Integrated resort operator MGM hosted the “Fortune Brainstorm Design Workshop” at its eponymous theatre in Cotai yesterday, bringing together nearly 500 guests, comprising young people, scholars and industry guests for a programme on how technology can support cultural preservation, ahead of today’s main forum.
Yesterday’s event at MGM COTAI was themed “Cultural Preservation with Technology”, as a prelude to the Fortune Brainstorm Design forum, the workshop welcomed students and young professionals from local universities and youth associations, alongside MGM Golden Lion Team members.
According to an MGM statement yesterday, the session formed part of the company’s effort to support cross-disciplinary exchange and strengthen Macau’s “MICE+” strategy. The statement added that Macau’s position as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures set the backdrop for the event, which sought to encourage young participants to explore how design thinking, innovation and heritage can intersect.
The workshop opened with a keynote speech by Catarina Lio (廖頴琦), MGM’s senior vice president of Brand Marketing, followed by case studies drawn from MACAU 2049, the integrated resort’s residency show combining advanced technology with elements of Chinese cultural heritage.
Scenes such as “Drumming ∙ Shadows” and “Khoomei ∙ Ethereal” were presented to demonstrate how robotics, airflow and projection technology can animate cultural traditions on stage.
Meanwhile, foreign speakers – Martin Voelkle, partner at Bjarke Ingels Group, Andrew Lazarow, studio leader at LAB @ Rockwell Group, Ismael Merchan, architect at Populous and Monika Bielskyte, futurist in residence at Nike and founder of Protopia Futures – gave examples of their work and joined a Q&A session aimed at sparking exchanges between local youth and global designers.
The Fortune Brainstorm Design forum continues today at Fantasy Box at MGM MACAU, themed “Future Tense: Prototyping Tomorrow”, where 40 foreign leaders will discuss how design can address global challenges and support Macau’s diversified development.
MACAU 2049, MGM’s residency show, presents “Drumming · Shadows” (top) and “Khoomei · Ethereal”, combining advanced technology with elements of Chinese cultural heritage at its eponymous theatre yesterday in Cotai. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
