China Calling: +86 Design Store in the CBD

The Red Star Design Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars in China’s design industry. Though not nearly as prestigious as the world-class Red Dot Awards, it’s an important platform to encourage and promote up-and-coming local designers. Now Red Star has launched its official store, wittily using China’s international calling code (+86) to indicate the provenance of the designers they feature.

Located in the CBD’s Cable 8 art complex, this tiny shop showcases a large collection of award-winning pieces, including Xie Dong’s Bone China wrinkled tableware (from RMB 60) and i-mu’s lovely rodent-like mp3 player (RMB 680), whose “super magnetic crystal” can transform the table it stands on into an audio speaker. There’s also a big, white tree-like floor lighting fixture (RMB 60,000) designed by Zhang Chao.

Before you decide that original design never comes cheap, take a look at the affordable knickknacks on offer, like an Innokids condom mouse pad (RMB 38), and paper napkins featuring cute cartoon images (RMB 10/box).

Must buy: Quirky mouse pads
Also try: Original Design Circle, UCCA Store

+86 Design Store
Unit 115, Bldg A, Cable 8 art district, 8 Langjiayuan Lu, Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (5208 3886)
朝阳区建国路朗家园路8号A座115号

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