design, market positioning, and creative innovation.
Collaboration With Institut Français Indonesia (IFI) Bandung
This networking session is part of a wider collaboration between HIMKI Bandung Raya dan Institut Français Indonesia (IFI) Bandung. Through this partnership, both parties aim to:
- Strengthen connections among creative industry players in Indonesia and France
- Facilitate cultural and professional exchanges in design and related fields
- Provide platforms where Indonesian designers can showcase local products and ideas to international audiences
The collaboration also highlights the growing recognition of Bandung and Indonesia as important players in the global creative map, with strong potential in furniture, product design, and craft-based innovation.
Showcasing Bandung And Indonesian Design Potential
One of the key objectives of the Design Encounter was to showcase the potential of Indonesian design, especially from Bandung, to international counterparts.
Through discussions and exchanges, the event helped to:
- Introduce local products, materials, and design approaches that are rooted in Indonesian culture
- Emphasize the richness of Indonesia’s craft traditions and contemporary design expressions
- Present Bandung as a city with a vibrant creative ecosystem and strong design community
For HIMKI Bandung Raya, this kind of exposure is vital in building awareness that Indonesian design is not only capable of competing, but also of contributing unique perspectives to global design conversations.
A Platform For Dialogue, Inspiration, And Future Collaboration
With its interactive format, the Design Encounter became more than just a lecture-style event. It served as:
- A dialogue space, where participants could ask questions, share viewpoints, and discuss challenges in design and industry
- A source of inspiration, especially for designers, entrepreneurs, and students who want to understand how to navigate the international design scene
- A starting point for future collaborations, whether in the form of joint projects, exhibitions, or professional exchanges
By bringing together France Design Week, French practitioners, and Indonesian creative players under one roof, HIMKI Bandung Raya and IFI Bandung successfully created a meaningful moment of cross-cultural connection.
Looking Ahead
The Design Encounter: Networking Session with France Design Week is a clear reflection of HIMKI Bandung Raya’s commitment to continually broadening horizons for its members and the wider creative community.
Through sustained collaboration with international institutions such as France Design Week and IFI Bandung, HIMKI Bandung aims to:
- Support the growth of globally aware, locally rooted designers
- Encourage furniture and product design that reflects Indonesian identity while meeting international standards
- Strengthen Bandung and Indonesia’s position within the global design ecosystem
In essence, this event is not just about networking for today, but about laying foundations for long-term cooperation, mutual learning, and shared creative growth between Indonesia and France.
