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Louie Shum

Hong Kong (China)Interior

Interviews with Louie Shum

Read the interviews with Louie Shum: understand their philosophy, creative process and award-winning work.

Designer Profile

Designer Interview

33 questions

I created this studio about 7 years ago. At the beginning we worked on offices and residential projects. Little by little, we started to work on boutique hotel projects and office headquarters of listing companies and…

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?

Bachelor of Fine Art / Self taught Interior Designer.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

I created this studio about 7 years ago. At the beginning we worked on offices and residential projects. Little by little, we started to work on boutique hotel projects and office headquarters of listing companies and private banks.

What is "design" for you?

Great design adds beauty and style to functionality.

What kinds of works do you like designing most?

I love to work on hotel projects under 100 rooms. I get to explore different cultures and get to know interesting people from all over the world.

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

The' Playhouse' project. I've got a chance to discover a new dialogue for House of Beast's design style.

What was the first thing you designed for a company?

Designed my Dad Bakery Chain

What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

Opulent materials like Marble, Brass & Leather

When do you feel the most creative?

Traveling is the biggest. Listen to my favorite feel good music works every time!

Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

Functionalities, vibe of space and details

What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

Day dreaming, Blank, Intense, Keep contradict with yourself

What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

Positive upbeat emotion, Calm and Open-minded

What makes a design successful?

Good design concept. Good execution in details. Well organized work flow. Keep reviewing till you get sick of it!

When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

Harmonization, Creativity, Color palette

From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

Give positive aspect to life and hope to influence more people to enjoy design.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

Technology has taken us further and let us evolved immensely for the past ten years.

However, I still think by staying organic in design thinking and respect the craft techniques are as important.

Milennial

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

Flipping through archive references from my favorite interior designers and artists. Look for something extraordinary.

Movies can stimulate my design thinking as well.

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?

I craft space like a sculptor and I don't like framing myself at the developing stage.

Intuitive thinking determine my design aspect but of course referencing is crucial too.

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've been living and studied in Los Angeles, Vancouver before moving back to Hong Kong. It's obvious that

Museums, galleries, and flea markets are

How do you work with companies?

Micro Management in all aspects. Well organized design work flow routine. Attention to details. Time management

What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

I guess educational background and working experiences are very important.

A well organize

Can you talk a little about your design process?

Overloaded with references in my head and filtered out the most

What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

My Franco Alibini lounge Chair, Finn Juhl 46 dining chairs, Hermes chair by Enzo Mari, Hario V60 "Buono" Copper Drip Kettle, Apple TV

Can you describe a day in your life?

Hand drip coffee, Meetings with Teammates, Day dreaming, Nap for half an hour after lunch, Designer at work.

Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

Passion in design, Take risks, Observe your world, Train your eyes to be able to execute.

What skills are most important for a designer?

Be responsible and deliver tasks on time

Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

A proper skill set has been developed through the past seven years. My team can manage their own time effeciently by repeating that routine

What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

Why so expensive?!

What was your most important job experience?

Commissioned & design Pitch to develop a new concept for UBS Bank Hong Kong Kowloon division.

Who are some of your clients?

Professionals, Super rich Tycoons, Hotel management company

What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

I love to work on Hotel projects. I get to explore different sectors of design like the restaurants and bars, gym & spas and various types of room styles.

What are your future plans? What is next for you?

Impress more people around the world with my design. My own furniture collection.

Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

I develop the core concept for each project

How can people contact you?

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Email:beast@houseofbeast.com

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The designer interview questions and answers published in our interview page with Louie Shum come from Designer Interviews, the international platform where world's top designers, star architects, creators and innovators are interviewed.