- MGM and Fortune co-hosted The Fortune Brainstorm Design conference for the third consecutive year.
- This year’s conference brought together more than 30 international speakers including world-class designers, innovators and industry pioneers.
The Fortune Brainstorm Design conference, co-hosted for the third consecutive year by MGM and Fortune, concluded at MGM Macau’s innovative multifunctional space Fantasy Box on 2 December. Under the theme “Future Tense: Prototyping Tomorrow”, the international forum brought together more than 30 international speakers including world-class designers, innovators, industry pioneers and experts to explore how design thinking can lead societies into an intelligent era amid rapid technological advancement and global transformation.
Since its inception in 2018, Fortune Brainstorm Design has emerged as a high-profile international exchange platform that connects design, technology, business and policy. This year’s Macau edition not only continued to strengthen its global influence but also incorporated interactive workshops tailored for local youth and students, deepening engagement and creativity in design education and practice.
The two-day event attracted over 700 participants. The first day, themed “Cultural Preservation with Technology”, targeted youth and educational communities, while the second day, themed “Future Tense: Prototyping Tomorrow” focused on industry leaders and cross-sector collaboration to promote cultural synergy and industrial upgrading.
This year’s Fortune Brainstorm Design brought together over 30 prominent international design and business leaders, including Mauro Porcini, President & Chief Design Officer at Samsung; Ole Scheeren, Principal of Büro Ole Scheeren; Martin Voelkle, Partner at Bjarke Ingels Group; Andrew Lazarow, Studio Leader for LAB at Rockwell Group; Ismael Merchan, Architect at Populous; Monika Bielskyte, Futurist in Residence at Nike and Founder of Protopia Futures; and Toby Smith, Deputy Chairman of Swire Hotels, among others.
Since its inception in 2018, Fortune Brainstorm Design has emerged as a high-profile international exchange platform.
The speakers delved into themes such as creative transformation in the age of AI, the ethics of responsible innovation and the evolution of sustainable design toward ecological regeneration – exploring how design thinking can address global challenges and inspire new possibilities for future business and social development.
Kenneth Feng, President and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, said: “MGM is committed to bringing premium international conference topics and speakers to Macau. Through the ‘MICE+’ initiative, we aim to strengthen Macau’s role as a hub for global connectivity, as well as to foster diversification and cultural tourism upgrades.
“With the introduction of Fortune Brainstorm Design to Macau in 2023, we have deepened ties between the local creative economy and the global community, establishing an important bridge for international design and business dialogue. We will continue working with Fortune and leading global partners to advance Macau as an innovation-driven international center, injecting long-term value into the city’s development.”
Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia Editor, expressed, “Macau’s unique cultural fusion provides fertile ground for design innovation. Hosting Fortune Brainstorm Design here in Macau for three consecutive years, we have witnessed the forum’s significant contribution to advancing design-focused dialogue in Asia. Macau is the perfect location to host this conference which bridges Eastern and Western design philosophies and inspire new ways of thinking to navigate the changes brought about by AI and other new technologies.”
As a prelude to the main event, MGM hosted the “Cultural Preservation with Technology” workshop at the MGM Theater on 1 December, attracting nearly 500 young participants from Macau’s universities and creative communities. Hosted by Catarina Lio, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing of MGM, the workshop opened with a performance excerpt from MACAU 2049, showcasing the seamless integration of technology and art.
Four international speakers presented innovative case studies illustrating how the fusion of virtual and physical realities can create transformative experiences. During the Q&A session, Macau’s youth actively exchanged ideas, demonstrating their passion and creativity in the design field.
