UK indie True North has partnered with Chinese broadcaster CCTV9, Beijing media company CICC and French broadcaster France Ô for Designed in China. 

The three-part documentary series will film in China and Europe, and will see True North working with China-based production talent.

Designed in China shows the rise of Chinese designers in architecture, fashion and product design, and will feature fashion designer Guo Pei (pictured above), architect Ma Yansong and product designer Zhang Lei. The series is set to air in early 2014 on France Ô and CCTV9.

“Design is really flourishing in China today, with great characters and surprising stories to tell,” said Liz McLeod, executive producer for specialist factual at True North. “Working with CICC and a largely China-based team means that we’re able to follow these stories as they evolve, giving the programs a richness that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.”

“In 10 years of doing international coproductions, this is the first time I’ve managed to bring together a foreign broadcaster and a Chinese broadcaster to work with CICC and an international production company,” added Wang Yuan Yuan, head of the international department at CICC. ” I think this is because – in Chinese design – we’ve found the right subject.”