డిజైనర్ ఇంటర్వ్యూ
37 ప్రశ్నలు
I’ve been into art and design since I have any recollection of memory. Graduated in graphic design at Central Saint Martins, I have been trained my whole life to be a designer.
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?
I’ve been into art and design since I have any recollection of memory. Graduated in graphic design at Central Saint Martins, I have been trained my whole life to be a designer.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
House of Forme is an unconventional design practice. We provide a full-service design approach, focusing on storytelling across different disciplines for brands of all shapes and sizes.
What is "design" for you?
Design is not only how things look or feel. It's how things work.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Recently objects, furniture and lighting design, something that feels foreign yet closely knit to what I normally do. Every object is an opportunity to tell a story.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
Branding a resort destination in Bali.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Brass. I love materials that age beautifully with time. Patina of brass just has so much soul and characteristics.
When do you feel the most creative?
When I’m travelling. I feel like a sponge. Absorbing the culture, the nature and everything I see.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
The human experience. How it works.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
Curiosity, strategic thinking, empathy, experimental mindset.
What makes a design successful?
Beyond completing clients’ asks, it achieves some one-of-a-kind experience.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
As designers, we’re cautious of the environment, from paper usage to material selections. We’re always trying to be careful about how our design is impacting the environment.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AI is definitely the future, but the value for human craft will also evolve.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
We had a furniture show at Design Shenzhen 2025. No plans on next exhibition yet.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Inspiration comes from daily life and research. Everything we do is heavily embedded in research, to understand the past and inform a better future.
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?
Storytelling is our style.
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 live in Hong Kong. A very eclectic mix of different cultures. It has lots of offerings, very vibrant, lots of stimulus. People here are known to be judgmental. I guess that shapes my multicultural background, I can always pull inspirations from my life. I am also extremely critical with my work.
How do you work with companies?
With companies or individuals, the most important part is to understand and empathize with clients’ situations. If you’re too full force on pushing personal styles, it’s not gonna end well.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Trust the designer. The process needs to be collaborative. See potential from their past work and character instead of asking for free pitches. It's not how it works.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Research, research, research.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
A print made from scraps from London streets pressed into paper. A side table by Menu. A bespoke designed light I designed at the entrance.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Wake up, have a cup of espresso, check emails, work, tons of meetings, practice golf, a bit of reading, and repeat.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Listen first.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
The positives are that you do what you love and make a living out of it. You’re constantly inspired by the people you work with, the projects you get, every day is challenging. The downside is when you first start off it’s going to be difficult, especially in a place like Hong Kong. But it will get better as people start to respect you for what you do.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
How does it make you feel is more important than how does it look. More importantly, it's how it works.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Empathy and curiosity.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I love collecting old things - prints, watches, objects, books. They all have their own story.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Set deadlines, work efficiently, have a good team to support me.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It depends.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
"How long does it take?"
What was your most important job experience?
All my experiences are equally important. It helped shaped who I am today.
Who are some of your clients?
We work with small startups to Fortune 500 companies, including Marriott, HongKong Land, Hong Kong Jockey Club and many more.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
Full service design work as we can craft a consistent story.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
Hopefully more international exposure, more challenging and rewarding projects.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I work as a team.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
We are designing an entire office building in Hong Kong, to some luxury residential homes, all the way to hospitality brands in Niseko, Paris, which I am very excited about.
How can people contact you?
Contact my company through our website www.houseofforme.com/
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
Make sure to follow us on Instagram @houseofforme.