Mr Siu Kwok Kin Stanley

Specialized in Design.

Mr Siu Kwok Kin Stanley

About Mr Siu Kwok Kin Stanley

Every great thing begins with dreamers; we utilise our strength, passion and profession to reach for our dreams. daydreamers design is a young international award-winning architectural firm based in Hong Kong possess a vision that is characterised by articulating creative and alternative solutions to the complex social challenges today.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Mr Siu Kwok Kin Stanley

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
Stanley Siu grew up and studied in New Zealand where he received his Bachelor of Architecture from UNITEC School of Architecture. He returned to Hong Kong after graduation and has practiced as an architect on a number of residential, commercial, master planning, cultural and sustainability projects in Hong Kong and China. He is now a senior architect at Gravity Partnership responsible for project design from inception to detailed design stages, and project administration including building approval application to local authorities, through preliminary design stage to project completion.Stanley’s passion in architecture has extended from profession to institution, as a full member and a board member of the Hong Kong Institute of Architect, he participated in several committees and helped organize a number of major events for the Institute and other Non-Profit Organizations including Yan Oi Tong, Friends of the Earth (HK), World Vision, Heep Hong Society and St. James’ Settlement.Stanley’s professional activities and interests are split equally between architecture and contemporary art. He participated as a team in 2011-2012 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism / Architecture showing the work “Sugar Treasure”. In May 2013, Stanley has collaborated with a local artist and showcased their exhibition “Crafting Sky”. Within the same year, Stanley was invited as an exhibitor to showcase his works in two group exhibitions amongst other renowned architects and artists. The first one is the Social Innovation Festival by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Jockey Club Design Institute and the Reveal exhibition organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects. In 2014, Stanley co-founded 100ft Park, a non-commercial art space aiming to provide an open platform for the local young artists to share their creative thoughts.In 2012 Stanley found a group called Daydreamers Design, it is an art & design collaboration constantly engaged in the art, design, and architectural scene locally and globally. Aiming to synthesize individual methodologies and educe sophisticated design solutions through research, curatorship, collaboration with various artists and designers, as well as active engagements in social dialogue. With the leadership of Stanley, Daydreamers Design have participated the 2013 Lantern Wonderland competition organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and they have received the Gold Award. The winning design “Rising Moon” was constructed within 12 days and exhibited during the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Victoria Park, a combination of large scale public art and architecture. Sustainability was the fundamental concept; Stanley has decided using recycled water bottles and low energy consumption LED lights to construct the 20 meters diameter hemisphere and it was well received by the public. During the festival, the media was overwhelmed by the winning design locally and globally, therefore attracted over 500,000 local and overseas visitors to gathered at Rising Moon with their family and friends during the festival. Stanley was able to demonstrate his design and management abilities by leading his design team and the whole consultant team for this magnificent project and the outcome was successful. By using the architecture and art medium, Stanley not only unified the locals harmonically during the festival, but also demonstrated to the overseas countries that Hong Kong architects are able to produce world class design and have the ability to compete with the rest of the world within the field of architecture and art.In 2014, Stanley has received the Young Architect Awards 2013 by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects. This is one the most prestigious award in Hong Kong to honour and acknowledge the talents and contribution of Stanley’s achievements in the field of Art and Architecture.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Daydreamers Design, it is an art & design collaboration constantly engaged in the art, design, and architectural scene locally and globally. Aiming to synthesize individual methodologies and educe sophisticated design solutions through research, curatorship and collaboration with various artists and designers, as well as active engagements in social dialogue.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Rising Moon.It is a design that balances between aesthetic & capability, and also a great response to our nature.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I will first consider to re-use existing materials as to minimize impact to our nature.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
"Context, Aesthetic, Capability and Response to our Nature."
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
"I feel excited when ideas are running through my mind, where you feel anything is possible."
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
"Context, Aesthetic, Capability and Response to our Nature."
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
As an architect, I will try to deliver the message of sustainability through my architectural design, like Rising Moon, to produce a design that would arouse the public on the awareness of environment and also our society.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Sustainability is definitely one of the major considerations in our future design.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
“Design Shanghai 2013” Art Exhibition at Power Station of Art, Shanghai.“Affordable Art Fair 2014” Art Exhibition at HKCEC, Hong Kong.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
My inspiration usually came from our nature, my daily life and my knowledge on contemporary arts.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
My inspiration usually came from our nature, my daily life, my memories, and my knowledge on contemporary arts.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I am based in Hong Kong where the East meet West and it is a 24-hours city. It is important for an architect to work and live in a city that he or she is comfortable with. Hong Kong gives me a lot of inspiration on design because it is a multi cultural city and a contemporary art hub where one can meet different kinds of people and see various art works which allows the architect to open up their thoughts.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Sketch, Trial, Error."Drawing, Testing, Failing & Arguing and repeating a hundred times more."
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
Lifts, Electricity Socket, Water Faucet, Internet router & Refrigerator.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Architect's life is full of excitement but at the same time you will be facing a lot of deadlines therefore you will sacrifice most of your social and sleeping time.
What skills are most important for a designer?
It is important for a designer to able to sketch in order to deliver his or her ideas.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
My inspiration usually came from our nature, my daily life and my knowledge on contemporary arts. I develop my concepts through sketches and within our studio; we are using all kinds of architectural software from drafting to 3d modeling. Recently we are starting to make study models with 3d printing machine.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
This is why we work as a team and within our team we share our workloads.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It depends on the scale of the project and the actual time allow for this particular project, but usually 2 to 3 weeks from initial concept to final rendering.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
"how did you came up with such great idea?""Why?"
What was your most important job experience?
As a teenager, i usually spent my summer helping my uncle who was a graphic & signage designer in New Zealand. His studio was basically our garage where he sketches, paints and manufactures sign boards. Through observation and actual physical help i have learn the fundamental of design and set a solid foundation for my future career. He has taught me the basic of design through craftsmanship.
Who are some of your clients?
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I like architectural design the most mainly because I was educated as an architect and I consider architecture as the complex of all arts.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
Our studio will continue to participate in various projects in the field of art & architecture. We will continue to pursuit our dreams.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
One of our studio's core values is Teamwork; we believed that great designs came from discussions and debates. Therefore, most of our concepts were developed as a team.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Recently our studio was invited by the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong to design an permanent sculpture in one of their new environmental treatment facility. They were impressed with our design Rising Moon and would like our studio to come up with a new design that would arouse the public on the awareness of sustainability.
How can people contact you?
Anyone who would like to contact me can send me an email to my personal email: kistansk6@yahoo.com

Designer of the Day Interview with Mr Siu Kwok Kin Stanley

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I am working in the industry over a decade. I grow up and graduated from UNITEC, New Zealand. After my graduation, I come back to Hong Kong and develop my career. I worked in some prestige architectural firms to hover experience, practice my skills and strengthen my creative and critical thinking. Via participating the Lantern Wonderland Design Competition organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board, it encouraged and inspired me to establish my own firm with my friends and partners.
How did you become a designer?
Since my childhood, I developed an enthusiastic to art and architecture. When I come to a point in choosing my major in college, I designed to learn architecture as it is the most complicated art and design, which evoked my passion to challenge it. To be an architect come naturally to me. My interest in art and design equipped me with a creative mind to generate unique ideas and realise it.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
Research would be the most important part of the design process. Via extensive research we can ensure our design is not just a form, it is a structure with creativity, story and message which evoked people to think.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
In the entire design process, I can always feel the adrenaline pumping up to encourage me to challenge and conquer the brief and clients' expectation.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I think it is the curiosity I born with. I have a natural interest to find answers to everything. Exploring different aspects of knowledge and understanding and comprehend what confused me. I found reading books is the best way.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
From the beginning, till present and future, participate competition and gain the chance to build is the sole plan we have. The sense of achievement, exploring, experiencing and executing our design philosophy via various challenges is the way we grow and the means we surpass ourselves.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
As a designer, you must love what you do. It needs time to build up your character. Experience and time is the key to cultivate a good design. When the time comes you will seize it with your profound experience from life and works, then you will achieve your goal in a blink.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
You have to design from your heart. Be empathetic and comprehend your brief, design the best for your users. Dig deep and make sure you consider all aspects, then your design will fill with your characters and enjoy the happiness in the process and sense of achievement.
What is your day to day look like?
I have an ordinary life. Taking care of my studio, design, my kids and family.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I did not intentionally keep up. We focus on doing a right design for the right context. When we considered all aspects of the design, then it becomes the trend.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
From an architect point of view, a good architectural design should be able to bring joy to the users. The smile when they use or experience the architecture is a sign of a good design.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I never decide on this. Every minute we have new ideas comes up and it makes the design better.
What is your biggest design work?
Rising Moon is the biggest. As it is our first project which has an influence on everything around me. It is a milestone when it won the Lantern Wonderland Design Competition organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board and received the Platinum awards of A'Design Awards.
Who is your favourite designer?
My favourite architect is Carlos Scarpa. His creativity and ability in translate the history, culture and arts to architecture are unique and one of a kind.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I am an architect, art collector and educator. I fond of art and architecture, I collect contemporary art for over 10 years. I love to travel over the world to see art and architecture for inspiration. We have projects in Hong Kong, Australia, China, Italy, Macau, Malaysia, Taiwan and UAE, which is exciting and meaningful to exploring the world with our design.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
We utilise our strength, passion and profession to reach for our dreams. We have a vision that is characterised by articulating creative and alternative solutions to the complex social challenges today.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
As an architect, I contribute my professional knowledge to the society, not only design for the community but also actively participate in volunteer and educational work. For instances, being the Chairman of Hong Kong Institute of Architects Community Development Committee and Young Architect Awards and teaching in Architecture Department of Chu Hai Higher Education College.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
In 2014, Rising Moon received the Platinum Awards of A'Design Awards. We joined the awards ceremony, which gave us a wonderful opportunity to meet designers from all over the worlds, our friends from China and Japan, some new faces from America and Europe. We connected with designers in various disciplines and via the development of social media and communication method, we keep in touch and updating each other. It is an unforgettable experience and expanded our network.

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