I've been a designer for 15 years since graduated. I furthered my study in UK, a country that possesses strong stance on environmental protection.
01Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I've been a designer for 15 years since graduated. I furthered my study in UK, a country that possesses strong stance on environmental protection. In 2007, I founded my own company and manifests green design philosophy to custom-made projects for my clients. One of my clients is the CEO of a large local skin care and cosmetics manufacturer in Hong Kong.
02How did you become a designer?
I like drawing and making toys by using raw materials locally from nature during my childhood in a village. I studied interior design in university as I am very interested in it. I directly entered the interior design industry after graduation.
03What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I would start my design process by studying the requirements from client, exisiting layouts and space, followed by creating and marking some sketches. It is of upmost importance that the use of space, style, colours and materials of the furniture should suit the living habits and needs of the homeowners. The overall setting should be calm and relaxing, so that homeowners can enjoy staying home. The sustainability of materials is also an important point to consider.
04Which emotions do you feel when designing?
The most exciting moment is when starting a new project with new criteria and I look forward to seeing the design being transformed to a better design during the journey. I feel contented and pleased when seeing the finishing work, and knowing the client is satisfied with the work.
05What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Be open-minded, always keen to research, eager to learn and aim for improvement are important factors to a designer."We borrow from nature the space upon which we build." - Tadao Ando, the world-class renowned architect. I was inspired by him and believe nature and environment are the irreplaceable elements in interior design, this becomes my rationale in every design.
06What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I furthered my study in Interior Design in UK after graduation in Hong Kong. I founded my own company in 2007 and have gained industry recognition, winning several local and international awards throughout these years. I would like to lead my company to become top 10 interior design company in Hong Kong. My dream design project is to design a Buddhism temple.
07What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
My advices to young designers - lay a solid foundation, be keen to learn about new things and technologies, keep up with the passion, maintain a good standard of demand and attitude and build up your own experience which are very essential to your career.
08You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Be proactive and always listen to clients' requirements as after all they are the end users.
09What is your day to day look like?
Team discussion/ meeting, researching various design aspects, designing and meeting clients mark my daily routine.
10How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I will spare part of my day to read books, magazines and browse websites for new interior design trends, ideas and materials. I keep attending local and international exhibitions and joining competitions to keep up with the industry, and exchange ideas with peer, architects and material suppliers.Recently, more and more clients would like to integrate smart living system into their homes. Clients will appreciate your design idea more when you can give them new insights.
11How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
A well designed project is one with no fault, technically realizable and has high standard in finishing. And as important, how much a design fits to the needs and living habits of the clients is the core value of the design. A good design should serve the above function and enhance the convenience of the end users.
12How do you decide if your design is ready?
I would say the design is complete when all the components needed are thoroughly drawn with materials, dimensions and checked with the technical aspects. I would discuss with the team and present my design to client to see any further comments, modifications or improvements are needed. I would consider the degree of success in relation to the feedbacks from the clients.
13What is your biggest design work?
I've designed a 20,000 square feet villa in Weihai, a city in China. This project included mutiple floors, garden and an infinity pool, meaning a large indoor area and also outdoor area. Considerations on landscape design, technical and maintenance issues of outdoor seating and entertainments were needed.
14Who is your favourite designer?
Inspired by Tadao Ando, the renowned architect, I like to infuse natural materials into my design.I also find the designs of Patrick Blanc in France and Chi Wing Lo in Italy very impressive. Patrick Blanc is an expert in design with natural materials. Chi Wing Lo is specialized in high end furniture design and production, I am proud of him as a reputable designer originated from Hong Kong.
15Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I like to photo-taking, reading and studying Buddhism. I like street photography the most, as it can improve my perceptiveness and sensitivity, and widen my perspectives on social culture and arts. I gain more knowledge on interior design through reading and exploring. And it is important that Buddhism guides me to live an honest life.
16Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
Usually I have my project team to work on a particular design project, I will be the person that leads the project design and supervise all the details. I would like my team members to be detailed-minded for a fit, faultless and good design, while keep an open-mind for more inspirations and possibility of improvement.
17What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I have been making donations to different charities, including one which help aids orphans. My life goal is to set up a charitable foundation to provide homes and education for orphans, so that they all have a chance to live a better life, and may do the same to others when they have the abilities and influence the others.
18What positive experiences you had when you attend the A' Design Award?
A' Design Award is a renowned international award that gives designers industry recognition and exposures to different media. Participants also open up their eyes to good design projects, be inspired and connect with designers all over the world. It is good for designers to join not only local, but also international awards to get different experiences.
We are inspired by the personality and taste of the homeowners, who has a deep affection to the Japanese cultures.
01What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
We are inspired by the personality and taste of the homeowners, who has a deep affection to the Japanese cultures.
02What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
We focused on delivering a warm and homey design and have been using clean lines and natural color palette to create a minimal and yet inviting home.
03What are your future plans for this award winning design?
We will explore other opportunities to reuse some of the good elements that we used in this design and keep exploring new ideas to deliver something even more interesting.
04Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
The design with harmonious sense of Zen vibe are inspired by the homeowners’ taste. The greenery from outside has made a perfect backdrop, giving an overall fluidity and connection to the space.
05Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
We are not planning to sell the design as it marks an important milestone for us winning the A’Design Awards.
06What made you design this particular type of work?
We love residential design since every home is a custom-made comfort for our client.
07Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
Yes certainly it is a team work.
08Who is the target customer for his design?
The homeowner is a couples who hired us for making this happened.
09What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
The design is highlighted by the use of warm oak wooden accents and the color scheme of grey and blue that looks simple and cozy. Scandinavian aesthetics has undoubtedly flourished this design.
10How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
The residence is designed in Japandi style with simplicity and minimalism for the harmonious atmosphere.
11Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
AutoCAD, 3D Max, Sketchup and Photoshop.
12What is the most unique aspect of your design?
It is full of characters and tailored to the homeowner.
13Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
Construction team
14What is the role of technology in this particular design?
Technology supports everything in this house from lighting control to audio system, it marks a remarkable results in whole.
15Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
As the homeowners has a deep affection to the Japanese cultures, research were done on design to fit the needs and personality of the clients, and the background research has consolidated the design.
16What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
We have to pick the right elements that can fulfill the design and to plan lots of storage but keeping it in simple form, and also how to work around the existing fitting and fixtures like floorings, doors, bedroom and kitchen etc.
17How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
Having received good comments from various sources, it boosts our confidence to submit the work for a leading international design award competition.
18What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
It's always important to understand the client's need and get the research done right to deliver something that's adhere to the brief.
We are inspired by the brief provided by the homeowner, who is a bachelor practicing in financial industry.
01What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
We are inspired by the brief provided by the homeowner, who is a bachelor practicing in financial industry.
02What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
We focused on the interior and the use of space to create a modern and stylish home. Achieving a design fits to the needs and living habits of the client is the main focus.
03What are your future plans for this award winning design?
We will explore other opportunities to reuse some of the good elements we used in this design yet keep exploring new ideas to deliver something with a twist
04Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
The design is inspired by the lifestyle of homeowner, a finance profession who lives with his dog. We have created an open workplace for which can be partitioned with glass door for fluidity and transparency.
05Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
We are not planning to sell the design as it marks an important milestone for us winning the A’Design Awards.
06What made you design this particular type of work?
We love residential design since every home is a custom-made comfort for our client.
07Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
Yes certainly it is a team work
08Who is the target customer for his design?
The homeowner who hired us for making this happen.
09What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
The design uses a variety of wood combination and natural textured elements to contrast the white wall for showcasing the artwork collection. An overall homogenized sense is established across the whole residence.
10How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
Masculine approach is used in the design with grey, brown and black color scheme. The design is man-centered, and the space create a manly aesthetic.
11Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
AutoCAD, 3D Max, Sketchup and Photoshop.
12What is the most unique aspect of your design?
The design has used modest cool colour scheme of grey, brown and black consistently to set the masculinity and an organic accents.
13Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
Construction team
14What is the role of technology in this particular design?
Technology supports everything in this house from lighting control to audio system, it marks a remarkable results in whole.
15Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
As the homeowner works from home from time to time, we take special care on his lifestyle, making a workplace adjoining with the living room, for a more spacious feeling.
16What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
We have to pick the right elements that can fulfill all the design and to plan lots of storage but keeping it in simple form, and also how to work around the existing fitting and fixtures like floorings, doors, bedroom and kitchen etc.
17How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
Having received good comments from various sources, it boosts our confidence to submit the work for a leading international design award competition.
18What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
It is always important to understand the client's need and keep searching for area to improve on.
បទសម្ភាសន៍ទេវតារចនា
46 សំណួរ
I grew up in a country side in Hong Kong and has always been influenced by nature and was then inspired to became a designer
01Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?
I got my BA(Hons) Interior Design from Kingston University
02What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?
I grew up in a country side in Hong Kong and has always been influenced by nature and was then inspired to became a designer
03Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
I certainly enjoy to design so I'm grateful that I'm a designer
04What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
Interior design is what my focus on and I'm devoted to create more home for people who like my design
05What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?
Focus on your career path and do everything with your whole heart
06What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?
Determination
07What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
Keep improving and never be satisfied
08What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?
Youre not buying just the good design but paying for the attitude and effort that the designer had put in to create the product
09What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?
Design a Buddha temple if I ever have the chance
10What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
Attention to detail
11Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
Chi Wing Lo and Tadao Ando
12What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?
Love the minimalist design and any design that's sustainable and built with eco elements
13What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?
Greatest design is yet to come
14How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?
Learn from the goods and bads
15If you hadn't become a designer, what would you have done?
I don't know as I have never thought of that
16How do you define design, what is design for you?
Design is something that improve our life and I'm using design as a platform to communicate with the world
17Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?
My family
18What helped you to become a great designer?
All the great designers out there that has influenced me by their design
19What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?
Convincing client to use my design while I was still junior
20How do you think designers should present their work?
Any way that the designer feel it represents the best side of their work
21What's your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?
You'll be surprised
22What's your ultimate goal as a designer?
Use my design to influence more people
23What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?
Humble and always eager to learn
24How does design help create a better society?
It connects people and bring harmony to family and friends
25What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?
I'm excited for all the projects that I work on as each of them are a new opportunity for me to improve
26Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?
The villa project in China since I love the collaboration I had with that client
27What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?
More good designers immersed
28Where do you think the design field is headed next?
To something more versatile
29How long does it take you to finalize a design project?
At least 6 months for each project
30When you have a new design project, where do you start?
Start by listening to the client's need
31What is your life motto as a designer?
Always give your best and never give in
32Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?
Design set the trends
33What is the role of technology when you design?
It helps consolidate the concept and speed up the design process
34What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?
AutoCAD, 3D Max, Sketchup, Photoshop and Lightroom
35What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?
They are all the key elements for a good design, the outcome is never the same if either of the element is off the balance
36What do you wish people to ask about your design?
Space and colour use
37When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?
Salute to the effort that the designer had put in to create that
38Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?
Chi Wing Lo and I definitely believe in co-design and team work
39Which books you read had the most effect on your design?
Too many to be named
40How did you develop your skills as a master designer?
Patience and practice
41Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?
Hans Wegner and Henri Cartier-Bresson
42How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?
It's certainly not an easy so that's why I'm grateful for everyone who have supported me throughout the journey
43What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?
White, Italy, meatless, autumn and Leica
44What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?
Travelling and be inspired
45When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?
I just know I love design since small and I believed I can come up with some good design one day
46What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?
There's no more nature and the world is dominated by technology and robots
បទសម្ភាសន៍អ្នករចនា
37 សំណួរ
I graduated with BA(Hons) Interior Design from Kingston University and I've always wanted to become a designer since small.
01Could 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?
I graduated with BA(Hons) Interior Design from Kingston University and I've always wanted to become a designer since small.
02Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I found this firm in 2007 and manifests green design philosophy to custom-made projects for my clients.
03What is "design" for you?
"Design" for me is something that has a close relation to the nature.
04What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I like to design for residential interior the most.
05What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
One of the on going projects in China is my favourite as I get to use implant different styles within a villa.
06What was the first thing you designed for a company?
I designed a boutique located in Hong Kong.
07What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Wood is my favourite material and I also like to use all natural and sustainable materials.
08When do you feel the most creative?
I feel free to create when I am not creating something under pressure nor deadline.
09Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
I put my focus on the interior and the use of space.
10What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I feel excited and inspirational during design.
11What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I would be happy and grateful when my designs are realized.
12What makes a design successful?
A successful design is one that everyone loves it especially the homeowner.
13When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
I look into the overall space use and overall craftsmanship.
14From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Designing something that's sustainable and long lasting and won't age in time is good for society and environment.
15How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
It's going to get more versatile and fast moving.
16When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
I have been focusing more on online media recently. I have not joined any exhibition by far but I am planning to take part in the near future.
17Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Daily life and everything that surround us is my source of inspiration.
18How 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 design style is modern, simple and to custom-made comfort and calm homes for clients. Keeping things clean is the key.
19Where 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?
Hong Kong is where I'm from and it's such a fast pacing city that you have to keep up to trend all the time.
20What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Good communication skill, being responsive and proactive, taking on responsibility and maintaining a good standard of demand are the key elements.
21Can you talk a little about your design process?
After getting the design brief, I will do as much background and style research before getting into the design. While designing, I keep trying and testing until I'm pleased with the outcome.
22What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TV cabinet, light trough, feature wall, kitchen and wardrobe are my favourite design items at home.
23Can you describe a day in your life?
Team discussion/ meeting, researching various design aspects, designing and meeting clients mark my daily routine.
24Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
My advices to young designers - lay a solid foundation, be keen to learn about new things and technologies, keep up with the passion, maintain a good standard of demand and attitude and build up your own experience which are essential to your career.
25From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Positives are that you will have chances to create new things and design is fun. Negatives are that you have to be able to work under pressure and design is a never-ending process.
26What is your "golden rule" in design?
My golden rule is "Learn from the good".
27What skills are most important for a designer?
Open-minded and always in search to improve every design are important for a designer.
28Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I use freehand sketch and softwares like Autocad, 3D Max, Sketchup and Photoshop.
29Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Sometimes I have to sacrifice my own time for work to have the best design.
30How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It usually takes 1-2 months on design and minimum 4 months to build for interior.
31What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
People usually ask me "How to come up with something not the same every time?".
32Who are some of your clients?
My clients include professionals, bankers, lawyers and celebrities.
33What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I like to start new design, as coming up with a new idea is always fun.
34What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I would like to design a Buddhism temple if I have the chance.
35Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
Without the effort of the team members, the design is never the same.
36Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
I will keep that a secret and stay tune to our website for the finishing works.
37How can people contact you?
People contact me mainly by email or Facebook inquiry, while some local clients will call my office.
A' Design Award គឺជាពានរង្វាន់រចនាល្អអន្តរជាតិដែលវាយតម្លៃដោយគណៈកម្មការ។ ចូលរួមក្នុង A' Design Award ដើម្បីទទួលបានឱកាសក្នុងការទទួលស្គាល់ដោយគុណសម្បត្តិ ទទួលបានកិត្តិនាម កិត្តិយស និងការផ្សព្វផ្សាយសម្រាប់ការងាររបស់អ្នក។ ដាក់ស្នាដៃរបស់អ្នកសម្រាប់ A' Design Award ហើយប្រកួតប្រជែងដើម្បីឈ្នះ A' Design Prize ដ៏គោរពរាប់អាន។
ទិន្នន័យបទសម្ភាសន៍រចនាដែលបង្ហាញនៅលើទំព័របទសម្ភាសន៍រចនារបស់យើង ជាមួយអ្នករចនា Andy Wan អំពីស្នាដៃ The Rise of Japandi ការរចនាផ្ទៃក្នុងលំនៅដ្ឋាន មកពីវេទិកា Design Interviews ដែលអ្នករចនា ស្ថាបត្យករ និងម៉ាកឈានមុខត្រូវបានសម្ភាសន៍អំពីការរចនា ផលិតផល និងគម្រោងឈ្នះពានរង្វាន់របស់ពួកគេ។
