Foshan, China — 12 September 2026. Danilo Trevisan — Managing Director of ALEATEK and President of the Italian Design Alliance (IDA) — has signed a long-term exclusive strategic agreement with Ceramic Town Weekly (CTW), the organiser of the International Ceramics Trend Awards (ICTA). Under the agreement, IDA becomes the official international supporting institution of China’s most influential and longest-running professional ceramic design competition.
Danilo Trevisan managing director of Aleatek Group signs a strategic MOU in quality of President of the Italian Design Alliance
Following thirteen years of continuous development, China’s flagship ceramic design event has officially upgraded and rebranded as the 2026 International Ceramics Trend Awards. With the exclusive official endorsement and full strategic support of IDA, the competition enters a new phase of international standardisation, cross-border design co-creation and industrial globalisation.
The formal MOU signing ceremony was held in Foshan on 12 September. Danilo Trevisan signed on behalf of the Italian Design Alliance (IDA), a registered association devoted to the promotion of Italian Design Culture, joined by IDA Secretary General Freddy Curiel (CEO, Lapis Bureau) and Davide Castoro (Managing Director, Neo Deco). Li Xinliang, President of Ceramic Town Weekly, signed for the organiser.
This official partnership establishes a stable, authoritative and exclusive Sino-Italian design cooperation mechanism for the Chinese ceramic and sanitaryware industry — IDA’s formal institutional commitment to supporting China’s ceramic creative industry with European design standards, global aesthetic systems and international expert resources.
Acchording with Mr. Trevisan keynote speech, as an Italian design promotion association, IDA is committed to developing partnerships among its members and valuable local counterparts, strengthening mutual cooperation in the Chinese ceramic industry and the international upgrading of the competition through three core Strategic Pillars:
1. Italy–China Co-Creation and European Standard Implementation
IDA will connect elite Italian designers with leading Chinese ceramic manufacturers developing new ceramic and sanitaryware products fully aligned with European design standards, aesthetic logic and international quality specifications. This cross-border creative collaboration bridges Italy’s century-long artistic craftsmanship with China’s advanced industrial manufacturing capacity, delivering new standardised, trend-leading product solutions for the global ceramic market.
2. Full Internationalisation of Competition Standards
Leveraging IDA’s worldwide designer network, international expert committee and European judging systems, the alliance will comprehensively upgrade the competition’s review criteria, jury professionalism and global vision. Official IDA brand recognition will further endorse the transformation of ICTA into an internationally recognised award platform for China.
3. From Manufacturing Excellence to Design Excellence
A core mission of IDA’s China strategy is guiding the Chinese ceramic industry’s transformation from mass manufacturing to original design value. Through authoritative event endorsement, academic output, design trend publishing and cross-border design exchange, IDA supports local enterprises in strengthening original creativity, elevating aesthetic positioning and narrowing the international design gap — helping Chinese ceramic brands compete globally and move into high-end market positions.
A Long-Term Exclusive Framework for Sino-Italian Design
The signed MOU confirms long-term exclusive strategic cooperation between IDA and the International Ceramics Trend Awards within Mainland China. Under this exclusive framework, IDA provides continuous official brand endorsement, standardised design guidance, international judge resources and trend research output, together with full-cycle professional support covering event promotion, registration, professional review, academic forums, award ceremonies and post-event industry publishing.
This strategic cooperation establishes a new official benchmark for Sino-Italian ceramic design exchange, builds a standardised international competition system for the Asia-Pacific ceramic industry, and creates a professional incubation platform for young designers and innovative manufacturing enterprises.
About ALEATEK and the Italian Design Alliance
ALEATEK STUDIO is an international architecture, urban planning and design practice founded in 2013 and led by Managing Director Danilo Trevisan, a licensed architect (Italy) and Master of Architecture. From its bases in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the firm is responsible for overall operations, strategic decisions and project facilitation across Asia, with a portfolio spanning hospitality, commercial, large-scale complex and public building projects.
The Italian Design Alliance (IDA) is an Italian non-profit association. It promotes Italian design culture globally and certifies professional excellence, upholding the professional and ethical quality standards of made by Italy. IDA supports its members through publications, events and international stakeholder partnerships, encourages knowledge exchange among design professionals, builds institutional connections and acknowledges outstanding international contributors to Italian design culture.