I graduated from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. I firmly believe that I was born to be a designer. One can never be able to acquire the burning passion towards beauty and aesthetics with the help of any external force.
NowHere ® Design Ltd. is a Hong Kong based enterprise specializing in the following aspects: space design, branding, project management, contracting, furniture design, sustainability consults and gardening, with projects, products and services reaching clients all over Asia.
Just like any other enterprise, a design firm should bear in mind, its “social corporate responsibilities”, or the mission of fostering “social innovation”. Incorporate as much environmentally-friendly elements into your designs as possible!
As quality of life improves as time goes by, he noticed that more luxurious and playful designs are in the market. Functions of environmental protection and social innovations are also included, to combat social injustice.
As a designer from Hong Kong, a former British colony and a current Special Administrative Region of China, designers who underwent the British education system and witnessed the handover of Hong Kong, are more inclined to British and European styles, myself included. An advantage is, Hong Kong designers are situated in a highly-internationalized environment. We can absorb elements and styles from across countries, combining them into the best solutions.
Sounds quite cliché but mutual trust and respect between different parties involving in a design and construction project is a must. In the case of Hong Kong, there are no official governmental licenses nor registration systems provided to interior designers. The clients themselves have to select their designers based on reputation and trust.
I visit the site, conduct research about it, analyze the general picture, define problems and needs of the client. Come up with design concepts and themes, develop the detailed style and finally, carry out the technical execution of the construction.
Positives: Being able to design and study all kinds of beautiful articles and beings. Negatives: It’s an extremely time, energy and effort-consuming job!
The design process does not end when I receive payment from my client. It’s never-ending, as this piece will always be on my mind. I will keep reflecting on points that I could have been improved.
The clients always ask me about the cost and price of my projects for sure! Instead of telling them the fixed price, I focus more on the value and function of the project when I explain to them my proposal.
A charity organization once asked me to design a home for a disabled lady who had to live the rest of her life on a wheelchair. I was only given a tight budget of only $5000HKD, and I had to make sure my design complies with all the rigid laws and regulations of housing, construction and fire safety. The lady herself was skeptical about my ability as well.
One of them is the Mexican Consulate. The project was a 3-year cultural festival called “Mexican September”, held around a decade ago. I was in charge of the branding design and management of the event, as well as the site decoration etc. It was an awesome experience! My clients of interior design also include clinics, clubhouses, residents, churches etc.
Light fixtures, furniture and interior soft furnishing. I love to explore the endless possibilities that could happen between human, their living and working space and the environment.
I am currently working on some interactive design solutions to both commercial and residential spaces, best described as projects related to technology, intelligence and “smart city”.
Designer of the Day Interview with Tony Lau Chi-Hoi
I am the Founder and Creative Director of NowHere® Design Ltd. is a renowned designer who holds professional qualifications like HKDA (Exco) and HKIDA (Pro) with almost 20 years of experience. My works focus exclusively on interior architecture, property branding as well as sustainable interior design, and has been awarded numerous awards and honorary titles. I am awarded over 120 design, sustainability and CSR awards, including Gold A’ Design Award and CSD design award etc.
I did not choose to become a designer; the design career chooses me! My passion of painting, drawing, designing has been found within me ever since. As I grew up, teachers, family members and peers kept telling me that I am talented at art and design, that’s why I took up further studies in interior architectural design.
1)The client’s corporate image; 2)Functionality and user experience: especially being barrier-free and accessible to all users; and 3)Aesthetics. For the design process, I visit the site, conduct research about it, analyze the general picture, define problems and needs of the client. Come up with design concepts and themes, develop the detailed style and finally, carry out the technical execution of the construction. I utilize both manuscript sketches and AutoCAD to produce 2D graphics and 3D renderings, also build physical models to illustrate the project.
Indescribable joy and even ecstasy, almost going hyper during the first brainstorming and execution; lost and might somehow depressed when the project is completed. However, the initial sense of happiness surges when I receive positive feedback from clients or being awarded.
My experiences working with a renowned international gourmet liquor brand is remarkable to my design career. I cultivated a sense of a comprehensive property branding. Moreover, One of them is the Mexican Consulate. The project was a 3-year cultural festival called “Mexican September”, held around a decade ago. I took up branding design and management of the event, as well as the site decoration etc. It was an awesome experience!
I plan to take up more projects, propelling the development of a sustainable SMART CITY in Hong Kong and other cities worldwide. I have incorporated energy-efficient SMART systems to my Gold A’ Design Award-winning project- LaPuro Medical Beauty Centre. I aspire to apply the same methodology to even larger-scale commercial and interior architectural spaces. I would also like to design products like home accessories.
My career started at a difficult time, during economic depression. I started on my company on my own, without fame nor connection. I always put what Mother Teresa said as my motto- “do small things with great love”. You have to love what you do and put through.
Remember hard work pays off; a designer should possess the mentality of the leader- look forward, think out of the box and be persistent. Do not be afraid of obstacles. You may always sharpen your skills and accumulate experience along the way of your career, despite unfavorable conditions such as adverse economy. Do equip yourselves with ample aesthetic substances and creativity. Do utilize digital tools but do not be dictated or constrained by them. A good designer should be irreplaceable by computers and deliver his works through hand-sketched manuscripts.
I want both- at present I’d like to create what’s hip this season, and have my work become a memorable classic in the future! My goal is to start a revolution and create the trend!
I never consider my designs fully “ready”. Even upon completion of construction stage, I will always look back and review my past works. There is always room for improvement.
The seemingly most insignificant projects are the “biggest”. There was a remarkable voluntary residential design project, done for a lady who survived through a severe traffic accident. Unfortunately, she was paralyzed and had to stay on a wheelchair. She was allocated to stay in a government housing apartment, which was almost inaccessible. I was only given a tight budget of only $5000HKD, and I had to make sure my design complies with all the rigid laws and regulations of housing, construction and fire safety.Me and my team spent our non-office hours tailor-making slopes, tracks, movable lighting fixtures and adjusted the partitions of the apartment and crafted furniture that satisfies her daily needs. I take pride in solving problems using creativity. I enjoy thinking differently and seeing things from the user’s perspective.
Ieoh Ming Pei, the true legend of architectural design. Take the glass-and-steel pyramid for the Musée du Louvre as an example, his cutting-edge interpretation to the museum that display the best of history and art, is ever-so-inspiring.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, its unique geographical and geopolitical location has imposed great influence on my design. It’s a spot where the East meets West, where freedom of speech and creativity thrives, where new technologies are developed and spread. As a witness of the handover of Hong Kong back to China, I feel that Hong Kong designers’ works and thinking changes according to the adjustment of the new political climate. Postcolonialism is easily seen, which makes Hong Kong designers unique- a blend of family-and-society-oriented traditional Chinese moral values; plus the Western perception which values individuality.
Pursuing Truth, Goodness and Beauty in art; realizing the artistry of design based on Faith, Hope and Love. Also, as mentioned above, “do small things with great love”.
As the voluntary visual art instructor at Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre, I have to stress the importance of humanitarian design. The school offers education with full stream curriculum and provides therapeutic, nursing and boarding services for those disabled children. Equipping these students with talents of art and design will broaden their further education and career path, thus contributing my skills and profession to those in need. Furthermore, my team and I provide long-term design consultancy service to the school, enhancing their hardware and campus into a fully accessible space for everyone. I am also a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, School of Professional and Continuing Education. I’d like to see aspiring design students developing their full potential and bridges from academia to the business world. I conduct volunteer works with my students helping various charity NGOs. Bringing assistance and exposure to the future designers. As an active member of multiple design associations in Hong Kong, I help to promote design culture within and beyond the city, also raise the public’s awareness to respect design and intellectual property rights.
It was a remarkable experience! I received recognition in my work, as well as wide international media exposure. It is a fantastic platform to showcase my vision behind my design projects, which highlights the humanitarian and sustainable qualities. It is my true pleasure to be the Designer of the Day!
I graduated from department of Interior Design, The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong; I have also been St. Martins College, UK to pursue advanced studies.
The aspirations to solve issues and problems, to create, study and be surrounded beautiful objects motivate me to design.
I became a designer so that my rebellious thoughts and crazy ideas can be translated into actual solutions and products.
First of all I do not consider myself as a legend at all, yet I encourage young designers to stay open-minded to new ideas, never stop learning and appreciating knowledge. Also, be persistence and do not give up easily!
A good design is for everyone’s use. It serves its mass users well. A great design must fulfill all the client’s needs, perhaps be better than his initial expectation. It also should be revolutionary and innovative, as well as distinctive in academic value.
Ieoh Ming Pei. He is a true legend in the architecture and design sector. He was the first architect to employ glass as the main material of the curtain walls of his designs. His incredible vision and persistence strived to overcome all the technical issues back in the days. I was truly moved and inspired by him. My respect towards him is beyond words.
Steven Holl’s chapels. The exquisite spatial planning, the amazing manipulation of natural light and fixtures are impressive! He gave a fresh and creative interpretation to these holy spaces by his design.
My greatest design is a non-profitable project for a paraplegic lady in her 30s. A Chaplain from a hospice care centre reached out to me, inviting me to help furnishing the flat that was given to the lady, on a budget of only $5000 HKD.
The greatest aspect of the design is that, it includes the human touch in everything from hard to soft furnishings. The project was planned and executed subsequent to through interviews and visits, so that my team and I comprehend her limitations, wants, needs and preferences.
esigners provides solutions and satisfy their clients; whereas as an artist, I create works that satisfy my own enjoyment and fulfill my spiritual needs.