What better way to kick off my new blog than to share with you 10 things that inspired me most at last week’s GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai? There’s been much coverage of the event which was the backdrop to Prince William’s visit to China, but hopefully these 10 take-aways will give you a flavour of the wider Festival that really showcased the best in UK commercial creativity.
1. Welcomes to Shanghai: East meets west
Landing at the airport, we could see that British Airways had certainly made the largest physical contribution to the Festival, collaborating with Chinese fashion designer Masha Ma to spray paint an aircraft in a unique GREAT pattern.
2. From Dinosaurs to Robots
Fresh from their recent successful showcases in Hong Kong and Macau, UK company Inde Appshaker wowed with their interactive tech treating us to a walk with dinosaurs, penguins and big cats. We met a robot that wagged its tail with happiness when we flashed it a smile and it even knew to bow when it saw HRH. A bit creepy, but a glimpse of the future where Brit tech is leading the way.
3. Nick Allott Dreamed a Dream
The Cameron Mackintosh MD (left) is a man with a twinkle in his eye and a fire in his belly. Calling on the Chinese government to support the arts and creative industries, it’s clear that musical theatre isn’t just his bread and butter, but his life blood and he’s determined to bring more productions to this part of the world - Check out Les Mis in Hong Kong next year.
4. Hopping about
Many were tired by the busy days, but not designer and Dragon’s Den favourite Kelly Hoppen who really got stuck in. As well as attending and speaking in sessions, she played with cheetahs and perfume, put out photos, articles, videos, met with Chinese and Hong Kong clients and shared huge amounts of her experience with her sizeable social media following with endless enthusiasm. Where she gets the energy from, I have no idea!
5. Thomas Heatherwick’s beautiful mind
If you haven’t heard this man talk – seek him out. Thomas (left) looks at the world in such a different way to us mere mortals. The man who has a seemingly inexhaustible international portfolio of projects, including Hong Kong’s Pacific Place, engaged and inspired with his work and his words.
6. “What colour can you smell?”
Another Hong Kong favourite, Jo Malone challenged us all to think out of the box, refuse to give up and tell it as it is. She did say that speaking her mind didn’t make her popular, but she also said she’d earned enough money after 5 years in business to retire to a desert island!
7. “A handbag?”
I’m something of a sucker for a nice handbag and they don’t come much nicer than this one made especially for the event. A union flag embossed Cara Delevingne designed Mulberry bag (pictured left). Our glorious flag is much used in fashion, but rarely as tastefully as this.
8. In Top Gear
Now if handbags aren’t your thing, maybe the sleek Jags or a luxury Land Rover, pictured below, would have got your creative juices following instead. Personally, I’ve always treated my cars as large handbag extensions, allowing me to cart around copious amounts of seemingly vital clutter. Maybe if I had ever owned such luxury specimens as these, I’d have paid 
them more respect!
9. “China needs you…
…and you need China,” Jack Ma told the Prince and who are we not to listen to the e-commerce king?
10. A Prince Amongst Men
Last but by no means least, the magic touch for the event was certainly the Duke of Cambridge showing royal support for British business.
All who attended were left in now doubt that there is GREAT commercial potential for UK creativity in China and beyond.
For more on the GREAT Festival of Creativity visit the website at: www.events.ukti.gov.uk/great-festival-of-creativity-shanghai