THE MAGAZINE OF THE HONG KONG DESIGN INSTITUTE ISSUE NINE 2014

NEXT SEIZE THE DAY SMALLMIRACLES FRESH VISIONS FROM YOUNG DESIGNERS

CAPABILITY TOWN ANGEL’S SHARE SOCIAL CREATIVITY SUPPORTING A NEW FORISSUE SENIOR NINE 2014 | SIGN CITIZENS GENERATION OF STARS2 ELEGANCE IS ISSUE NINE USUALLY CONFUSED WITH SUPERFICIALITY, FASHION, LACK OF DEPTH. THIS IS A SERIOUS MISTAKE: HUMAN BEINGS NEED TO HAVE ELEGANCE BECAUSE THIS WORD IS SYNONYMOUS

ideals of grace” especially when craftsmanship was WITH GOOD TASTE, involved. This makes “design” and “elegance” a pair of close relatives who should properly be regarded AMIABILITY, EQUILIBRIUM as members of the same family, with the same bloodline. A design that has no elegance is unlikely AND HARMONY. The Italian Modernist designer Massimo to have much impact, and to say that something Vignelli, who died earlier this year aged 83 was elegant has no design values is an offence against PAULO COELHO a prolific creator who applied simple geometric logic. The stories in SIGNED IX explore the power forms to an astonishing range of design problems. that design and elegance have when they work in He was responsible for the New York City subway tandem. In Seize The Day the work of graduates map, he made an acclaimed documentary called from HKDI’s programmes are showcased and the Helvetica, and he designed furniture, invented new pieces that most powerfully strike the eye are those forms of packaging and worked as an architect. that have the discipline and intelligence that elegant Vignelli is celebrated for the expression, “If you design requires. In Picture This and Moving Images can design one thing, you can design everything,” we see how the visual arts rely upon an elegant but equally intriguing is his belief that “There is selection of angle and editing to produce the most no design without discipline. There is no discipline powerful photographs and films. In Capability Town without intelligence.” This statement is a manifesto we see how Patricia Moore uses design to create for elegant design, or the belief that the forms and elegant solutions to make the lives of elders more products we create should avoid superfluous artistry comfortable and productive; Angel’s Share tells the and have an empathetic regard for humanity. Thus story of the Muses Foundation and the elegant we have chosen “elegance” as the theme for this simplicity of its mission to support young design ninth edition of SIGNED, in order to celebrate talents that might otherwise miss their chance what design can achieve when it’s restrained and to shine. Everywhere in this edition design and meticulous. These days the word “elegance” is most elegance are combined. Design and elegance flow often associated with celebrities and fashion models, together like drops of water in a river, one where but its roots are much more meaningful. The word the currents of culture combine to make new forms, emerged in the 15th century as a derivative from the elevating and refreshing humanity. As Vignelli French “élégant”, which had its roots in the Latin observed the seeds of one design has the fruits of terms elegantem meaning “choice, fine, or tasteful,” many. And thus do designers make the world a and eligere meaning “select with care”. Its use in the better place. 16th and 17th centuries suggests that the word was associated with activities that required “training DANIEL JEFFREYS and cultivation through the study of models or Editor-In-Chief

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06 FEATURE 12 EVENT SEIZE THE DAY PICTURE THIS Fledging talent Photographers Leong Ka unveiled at the HKDI’s Tai and Tse Ming Chong NEW VOICES shows in dialogue

18 FEATURE 24 EDITORIAL 28 FEATURE MOVING IMAGES SO COOL, SO HOT THE MESSAGE IS Pang Ho-cheung and Hong Kong’s TRANSMEDIA Fruit Chan dissect Hong entrepreneurial Technology is changing Kong’s film industry designers make Sheung the way that designers Wan their new home communicate, creating a whole new industry

34 EVENT 38 FEATURE 42 FEATURE STORIES THAT CAPABILITY DISTANCE SELL TOWN LEARNING The A to Z of Patricia Moore on The Travelling successful branding using design to Fashionistas bring their empower show to HKDI

46 FEATURE 50 EVENT ANGEL’S SHARE TALENT The work of the Muses CARNIVAL Foundation is having A radiant platform a profound impact for vocational on the lives of some training young talents

t HE maG a ZINE OF t HE HONG KONG DESIGN INSt I t U t E The Hong Kong Design Institute is a member institution of the Vocational Training EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DANIEL JEFFREYS

ISSUE NINE 2014 Council. For more information about HKDI, please check our website on MANAGING EDITOR SUMMER CAO CREATIVE DIRECTOR VANESSA KO www.hkdi.edu.hk, or email us at [email protected] COVER IMAGE EDITORIAL BOARD LESLIE LU • AMY CHAN • TERENCE WONG • BEN MAU • LIZ MCLAFFERTY • DANIEL CHAN • A BROOCH DESIGNED BY Signed is produced on behalf of the Hong Kong Design Institute by deluxewords, WONG PAK KAY • NIKI SHEK • ANNIE LAM NExt SEIZE a subsidiary of Deluxe Holdings Limited, Winning Centre, 46-48 Wyndham Street, DaY HKDI STUDENT WONG KA YEE, SmallmIraclES FrESH VISIONS PHOTOGRAPHY VANESSA KO EDITOR LIBBY ZENG CONTRIBUTORS JEREMY PAYNE AND PUI WONG FrOm YOUNG DESIGNErS INSPIRED BY THE JAPANESE Hong Kong. Advertising sales enquiries to +852 2868 0671. Printed in Hong Kong capaBIlItY tOwN aNGEl’S SHarE SOcIal crEatIVItY SUppOrtING a NEw FOrISSUE SENIO NINE 2014 | SIGNr cItIZENS GENEratION OF StarS1 COPY EDITOR RIK GLAUERT PUBLISHER DELUXEWORDS TEA CEREMONY. by Hang Sing Printing. Origination by deluxewords.

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THEDAY

We have entered a new era, when taste and appetites are in flux and opportunities can evaporate in seconds. To triumph, designers need to think with creativity, deploy craft and technique, step forward with passion, and diligently observe the market. The work unveiled at the HKDI’s annual design show had all these elements. libby zeng reports. ALL IMAGES: HKDI ALL IMAGES:

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WE WANT TO HAVE DESIGNERS WITH THESE SKILLS AND MINDSETS TO SATISFY MARKET DEMAND IN HONG

olourful lights danced to the rhythm of with the inauguration of an Accessories Show, which KONG. stirring music as professional models walked introduced intriguing works from the first cohort of the runway to showcase exquisitely stylish graduates of Accessories Design. Every student was Cdesigns. An ecstatic audience held their tasked with designing full sets of works including breath, while still managing to take photos with cameras garments, hats, bags and shoes to create a symphony of and cell phones. It sounds like an international show in fashion and style. one of the four fashion capitals, but in a way, this was This new course was created to meet a new trend in someting better. When the young student designers took the fashion industry, in which clothing and accessory their richly deserved curtain call this June after “New collections are inspired by the same theme. “We want to Fashion Force”, the annual design show of HKDI’s have designers with these skills and mindsets to satisfy Fashion and Image Design the market demand in Hong Kong,” Department (FID), the audience said To. could believe they had seen the HKDI has always celebrated a talents who will help Asia take market-focused passion for creativity its place as a leading force in the and innovation. The first cohort of global fashion industry. graduates from Architectural Design “The students’ work was truly provides an illustration. Comix brilliant and a testament to the Home Base, a beautifully revitalised determination and dedication historic building in Wanchai was of the fashion team to provide chosen as the venue for FORM/ quality education,” says SHIFT, an exhibition that displayed work was the students’ positive attitude toward learning from industry Elizabeth McLafferty, Head of the outstanding student designs. professionals. the Department of Fashion and Weaving creative imagination “We invited experienced architects to conduct a public review of the Image Design. and solid skills into unique Hong projects during the exhibition. I was impressed by the active engagement of PREVIOUS PAGE FASHION COLLECTIONS FROM Thirty-two students Kong streets and spaces including our students during and after the review,” says Leung. HKDI’S “NEW FASHION FORCE 2014” presented their exceptional Hollywood Road, Pound Lane, Po If the Architecture Design Graduation Exhibition was a sunrise, OPPOSITE PAGE TOP WORKS IN work to the public this year, Hing Fong area and the coastline indicating a bright future for the architectural education and design scene HKDI’S ARCHITECTURE DESIGN GRADUATION EXHIBITION with a special emphasis on of To Kwa Wan, the students of Hong Kong, then the well-crafted works in the iConique - Jewellery OPPOSITE PAGE LOWER texture, as part of “Emerging succeeded in unfolding the city’s and Lifestyle Design Show were a sparkling constellation, imbuing a sultry LIEW WAN SING’S DESIGN FROM “ICONIQUE - JEWELLERY AND Design Talents 2014: New fascinating stories with design summer’s eve with twinkling romance and elegance. LIFESTYLE DESIGN SHOW” Voices”, which featured projects projects that included underground “The show has been a complete success. The fabulous and exciting THIS PAGE TOP TWO WORKS from students of HKDI and IVE (Lee Wai Lee). rock climbing, an interweaved tower art school, and atmosphere can be seen in the wide eyes, giant smiles, and nonstop flashing of FROM HKDI’S FASHION IMAGE SHOW “THE REVOLUTIONARY “They adopted various techniques such as print, laser a get-fit park for the elderly. The topics “highlighed cameras,” remarked Bill Chan, Course and Stream leader in Jewellery Design. IMAGE OF THE NEW GENERATION” cutting, embroidery and 3D effects with great attention to the students’ own interest in architectural exploration More design approaches were pursued in this year’s exhibition covering THIS PAGE BELOW detail,” says Portia To, Senior Lecturer and leader of the new forms, topics, materials and styles. Chan believes it proves the students’ A PARTICIPANT ENJOYS A GAME AT and discussion, and of course their passion,” says Carol THE DEPARTMENT OF Higher Diploma Fashion Design Programme. Leung, Visiting Fellow of HKDI Architectural Design, creativity and dedication to the design process. COMMUNICATION DESIGN This year’s show ratcheted up the excitement a notch who says that one of the most positive aspects of the The ability to innovate has always been considered a key factor for success AND DIGITAL MEDIA EXHIBITION

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LEFT PERFORMANCE FROM MUSIC IN MOTION OPPOSITE PAGE TOP A SCREEN CAPTURE FROM MICRO FILM SCREENING OPPOSITE PAGE LOWER PERFORMANCE FROM THE MULTIMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT SHOW

in the design industry. However, Chan believes a good “Microfilms have become popular and our designer should also have a keen awareness of the department has a corresponding module, so we market. “Our society needs change and enhancement decided to hold a screening to test our students’ every day.” Says Chan. skills,” says Peter Si, Acting Principal Lecturer, in the For Chan, listening to the voices of the industry plays Department of Multimedia and Internet Technology, an important role in a designer’s development. Only IVE (Lee Wai Lee). when designers understand an industry’s values can they The Micro Film Screening was jointly held by the capture trends and make successful innovations. Department of Communication Design & Digital The same spirit was observed in “Music in Motion”, Media (CDM) at HKDI and the Department vibrant concerts presenting diverse music genres of Multimedia & Internet Technology (MIT) at with their distinctive storytelling skills and valuable “Students of the Higher Diploma Programme offered by students of the Higher Diploma course in IVE (Lee Wai Lee). According to Si, students’ life experiences with a positive attitude towards the need to complete a period of Industrial Attachment, Digital Music and Media. From composing, writing performances were more mature than last year, with city’s prospects under the theme “Our Happy Days.” which allows them to step into the market place,” lyrics, arranging, to live shows, the students showcased advanced techniques and storytelling skills. Steve Leung, Lecturer in the Department of says McLafferty. “Without this, their education is remarkable ability. Most of the works presented were creative Multimedia & Internet Technology and Creative incomplete and too abstract.” “The abundant opportunities available through the advertisements and animations. The nature of the Director and Production Manager of the Multimedia The Industrial Attachment provides the perfect Internet and social media have made it much easier microfilm genre requires students to master the skills Entertainment Show, believes it’s the keen observation platform for students to practice their skills, for a fresh graduate to publish their work, showcase they have learned and display them in a confined time of life and the in-depth portrait of human nature that gain insights into the industry and learn from talent, and get great exposure nowadays, compared to limit, ranging from 30 seconds to three minutes. resonated so much with the emotions of the audience. experienced professionals. “Fashion Design attracts the past when releasing music to the public would cost Versatility is one of the most important traits for “Real life is the source of their creativity. It’s a lot of industry projects, so students have the a large amount of money,” says Shirley Cheung, Senior students to meet the ever-changing market trends and not about acting, but about being human,” says chance to work alongside local and international Lecturer, Department of Communication Design the graduates from Fashion Image Design are well Leung, who believes this pursuit of human nature’s designers such as Barney Cheng, Yohji Yamamoto, and Digital Media who leads the programme for the acquanited with this principle. This year, students from peculiarities will never be outdated, since it’s deeply Stanley Wong, Mao Jihong and so on and so forth,” Higher Diploma in Digital Music and Media. two streams worked together, combining make-up rooted in everybody’s heart. says McLafferty. However, chance still favours the prepared mind. styling, hair styling, fashion styling and stage costume New Voices was the theme of this year’s graduation Denis Diderot, the prominent French philosopher, That’s why this programme covers all necessary at the Image Show. show. Passion, creativity, perseverance, diligence and art critic and writer once said, “There are three techniques, integrating education and training in “Throughout the preparation they learned the determination were the key words used by HKDI’s principal means of acquiring knowledge... observation both music production and audio technology, so that importance of team building and understood that lecturers – all of which should be based on a solid of nature, reflection, and experimentation. students can adapt themselves to the industry’s intense arguments and compromises are inevitable to achieve foundation of proficient and comprehensive skills. Observation collects facts; reflection combines them; competition, and some even received contract offers satisfying outcomes,” says Shaun Cheung, Programme HKDI strives to bring voices from the industry experimentation verifies the result of that combination.” from music production companies before graduating Leader of Fashion Image Design. He also emphasised to their students through seminars, lectures and HKDI successfully combines these three from HKDI. Lil’Ashes, an emerging folk-pop duo that in this industry, creative stylists are expected to exhibitions in order to ensure they understand principles to get the best from its students. With a being one example. have a well-rounded set of skills. market values and current trends. For the same solid foundation of skills, great personalities, and The Music industry is not alone in confronting both The stories narrated at the Multimedia reason, HKDI works closely with host companies, a keen observation of market principles, graduates the opportunities and challenges of the digital era. The Entertainment Show offered a sensational journey providing internship opportunities to prepare are well placed to seize the opportunities of the movie industry is also going through great changes fused with laughter and tears. Students ingeniously students for future employment in the Student industry, establish their own style, and be inspiring with the birth of microfilms. blended stage setting, music, lighting, and visual effects Industrial Attachment Programme. new voices on the local and international stage.

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International Photo Festival 2012. He is also the winner of various prestigious awards in Hong Kong, New York and Leipzig, and his work is included in the permanent collection of Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Museum of Fine Arts in Guangzhou and Leal Senado in Macau. “I don’t know how to teach a photography class,” says Leong, who, in conversation with Tse revealed that he cannot explain why a photograph is PICT good, or describe what constitutes mastery of the photographic arts, but he offers powerful advice, “I once told someone that they should take a roll of film everyday for 3 months, and show me those photos,” he says. “There would Hong Kong photographers bound to be some good ones. If you immerse yourself in photography enough OPPOSITE PAGE FROM LEFT and have enough discipline you will start to be a good photographer. ” TWO PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CITY VIEW Leong Ka Tai and Tse Ming For Leong, making photos is an effortless feat achieved by subconscious COLLECTION BY TSE AT AN EXHIBITION; NEW CALEDONIA - CLUB MED BY LEONG FOR Chong discuss the skills coordination between eyes and hands, in response to various triggers in the AMERICAN EXPRESS MAGAZINE URE THIS PAGE FROM LEFT environment. And in order to sharpen one’s sensitiveness towards those NAKO MONASTERY BY LEONG; required to create an image triggers, he recommends to “read more books, walk more roads, look at your A PHOTOGRAPH FROM that is both elegant and surroundings, understand the world, and then you can take good photos.” THE MOVING HORIZON COLLECTION BY Tse shares Leong’s view that the reasons why a photo is good or bad is LEONG THIS powerful. summer cao reports.

aster chess players choose their brilliant moves intuitively from a board full of chaos. For these geniuses, creativity is instinctive, like breathing or walking. According to Leong Ka Tai and Tse Ming Chong, two of Hong Kong’s most accomplished photographers, their discipline needs a similar kind of subconscious spontaneity. M “It is a very straightforward feeling,” Leong says. “The way you realise the image is interesting, and the moment you want to capture it are all subconscious.” Leong is known as Uncle Tai, an alias that signifies his seniority and excellence in the field as well as his role as an avuncular mentor to budding photographers. Leong is the founding member of Hong Kong Photographic Culture Society, and served as its chairman from 2009 to 2013, during which time he organised the Hong Kong Photo Festival 2010 and Hong Kong PICUTURES TSE MING CHONG AND LEONG KA TAI TAI AND LEONG KA TSE MING CHONG PICUTURES

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OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY OF A TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE SHOP IN HONG KONG BY TSE THIS PAGE FROM LEFT TSE MING CHONG; LEONG KA TAI

beyond description; he says that for the experienced profession through travel. Despite studying mechanical photographers, capturing images is more of a habit engineering at a U.S. university, and working for a than rational thinking, a matter of instinct rather than company creating computer operating systems in meticulous framing. England, he had been a keen amateur photographer since “As a teacher I can only teach students the techniques,” high school. However, in 1973 he quit his job and went says Tse, who has taught at various local universities and to Paris to learn more about his art, although he hardly schools including the Hong Kong Design Institute. “But spoke a word of French. ‘how’ to take photos I cannot teach…I cannot answer my “I was really bored working in an office,” he recalls. “I students when they ask me why a photo is bad.” thought that I might commit suicide if I found myself business, you had nothing to eat. When there was a lot of Tse confesses that he was not a good student by working there when I was forty. So I thought about my business, you would have to do everything by yourself.” conventional standards, having passed only one Hong future for several sleepless nights and decided that it was However, after six years, Leong realised that having a Kong Certificate of Education course. He first worked as with photography.” bigger business doesn’t lead to happiness. As the number an in-house photographer at a hotel while moonlighting “The day I quit my computer job was the happiest DOING of assignments increased to two or three per day, he found in fast-food chains. moment of my life. At that time the French were himself sacrificing everything for his customers and his After saving some money, he spent two years travelling famous for their photography. A lot of masters were PHOTOGRAPHY art suffered. to China, Russia, the Middle East and Europe. At 28, he there. So I went to Paris.” “I was so busy taking photos that I didn’t have any time came back to Hong Kong and published the work that Leong was soon hired to work as an assistant at a IS A CRUEL JOB BUT to consider what I wanted to do,” he says. “So I shut down he produced during his trip in two pocket-sized books. photography workshop, and he took the opportunity to the studio and went travelling in China.” Working different jobs to stay solvent, he never gave up learn the technical skills that a professional photographer A HAPPY ONE. During his 1980s odessy on the Mainland, Leong on taking photos. requires. Although he was living in a laid back European discovered his cultural roots and created some of his During the Tian’anmen Square Incident in 1989, culture, he had a disciplined approach. While others were best work, including the pieces in the collection Leong Tse went to Beijing and took a famous photo of Mao drinking coffee and beer, he used every chance to go out Ka Tai on China: One to Twenty Four, which won the Zedong’s portrait being removed because someone had and take photos. After nine months, he presented his silver medal at the famed Internationale Buchkunst- covered it with ink. When he came back, he held an work to his boss, who was very impressed. Before long, he Ausstellung competition in Leipzig, Germany. exhibition featuring photographs that depicted Hong was no longer an assistant. In the 1990s he started to play with techniques Kong society and the way it was influenced by the After three years in France, Leong came back to Hong and produce images that were free from restrictions political turmoil in the north. Before long, he found a Kong feeling ambitious, with enough confidence to imposed by clients. One of the many fruitful results of position at Next Magazine as photographer. establish his own studio. “Doing photography is a cruel his increased freedom is Moving Horizon, a series of

Leong also found his way into the photography job - but a happy one,” he says. “When there was no TAI AND LEONG KA TSE MING CHONG PICUTURES distorted landscapes that evoke the feeling of Chinese ink

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THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TSE’S EXHIBITION HONG KONG ‘94 AT CENTRAL PLAZA; ERIC FUNG KING HEI BY LEONG; OPPOSITE PAGE A PHOTOGRAPH FEATURING THE PORTRAIT OF MAO ZEDONG BEING TAKEN DOWN IN TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE (1989) BY TSE IT’S ALL ABOUT PAYING ATTENTION. ATTENTION IS VITALITY. IT CONNECTS YOU WITH OTHERS. IT MAKES YOU EAGER.

and water paintings as well as the work of Zao Wouki. The talent that freedom unleashed soon began to attract magazines such as National Geographic, GEO, and Stern and various book projects came his way. He was given more space to create and work on his own ideas for these projects, which still constitute a major part of his work today. The turning point of Tse’s career came as he started to windows that had a view of the city’s landscape.” image because the technology is so advanced,” says Tse. explore the philosophy behind the lens. He decided that if The experimental exhibition was a success and “Most don’t think about what they want to do through photography is analogous to art, then he needed to be an many photographers in Hong Kong including Leong the lenses. It is very hard to find a good image that is art critic as well as an artist. started to notice Tse’s work. What’s more important, full of content, rather than just sharp colors.” “I did a lot of photography and it was meaningful,” he it gave Tse more confidence. In 1997, he quit his job Susan Sontag, one of the world’s most renowned says. “But I didn’t think about what photography is for and focused on using cameras to develop his own photographers and photography critic ones said, and what it brings to people’s lives.” ideas. As his thinking on photography deepened, he “Do stuff, be clenched, curious. Not waiting for In 1994, Tse used the construction of the Hong Kong enrolled at Hong Kong Baptist University to study inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Convention and Exhibition Centre as a subject to explore Journalism, and latter took a one-year graduate Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. the relationship between himself and his work. “I lived in study programme in Image and Communication at Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It Peng Chau at the time,” he says. “When I took the ferry the University of London. makes you eager. Stay eager.” to Central everyday, I would photograph the progress of Having explored more of the theories behind Whatever the differences in Tse and Leong’s the construction.” photography, Tse was able to look at his art from a careers and approach to photography, they both have The series of photos were featured in a 1995 new perspective, and he became determined to bring a practice that Sontag would admire, being artists exhibition called Hong Kong ‘94 at Central Plaza. “I changes to the way photography is approached in who pay extreme attention to detail. A photograph tried to reveal what I thought about photography Hong Kong. In 2007, Tse established Lumenvisum, a may be static but its content must be emotionally in the exhibition,” Tse says. “I was fascinated by the platform for photography enthusiasts to showcase their compelling, it must move somebody in their spirit relationship between reality and my photographs. So work and exchange ideas. as well as their intellect. Unless a photograph is a

I made the images transparent, and hung them on TAI AND LEONG KA TSE MING CHONG PICUTURES “These days the thinking is more important than the moving image, it is nothing.

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MOVING

IM GESll the seats were occupied at the HKDI’s auditorium in May for a screening of Aberdeen, the latest movie written and directed by Pang Ho-cheung. The audience was totally absorbed by the images on the screen as they laughed and cried over the engaging storyline. The film was presented as part of the HKDI Presents Film Series and was followed by a sharing session with the director. AAs one of the most popular Hong Kong directors in the past decade, Pang is well known for creating films infused with authentic Hong Kong flavours, and Aberdeen is no exception. The movie is an intimate portrait of a modern Hong Kong family that gradually discloses their secrets. As the film unfolds conflicts among three generations of relatives are resolved. The name of the movie, Aberdeen is suggestive and eloquent. The golden age of Aberdeen is the place where the British forces first landed in Hong Kong cinema Hong Kong in 1841, marking the beginning of Hong Kong’s modern history. In Cantonese, Aberdeen is known as “Hong may have passed but Kong Tsai”, which means “the son of Hong Kong” or “little several productions Hong Kong”. There are many Hong Kong signatures ingeniously woven with a local focus have through the movie, which represents a microcosm of the city’s recently received critical society. Aberdeen depicts controversial family issues with keen observation and local audiences have easily found emotional appreciation and resonance in the film, which reflects a sense of collective good box office results, confusion that Hong Kongers sometimes have about their own identity. suggesting an important “There is a traffic sign indicating ‘All Destinations’ in revival is under way. Connaught Road and it haunts me every time I see it,” says Pang. “Is there really a road that can lead to all destinations? libby zeng met the talented What are the destinations for us Hong Kongers? Where do we directors behind two want to arrive and where are we going exactly?” He resolved to use the traffic sign in the film to induce projects to explore their reflections among the audience. “To me, the journey might be exceptional success. much more important than the destination.”

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PICTURE BRAVOS PICTURES LIMITED PICTURE BRAVOS PICTURES LIMITED

PICTURE BRAVOS PICTURES LIMITED When filmingAberdeen , Pang used a large Hong Kong society. number of out-of-focus shots in order to create a “Hong Kongers are more concerned about sense of fantastical reality. politics now. Political issues have become a common “Normally in a movie, every shot is clear topic at the dinner table,” he said. and an out-of-focus shot might be considered Famous for his handover trilogy, the multi-award unprofessional, but the world we see in real life winning Made in Hong Kong, The Longest Summer is not like this,” Pang says. “I wanted to illustrate and Little Cheung, Chan has always been dedicated family life in a real and authentic way, like a to capturing the “real” Hong Kong by bringing to documentary. What happens next in life is always the screen stories of ordinary citizens combined unpredictable, so the out-of-focus shots bring a with intense social commentary. natural beauty to the film.” Co-productions are very common in today’s Aberdeen is one of the two opening features at Hong Kong film industry, mostly with funding from this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival. Mainland China and talents and ideas from Hong The other one is The Midnight After, a sci-fi movie Kong. Some people think this kind of production directed by Fruit Chan. Adapted from a popular deprives Hong Kong movies of their strong online novel, The Midnight After depicts a disturbing indigenous flavour because filmmakers have to pay journey in which a group of passengers on a mini- attention to the tastes of Mainland audiences as well. bus discover that Hong Kong has become an empty, Although The Midnight After is not a co-production, lifeless city. Chan believes the trend toward movies that rely Chan also came to HKDI to share his valuable on Mainland funding is inevitable. insights with students in the Successful Branding “The local market is saturated and it’s hard for Journey seminar. The Midnight After offers a PREVIOUS PAGE & filmmakers to survive,” says Chan, who sees nothing captivating visual and spiritual feast for Hong Kong OPPOSITE PAGE ABOVE & BELOW wrong with co-production if it is handled correctly. SCENES FROM ABERDEEN DIRECTED audiences, fusing popular social issues with Chan’s BY PANG HO-CHEUNG “I think co-production has been politicalised by iconic black humour. Although some critics said the THIS PAGE TOP & BELOW PANG HO CHEUNG (FRONT a lot of people,” he says, claiming that what really movie dwelled too much on politics, Chan believes ROW CENTER), GIGI LEUNG (LEFT OF PANG HO matters is the way a director deals with his sources CHEUNG) AND KEARAN PANG WITH THE AUDIENCE his production is a precise reproduction of current AT THE FILM SCREENING AND SHARING SESSION of funding. Chan believes a co-production doesn’t

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PICTURES PICTURE GOLDEN SCENE CO. LTD & FRUIT CHAN PICTURES PICTURE GOLDEN SCENE CO. LTD & FRUIT CHAN

ABOVE & OPPOSITE PAGE TOP SCENES FROM THE have to mean sacrificing the interests and tastes MIDNIGHT AFTER DIRECTED limited. But that idea is totally wrong,” says Chan. of local audiences. “Filmmakers should not refuse BY FRUIT CHAN Chan believes it’s important for directors to good resources or great stories as long as they stick RIGHT AND BELOW FRUIT overcome budget restrictions and try every means CHAN AT HKDI to their principles and consciences.” to convey their ideas. There are dazzling fireworks Pang also shares Chan’s view about cooperating in The Longest Summer, which Chan inventively with Mainland China. He believes it’s beneficial “borrowed” from the opening ceremony of Tsing and inspiring for the Hong Kong film industry to Ma Bridge in 1997. He also “borrowed” the scenes join hands with different countries and cultures. of Hong Kong’s handover ceremony in the same “Every place has its advantages and disadvantages. year, when vehicles of the People’s Liberation For Mainland China, the disadvantage is its existing Army rolled into the city. censorship which discourages variety, but the “Even a high budget movie can’t afford such advantage is that it has a huge market to support splendid scenes, but I managed to do it,” says Chan. productions with large budgets.” As Pang said, a good To Pang, it’s a different story. He innovatively director should always strive to find the balance point. broke the traditional concept of family movies by Pang and Chan have a lot more in common adopting several magnificent and eccentric scenes than a shared view of co-funding. Both of them in Aberdeen, including a life-sized mechanical are versatile, have a good sense of humour, laugh blue whale (around 30 feet long), a human- a lot, play multiple roles as film director, producer sized chameleon model and a large paper-made and screenwriter, use Hong Kong as their main architectural model of Hong Kong. subject but have also explored the Mainland market. These peculiar scenes capture the absurd in the Last but not least, they both have a down-to-earth mundane realities of our everyday life, leaving a attitude towards filmmaking. strong impression on audiences that make Aberdeen However, this doesn’t mean they are conservative stand out from other family movies. or reluctant to innovate. Creativity is one of the Good stories are always deeply rooted in our most important ingredients in their recipes for daily life. If you take a look at the work of these two excellent movies. They always think outside the box, directors it’s easy to see that the stories they narrate spare no efforts to transcend themselves and bring are part of our world. We are all familiar with them excitement and surprises to their audience. and that is why we relate to them and are touched “The independent film directors in Hong Kong are by them. It is the particular twist of creativity and too ready to forgive themselves. They always think it’s personal traits they add to the stories that make acceptable for an independent film to be low quality their films remarkable, and that draw us, enchanted, with simple and crude settings because its budget is into their frames.

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our years ago I wrote that Hong Kong’s SoHo revolutionary hospitality concept Hôtel Droog, which neighbourhood had become “the Montmartre of has only one room. Asia”, and people laughed. They are not laughing Ramakers has been designated by Newsweek Fnow. With the opening of PMQ’s Great White magazine as one of the “150 women who shake the Whale on Aberdeen Street, the area is now awash world” and she has been pioneering new directions for C L in new design talent, designer boutiques and a mix design since the early nineties, with an emphasis upon of locals and expatriates shopping for everything “finding new ways of weaving precepts of luxury” into from jewellery to couture and home furnishings. everyday objects like chairs and kitchen equipment. SO With Vivienne Tam, Agnes B and a Jason Atherton The entire building on Square Street is dedicated restaurant in the mix, SoHo has become the hot place to Droog, from ground floor to the rooftop terrace. to shop and a cool place to hang out. Next to the store, Droog Hong Kong offers a gallery, The HK$400 million renovation of PMQ (the dining room, outdoor kitchen, rooftop terrace and The former police married quarters) has been the area’s one and only bedroom number #2, an extension of HOT premiere event, but the true nativity of SoHo’s design Amsterdam’s Hôtel Droog concept. quarter may have been last December. That’s when Before Droog’s arrival, Square Street and its Droog opened a store on Square Street, between surrounding environs had already seen signs of SoHo’s Hollywood Road and Tai Ping Shan Street in Sheung design revolution. In 2010 Konzepp set up on Tung HongS Kong’s SoHo, the area south of Hollywood Road, Wan, close to Blake Garden, where the world’s last Street, dedicated to hatching new ideas and providing between Aberdeen Street and Queen’s Road, has bubonic plague outbreak began in 1894. a space where the artistic and creative community As a result of its 19th century epidemic, the Tai Ping could come together. In the same year, David Ericsson become a desirable destination for aspiring creative Shan Street area of SoHo has long been home to coffin and Alexis Holm from Sweden decided to share an entrepreneurs and their clientele. With the new PMQ in makers, funeral homes, paper offering workshops and office at 15 Square Street, with David working on his tailors who specialise in clothes for the dead. Square VOID Watches brand and Alexis on gram footwear. the mix, and HKDI alumni becoming involved, the city Street, a quiet backwater behind the Man Mo temple, They took the name “squarestreet” and their space has may finally have a design district that’s worth the name. once had all four merchants of the afterlife, although evolved into an open environment mixing showroom, sadly its paper offering store is now gone. office and workshop. daniel jeffreys takes a look. For Droog to choose what might be truly called All squarestreet products are designed and developed a dead-end street for its second store worldwide is by the Swedish founders, thus granting the store a miraculous. Co-founded and directed by curator and natural integrity and a touch of Scandinavian aesthetic. author Renny Ramakers, Droog is an internationally Apart from watches and footwear, the duo offers high renowned design company with its base in the heart quality leather goods, eyewear and jewellery. of Amsterdam. The Dutch HQ includes its own “We firmly believe that simplicity, functionality,

OPPOSITE PAGE THE OPENING OF PMQ’S “1600 PANDAS WORLD TOUR IN HONG KONG: CREATIVITY MEETS CONSERVATION” EXHIBITION IN JULY 2014 THIS PAGE A DESIGN AND CAFE ALLEY OFF TAI PING PICTURES PMQ, Konzepp and squarestreet Konzepp PICTURES PMQ, SHAN STREET

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quality and pricing are all vital components,” says companies like ours, who don’t want to be pigeonholed, Holm. “They are the pivotal point around which it’s a valuable point of contact with our market.” squarestreet spins.” Like others, Manuel observed that the clientele at Design spaces like squarestreet have effectively cut PMQ seemed young, sophisticated and curious, willing out wholesale and retail middlemen, shortening the to explore all the spaces in the seven-storey structure supply chain. “This generates closeness to the brand and meander around the stores in the nearby streets. and ensures good service,” says Ericsson. “The shop “We have seen a lot of customers who have a very in office environment creates a link for the customers good awareness of design,” says Zoe Li, the designer between the end product and its origin, inviting them for Chew the Cud. “We sell unisex clothes that appeal to take part in the creative process.” to people who are cool and fashion forward. This is The squarestreet philosophy is one that has been great place for that group. It’s a fashion magnet.” adopted by many other new design stores and art The Design Market will return for two Sundays galleries in SoHo, an area that allows for intimate in October and two in November. The markets were strolling. The district’s many coffee shops with created to make PMQ more attractive. Foot traffic OPPOSITE PAGE POUND LANE IN outdoor seating offer the closest thing Hong Kong has already been strong, not least because of the major SOHO has to European café society, something which plays a names that have become part of PMQ, including Joyce, RIGHT VISITORS AT THE KAPOK DESIGN key important role in inspiring creativity in countries Vivienne Tam and kapok. STORE IN PMQ like France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. Joyce’s project is Joyce|Cares, “…a unique “There is a design atmosphere here,” says Manuel sustainability platform that aims at nurturing C.S. the Founder and Creative Director of Lines upcoming artists and designers… for the betterment of Lab, a design and fashion company based in Macau. the community.” The latest Joyce|Cares initiative has ANY DESIGN CAPIITAL MUST HAVE A PLACE “Any ‘design capital’ must have a place where creative been a collaboration with HKDI. Members of HKDI’s entrepreneurs can introduce their work to the public in faculty shortlisted four existing ready-to-wear labels, WHERE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS CAN a relaxed atmosphere, without paying ridiculous rents.” designed by the institute’s most promising and talented Manuel was at PMQ on August 24, when the facility alumni including A Tentative Atelier, MODEMENT, INTRODUCE THEIR WORK. held its second Design Market of the 2014 summer. The World Is Your Oyster, and Wan & Wong Fashion. The event was for designers who have no permanent The works were collectively called “Talent Shop” space elsewhere in Hong Kong and have not yet taken and each of the designers has been given HK$10,000 creativity have design laboratories that nurture lively, big space at a prime location with convenient space in PMQ. Two dozen designers participated in worth of financial sponsorship and an opportunity fresh talent,” says Liz McLafferty, the Head of the transportation designated for creativity and design is the open-air bazaar and sales were brisk. to retail their collections at Joyce Cares PMQ unit Department of Fashion and Image Design. “The PMQ rare and precious. It will be a platform for exchange, “There is great traffic here,” says Manuel, who had from August to October 2014. Joyce will further initiative gives students something to aim for, a place exposure, experience and growth.” just sold a dress for HK$5,000. “PMQ provides the extend its support in all areas of retail, including where they have a realistic chance of seeing their Although its unlikely that Parisians will start city with a destination where people know they will visual merchandising and marketing. work on sale. If designers feel they have no chance of calling Montmartre, “Paris’s Sheung Wan”, many see design work that’s out of the ordinary. For design “All major cities that are renowned for their design an audience it makes it very difficult for them to be French residents of Hong Kong and their visitors will sufficiently motivated. PMQ helps solve that problem.” be relieved to find the city now has a district that has The Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable all the important aspects of a “design quartier” where Foundation executed the conservation and creativity and innovation feel at home. transformation of the PMQ site, with support from SoHo’s future as a design hub has been given a Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HKDI and the significant boost by the arrival of PMQ, and that’s Hong Kong Design Centre. When PMQ opened its precisely what it hoped to achieve. The next step is to Chairman, Stanley Chu, said that it is “…a place where make the process more interactive. creative talents cluster and grow through networking “PMQ is not an incubation platform but an and the cross-fertilisation of ideas and concepts.” accelerator – all tenants are ready for retail,” says Chu’s description could serve as a good motif for William To, PMQ’s Creative & Programme Director. the entire Soho district. The neighbourhood has “Offering support is important, but we will also ask become a fertile field for new designers, and a magnet them to take part in our development. At the end of for those who cherish and appreciate good design. the day PMQ aims to establish a platform for co- It’s inevitable that many of the new boutiques, creation to enable community involvement.” galleries and workshops that open in SoHo will And that’s the principle on which SoHo will fail, but many will not, and the area now has the stand or fall. If the community is fully involved, true atmosphere of a design community, drawing finds inspiration and value, then SoHo will take its established Hong Kong designers like Tina Liu, place along New York’s Soho and Milan’s Brera as a who opened her Tina’s Choice Pop Up Shop at neighbourhood that the whole world wants to visit in PMQ on September 1. “SoHo is important because search of the newest, hottest and coolest examples of

PICTURES PMQ, Konzepp and squarestreet Konzepp PICTURES PMQ, ‘togetherness is strength!’,” she says. To have a design-based creativity.

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digital THE MESSAGE IS storytelling technology user engagement channels multiple transmedi @ platforms transmedia You’ve heard all about multimedia, but what in the name of all that’s digital is narrative transmedia – and what are the reasons for the excitement behind it? jeremy payne went synchronization along to a symposium at HKDI with a mission to find out from this discipline’s leading lights.

ransmedia is a new buzzword but the principles a new opportunity for engaging audiences at a less behind it go back decades. Arguably, Disney was superficial level – with potential to enhance brand one of the first proponents of transmedia by creating mythology and create more brand evangelists. storybooks, toy characters and board games to The origin of the word transmedia is generally enhance the appeal and ubiquity of its films. Consider regarded to date back to 2003, when it was coined the Star Wars franchise; the toy figures, model by Professor Henry Jenkins of the University of spaceships and spin-off Boba Fett cartoons (and soon Southern California. He described transmedia to be a new Hollywood movie) all contribute to a stories as those which “unfold across multiple media whole that is undoubtedly greater than the sum of platforms with each new element making a distinctive and recommending what they like, and creators of its parts, a completely coherent alternative universe and valuable contribution to the whole”. content – adding to the content they consume and and timeline. But today, from movies to marketing, But how has this phenomenon crystallised and creating non-linear story worlds that grow through we’re seeing more and more content creators adopting why is it relevant now? You just need to understand their personal participation. Music, TVB News, Maxim’s and agencies such as transmedia practices: creating stories, characters or why, in the digital age, conventional advertising and But why is this trend emerging right now and JWT, PixoPunch and PacificLink, the event provided themes that arc over various platforms, providing marketing solutions are losing the ability to genuinely why is it suddenly on the radar for marketers and a mouth-watering taste of transmedia possibilities. consumers with multiple entry points – and deeper stand out. People have access to such an abundance of students? Quite simply, transmedia is still in its Vladan Nikolic, Associate Professor of Media product engagement. After all, transmedia responds to content that they are filtering or skipping commercial infancy – it’s an undiscovered country somewhere Studies and Film at The New School in New York, cultural shifts not with a passive reception of content messages. Except, of course, the things they are between digital media and film (yet including both and Rong Sheng, Transmedia Consultant from but through interactive and participatory storytelling. passionate about. disciplines), and that’s what makes it so attractive to Leaven Media in Shanghai gave the January keynote Typically, a transmedia initiative could include film, They are consuming media through multiple creative individuals and marketing professionals alike. seminars. Nikolic is something of a pioneer in the video, online, numerous social media platforms – and platforms: phones, tablets, apps, TV and blogs – This is why, in January 2014, HKDI sponsored the field, as creator of the 2010 dystopian psychological even have staged “real” live action events. This mosaic and their attention span is becoming increasingly first transmedia seminar in Hong Kong, and almost thriller Zenith, which utilised film, video, online of separate disciplines can create not just a bigger fragmented and short. At the same time, those same the first in the Greater China region. Attended by and an Alternate Reality game to take forward the picture but a richer, more personalised experience audiences who used to just be consumers are now luminaries from marketing departments of big brand labyrinthine plot and a BitTorrent promotion for for consumers. For marketers, transmedia presents acting as curators through social media, commenting names such as Apple, Lane Crawford, Universal distribution. Rong Sheng impressed the audience

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PREVIOUS PAGE VLADAN NIKOLIC IS GIVING KEYNOTE SEMINAR AT TRANSMEDIA SEMINAR IN JANUARY SPONSORED BY HKDI OPPOSITE PAGE & THIS PAGE BELOW PRATT INSTITUTE THIS PAGE RIGHT THE NEW SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY

THIS FIELD IS STILL NOT ESTABLISHED – SO IT’S ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT TIME TO GET INVOLVED.

with her emphasis on making the digital interaction as user-friendly as possible, and creating bespoke solutions for consumers of all ages. The focus of the January seminar was transmedia in the commercial world. Drawing examples from major brands worldwide who are active in the field such as Coca Cola, Tao Bao and Autoliberté from France, it’s apparent that a major new discipline is emerging, and gathering momentum fast. Similar sentiments were expressed at the March 2014 brands sets up endless possibilities. Transmedia Seminar at HKDI, given by Anita There is little doubt that Ondine sees HKDI’s some of its brilliant minds pay a return visit to Hong storytelling. A new breed of agencies have been created Ondine of Transmedia Next, who operates in the position in the development of this field as central. Kong and deepen their understanding of HKDI’s which are solely dedicated to transmedia; one of the UK, US and across Asia. “I applaud HKDI’s decision to take a leadership potential of being a leader in the field’s development best-known is Starlight Runner Entertainment in New She stressed that although regions where role in this new medium – it’s essential that a major in Asia. Other exciting initiatives have also been set York, which “creates and expands fictional universes transmedia had developed fastest were Europe and organisation establishes itself and takes responsibility up, such as a recent address to the Entertainment in the form of elaborate intellectual property bibles the US, Hong Kong is a particularly fertile prospect. for the educational resources that are required.” This Expo and an ongoing partnership with Nicholas Tse’s and story and style guides.” These guides are almost With a highly educated and tech-savvy workforce is a commitment that could pay rich dividends to the Post Production Office, one of Hog Kong’s leading inconceivably complex, covering all major characters, plus a long tradition of high-quality publishing and territory, “Hong Kong has the ability to leapfrog the post-prodcution houses. By the end of December, Jeff story arcs, world details, weapons, vehicles, technology, storytelling, the ground is ideally-prepared for both rest of Asia, who have not been as quick as the West Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, magic and even insignia. This bedrock of content provides creativity and commercial growth. Says Ondine, to pick up on the possibilities of this new medium.” will come to HKDI and offer insights on how to the raw material to allow multiple franchise extensions “This is the next wave of how stories get told, using To this end Terence Wong, Head of Department employ the techniques of transmedia to promote into traditional, interactive and advanced media. media that are more relevant to today’s societies. for Communication Design and Digital Media at businesses in a summit organised by the Hong Kong The value of this is illustrated by the fact that There has been a shift from passive experiences HKDI, made an exploratory trip to New York to Printers Association. transmedia adopters include some of the most talked- such as film and TV to the new participatory ones. check out the transmedia scene at the epicentre of What can students of the new discipline expect? about movie franchises: Pirates of the Caribbean, In film, stories have become just ‘content’; however, design innovation. He met with executives from The answer, from the history of the industry so TRON, Halo and Avatar. However, while transmedia transmedia brings stories back to the people MTV, who showed how transmedia was being used to far, is a new world in which the full power of is a natural fit with the film industry, complementing themselves, and they become active participants.” promote upcoming episodes of blockbuster TV series new technologies is harnessed for narrative effect. its innate narrative qualities, it’s in the broader With the ability to integrate locational awareness, and also exchanged experiences with the academic Transmedia has the ability to appeal directly to the commercial sphere that we’re now seeing some of the gaming and numerous other digital assets, the staff at Parsons in Greenwich Village. In the autumn, new interactive environment in which designs and most exciting new initiatives. ability to create immersive experiences in stories and the top-ranked design institute in New York will have ideas are communicated being, in essence, branded One of the best-received transmedia campaigns

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THOSE WHO MAKE THEIR NAMES IN TRANSMEDIA IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS

THIS PAGE MTV OFFICE IN NEW YORK; WILL BECOME HUGELY MADE IN NEW YORK MEDIA CENTER BY IFP OPPOSITE PAGE TOP MISS RONG SHENG, INFLUENTIAL IN DIGITAL TRANSMEDIA CONSULTANT FROM

LEAVEN MEDIA IN SHANGHAI MARKETING.

was devised for the Audi A3 launch in the US, “THE ART OF THE H3IST”. It embraced the target audience’s need for control over their environment and invited them into an immersive and intriguing alternative reality. The story blurred fact and fiction by creating a mysterious narrative that involved potential buyers in the recovery of an A3 stolen from Audi’s US headquarters. At the centre of the story were six new A3s containing coded plans for the largest art heist in history; however, one car also contained the key to decrypting the information hidden in the others, and the mystery behind the heist unfolded in real-time nationwide over three months. The final chapter was staged before a live audience at a luxury hotel in LA, where the ultimate villain was finally revealed. Another genre-busting transmedia City’s “Assistant District Attorney”, the fictional million games and apps were downloaded, and over campaign was “Why so serious?” devised Harvey Dent, while other groups took to dressing 4000 dedicated players joined the global movement! to promote Christopher Nolan’s then up as The Joker. The initiative occupied 10 million Thus far, much transmedia content has targeted forthcoming Dark Knight Batman film. participants across 75 countries, hundreds of web children through cartoons or geeks through science The multi-channel assault started with pages, interactive games, real world events video and fiction, horror, and fantasy franchises. This shouldn’t direct mail and messages on social media numerous unique collectibles. And it contributed to be surprising as it has a natural resonance with early and mobile phones. These led users to the Dark Knight scoring the biggest opening day of adapters, digital-savvy 18-27 year old males with websites that created an immersive world, all time, with opening night, 3am and 6am showings disposable time and income. But, there are plenty a canvas on which Gotham City promoted all sold out. The film went on to become the biggest of signs that transmedia experiences may appeal itself brightly with friendly restaurants, grossing film of the year. more broadly. For example, some believe transmedia helpful public transport timetables and Nokia’s 2010 “Conspiracy for Good” transmedia strategies may be key to the survival of soap operas. clean-living politicians. campaign also broke down walls between separate It will take time, but as HKDI’s planned foray into However, in the run-up to the film media and conventional product promotion. This the field suggests, there will be rich opportunities to launch, this perfectly ordered world “alternate reality drama” was spearheaded by Heroes influence the shape of the industry. was disrupted by the arrival of Batman’s creator Tim Kring and sponsored by Nokia. Players As Vladan Nikolic remarked in January, “This field nemesis, The Joker. All the websites for used free mobile games from Nokia’s Ovi Store to is still not established – so it’s absolutely the right these imaginary companies and individuals join a mission “Conspiracy for Good”, a fictional time to get involved. At this moment, anyone can were defaced with The Joker’s bloodstained organisation that actually contributed real benefits to become one of the leaders of the future.” There’s little taunts against Gotham’s hapless citizens, the cause of literacy in rural Africa. The promotion doubt that the individuals who make their names suggesting an insurgence of evil in the involved mobile games, links to websites that in transmedia in the next few years will become troubled metropolis was imminent. This, of continued the drama, and climaxed after four months hugely influential in this revolutionary incarnation course, was true – but only in the context of with events featuring actors on the streets of London of storytelling and digital marketing. And for fans of the new Batman film. playing characters from the story. Participants needed great shows and brands, there will be the opportunity Followers of the campaign took to the the AR (augmented reality) capability installed in the to interact with, drill deeper into and even contribute streets to declare their support for Gotham new phones to allow them to play. More than half a to the stories and products they love.

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At the third Successful chosen to integrate. The company divisions. For example, for b+ab I.T Group has been puts emphasis on the whole by working with a cohort of local celebrities, and even Branding Journey seminar establishing I.T as a multi-label asked Hong Kong starlet Angelababy to be their held at HKDI on June 6th, boutique brand; its DNA is created image girl and co-designer of some collections. from its vibrant variety of labels. “When it comes to private labels, we go I.T and POSH, two of Hong “We want to send out messages for volume,” says Cheng. “We employ a Kong’s strongest design- and visual images of what I.T is mass-market approach, which means really about,” says Cheng. “We we need freestanding stores to express based brand builders don’t have active advertising the brand’s DNA. It’s very difficult explained the secret of their campaigns for I.T, but we have to present it with just two racks of been investing a lot in our clothes. Space, collections, visuals success to summer cao. biannual magazine, I.T Post.” and music – we have to make In terms of the mature labels everything count.” in the I.T circle, I.T Group’s However, the mass-market overall strategy is to complement approach does not imply that these the brand images that their private labels are positioned to headquarters have already compete with fast fashion brands. established and interpret their These brands are enjoying a rapid existing brand DNA in a creative expansion in Hong Kong and fashion to customers who are not have put pressure on various yet familiar with them. local brands and boutique shops. “We have a very tailor-made “Every market has room for local approach for each brand and for brands and we don’t see Hong Kong as an each season,” Cheng reveals. “To exception,” remarks Cheung. “Consumers will give you an example, for Maison still need quality garments, individual designs Martin Margiela, a brand that and better shop services.” STORIES never does advertising, we held It is this confidence, along with meticulous photo exhibitions for their AIDS planning and efficient organisation in terms of tee, as well as creating local branding that has made I.T Group a true fashion THAT SELL adaptations of the brand’s products giant. Its offerings range from high-end luxury such as the Margiela mahjong set.” products to mass-market items, enabling it to STORIES In contrast, I.T Group attract fashion lovers of all levels and tastes. Careful does invest in above-the-line planning and a demarcation of brand positions and THATadvertising SELL for their in-house label market forces have become a reliable system for I.T

ack in 1988, I.T’s forerunner, Green Peace, was a small 200 square-foot shop, serving a tout à coup, :CHOCOOLATE, b+ab and izzue create niche market by selling brands that were not another. “It is like a complicated matrix,” confides readily available elsewhere in Hong Kong. Deborah Cheng, Head of I.T Group’s Marketing & Today, I.T is a publicly-listed fashion pow- Communications and Vice President of International erhouse that features the newest collections Business for I.T Limited. Bof the world’s top brands, as well as designing its own Furthermore, based on their price ranges and eclectic range of fashion items via its in-house labels. prestige, brands managed by the multi-label boutique OPPOSITE PAGE According to 2013 figures, the Hong Kong-based group are further categorised into one of its four I.T’S MINI CREAM SU14 THIS PAGE FROM fashion conglomerate extends its tentacles across divisions. “If we have brands that are doing fashion TOP I.T’S WHITE Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, Thailand, the weeks in Paris,” says Cheng, “these are the brands that CHOCOOLATE; I.T’S DEBORAH Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, France, England will sit together and they will all belong to one of the CHENG and Canada. It manages 760 stores, sells over 300 I.T boutiques.” Therefore, each multi-label boutique brands, and employs 6,300 people. division is able to form its own circle, with each circle To facilitate the management of each brand, I.T needing different kinds and levels of support. categorises its extended family into two groups: Multi- Each label sold at I.T boutiques has its own unique label boutiques such as I.T, i.t, double-park, and ete! identity. To tackle the diversity of styles, prices,

form one group while in-house label divisions such as and pre-existing brand identities, I.T Group has I.T GROUP & POSH PHOTOS

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customers use a product for only five years, you don’t vision, generating a tangible brand identity: “I’ve been Group to achieve constant growth. international companies such as Herman Miller, need to develop products that can pass a durablilty test running this company not as a businessman, but as Just as certain styles suit certain people, a certain Samas, Trendway Corporation and FANTONI, and which is the equivalent of 12 years use. I’m not saying an architect,” Yim says. “So not everything is from a branding strategy does not suit every company. Unlike I.T led POSH into various collaborations including that products have to be of second-class quality, but commercial point of view, and sometimes financial Group, POSH, the renowned Hong Kong office furniture dealership, manufacturing under license and co-design you don’t need to over-engineer a product.” managers might not like it. It is not a real business designer and manufacturer, has achieved success by utilising arrangements. With 1,200 employees, over 60 million In fact, according to Yim, at the heart of POSH’s mind that’s running the company. This actually makes a charismatic and visionary leader who is a firm believer in US dollars in annual sales, and more than 30 franchise strong brand identity is quality. This is achieved not us different from the other companies. This is probably being flexible and highly responsive to the market. dealers, POSH was acquired by Herman Miller in only by thorough market research but also by a quick how we have made POSH so successful.” Holding a graduate degree in Architecture from 2012 after a 4-year alliance relationship. response to research findings. A brand’s efficacy may be determined by the killer Cambridge University, Eric Yim took over his father’s “Obviously, they value what we could contribute “We are much more flexible and agile compared commercial application of a corporate giant, or the furniture workshop and established POSH in 1992, during the alliance period,” says Yim. “I believe it’s our to multi-national listed companies,” Yim says. creative vision of a family-owned company, but we see after practicing as an architect for four years. Under his product range, which is well suited to Asia’s market, “Their design procedures could be so rigid that from the success of these two design businesses that, leadership, the company has developed a series of office and our established franchise network in China.” it takes three to five years to do research and get despite the rapid evolution of their markets, flexibility furniture systems, and successfully mastered the contract Yim believes that having been in the global market approval. By the time they launch the product, the and stability are both prerequisites for success. office furniture market. for 22 years, and in China for 16, POSH knows the market needs might have already changed.” Ultimately, the key to good branding is to create true “We have retail stores but our primary sector of business needs of its customers better than some European Brand positioning and character are other key value based on passion and commitment. is from contract,” Yim says. “We propose office furniture or American companies. One of the examples he elements that constitute good branding strategies. In solutions that will fit a certain company. We work with provides is that customers in Asia don’t necessarily order to succeed, Yim’s recommendation is to “be what designers and architects to do space planning and provide need a typical 12-year-warranty that Western markets you are and do what you love.” comfortable workplace designs for customers.” require because the Asian market is so fast moving. “You can try to position yourself, but in the end Yim has also managed to partner with various “It’s what we call ‘mis-match’,” Yim says. “If branding is the perception of your customer,” Yim says. “If you try to fabricate your company to be an environmentally friendly company, it will be difficult if it’s not in your genes. So it’s more about how you want to do things naturally. That leads to the character of your brand.” POSH’s tagline is “better design, better environment”, and both goals are what Yim has set out to accomplish, and they are ingrained in the company’s green credentials, design principles and brand identity. “A brand is basically what it does,” Yim says. “To care about the environment is not just about using environmentally friendly material, but also keeping in mind the end of product life, and how it will be disposed. If you don’t design for a product to be OPPOSITE PAGE POSH DESKING disposed of easily, even if it is made of environmentally THIS PAGE ABOVE friendly material, no one will actually bother to A POSH SHOWROOM THIS PAGE BELOW dismantle it, and it will only go to the landfills.” POSH’S ERIC YIM Yim has the luxury of being able to lead the

PHOTOS I.T GROUP & POSH PHOTOS company precisley in the direction of his creative

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Patricia Moore is one of the world’s most OPPOSITE MOORE AT HKDI CAMPUS CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE accomplished industrial designers. MOORE GIVING A LECTURE TO HKDI STUDENTS; PARTICIPANTS AT As summer cao reports, the American THE “WHAT THE HEALTH” CITIZEN polymath uses socially conscious WORKSHOP creativity to improve the lives of those who are ignored.” nas with different levels of income compensate for her incapacity and Carrying this “eccentric” goal and health so she could explore she felt worthless. who might otherwise be neglected. to her heart, Moore decided to how society treats those who are “I remember the day that my become an elder. From 1979 to considered “too old, too weak, too grandmother was cooking for 1982, she dressed up as an elderly frail, too unimportant or too much the family and couldn’t open the woman wearing her grandmother’s trouble.” She was dismayed at some refrigerator door,” she recounted. “I seems able to grip people from the people under the age of 40, and atricia Moore in- clothes, uncomfortable shoes to of the treatment she received. saw her go to that refrigerator and moment she starts to speak. They that their typical consumer was a stantly captured the increase difficulty in walking, plugs “It still haunts me how cruel and reach for the door and then I heard become transfixed, like children lis- Caucasian man who has one wife audience’s attention for her ears to distort her hearing, mean people can be,” Moore said. a sound. It was a crying pain but tening to a favourite bedtime fable, and 2.3 children. Nonplused by the when she walked onto and thick glasses that significantly “When I was crossing the streets she was quiet about it because she although the story Moore tells in company’s tenets, she asked Lowey the stage at HKDI distorted her vision. and wasn’t going fast enough, taxi didn’t want to frighten me. Then I her lecture is more troubling, focus- if she could be given time each this spring to address Disguised in prosthetics and drivers would say ‘hurry up you saw her take her hand and put it sing on how we design our cities for week to study how to design for HKDI students and staff on the movie makeup, Moore travelled to old bag!’ ” Beside verbal abuse, she under her arm and then I saw the Ptopic of how good health and sensi- a narrow range of citizens without older people. 116 cities in the U.S. and Canada, was mugged and beaten on two door to her bedroom close.” thinking of how our towns can be “I wanted to design for people tive design goes hand in hand. where she lived as an 80-year-old. occasions, which left her with Her grandma never finished built to enhance capability for all. who saw with their fingertips to Now in her 60s, Moore looks “My arms and legs were bound permanent injuries and made her cooking the meal, and one year later These qualities of care and en- read Braille, who heard with their young and fashionable and has a with bandages,” she recalled. “I unable to have children. she was dead. “She no longer felt gagement have served Moore well eyes because they read lips, who charm that many Hollywood stars couldn’t walk fast or climb stairs Moore’s determination to design she was contributing to the family since her 20s, when she decided to didn’t put one foot in front of would envy. She is blessed with a easily. When I boarded buses, for vulnerable members of society and this was enough to make her devote herself to the needs of the the other to walk but rather used warm and soothing smile, the kind men would often just pick me up was inspired by the heart-wrench- simply fade away,” Moore said. elders. As a young designer, Moore wheeled conveyances,” Moore said that is often worn by citizens of and push me inside because they ing story of her grandma. She The childhood memory of her was a prodigy who worked with during her session for the HKDI the world who have seen too much were tired of waiting for me to do believes her grandma, who suffered grandmother’s demise remains vivid Raymond Lowey, the father of DESIS Lab for Social Design in their lives to be perturbed by it by myself.” arthritis, died with a broken heart and was something she occasionally American industrial design. Moore Research. “I wanted to understand daily trivialities. MOORE and HKDI PICTURES PATRICIA Moore created 9 different perso- because there were no means to thought about when she entered But it is her melodious voice that was constantly told to design for how life was for all the consumers

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BELOW LEFT MOORE WITH A STUDENT AT THE WHAT THE As Moore has rightly pointed out, HEALTH WORKSHOP understanding is of paramount RIGHTT MOORE AS AN importance. “If people were raised 85-YEAR-OLD ELDER without having elders in their family OPPOSITE PAGE ABOVE THE LAUNCH OF THE and without understanding the DESIGNAGE HK CLUB AT needs of the elders, they are unlikely SENIOR EXPO 2014 to care for them,” Moore said. OPPOSITE PAGE BELOW “Nobody should be called SCENES FROM THE SENIOR EXPO 2014 disabled or handicapped. You don’t design for a disability but for someone’s capacity. This is a change in thinking that allows us to see people, not patients. You must focus on giving them compensatory tools by means of which they can do all things they want to do. It’s a matter of design that will make people more able.” Further debate on this subject will be part of the 1st Open Design Forum at HKDI in Novem- ber 2014, where Moore will be one of the keynote speakers.

the product design industry. Then design has made a difference to the initiatives in our current diplomacy one day it struck her that she had lives of many, and won her wide with Putin.” become the kind of designer who acclaim. She has been recognised With this level of belief and made products like the refrigerator by ID Magazine as one of the “40 enthusiasm for design, and care for that had frustrated her grand- Most Socially Conscious Designers” every potential end-user, Moore mother. She embarked upon a in the world. She was also selected visited HKDI in March as the graduate degree in psychology and as one of the “100 Most Important mentor of HKDI DESIS Lab social gerontology before returning Women in America” and one of for an initiative called “What the to design with a fresh and more “50 Americans Defining the New Health”, to remind students of their empathetic perspective. Millennium.” responsibilities as future designers “All of us want the same valuable Moore has demonstrated the and encouraging them to use design things in life,” she said. “We want inclusiveness of her beliefs in many to make a difference. Inspired by pride in ourselves because when arenas. When she was asked to visit Moore’s vision of ageing and design, you have pride in what you can be, the USSR during the Cold War, she in July HKDI DESIS Lab launched you can share with others. This then participated in a two-year project the DesignAge HK Club. gives us the design agenda of our that was part of the “détente and “Over 200 seniors have joined time inclusivity.” rapprochement” period. She designed this program after experimenting After this revelation, Moore consumer products for a country that various design activities such as ‘De- has sought to create designs that had few, having directed so much sign your Bag’, ‘Design your Meal’ include all people as equals. “No of its creativity and treasure to pro- and ‘Design your Death Diamond’,” matter what their circumstances, ducing a nuclear arsenal that could says Dr Yanki Lee, Director of the they should feel welcome in their match that of the USA. lab. “They will work closely with daily lives, feel a part of a whole, “I learned that by design we were our students in the coming year in a and know their place in their com- making the Soviet people happier series of design studies.” munity. They shouldn’t feel lost in by improving the quality of their It is hoped that by working the crowd, but rather, they should life,” she said. “Imagine how won- closely with the elders, students will recognise they are acknowledged, derful it is you were making peace undergo a series of transformations loved, understood and cared about.” by design. Design is so powerful. that are critical to shaping the fu-

Moore’s humane approach toward Maybe we need to use design ture practice of business and design. MOORE and HKDI PICTURES PATRICIA

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Central Saint Martins, Natalie has instructed and mentored many who became prominent fashion icons, including John Galliano and Sarah Burton. As for Brodie, Natalie’s son, his interest in fashion developed early, under the influence of his mother who has an immense talent and passion for her work. In 2012, Brodie started the group “The Travelling Fashionistas” with the aim of introducing a new concept to fashion education. The pursuit of higher qualifications has always been costly, and even more so for aspiring fashion students, with most of the prestigious fashion schools located outside of Asia. This is why The Travelling Fashionistas hopes to offer an alternative solution to students who wish to learn first-hand from superb teachers with an international base and reputation. The Travelling Fashionistas consists of three established fashion professionals: Natalie Gibson, Elisa Palomino and Carol Morgan, who tour together to lecture fashion students all over the globe. The Travelling Fashionistas came to the Hong Kong Design Institute on June 10 and 11, with the mission of expanding the minds of local students by introducing them to unfamiliar ideas about design and encouraging them to experiment more boldly. “The goal of The Travelling Fashionistas is to make learning from proven inspirational lecturers more accessible. We know there are many talented people out there who are constrained by the monetary side of things, and it would be wonderful to offer them an we could still teach you all the opportunity to join us and have an equal chance to essential skills for design.” benefit and be successful,” Brodie says. The Gibsons say that as the A crash course that The Travelling Fashionistas held residential course proceeded, the recently offers us a glimpse of the creative and flexible rooms in the house became buried teaching method it promotes. For a week, they rented in papers, designs and crayons as a house on the south coast of England and stayed with testimony to the power of their take LEARNING ten students, who spent all day learning and receiving on creativity, the scattered materials critiques from their instructors, as well as eating becoming a physical representation with them and engaging in casual conversation. This of the creative process. The Travelling Fashionistas n the 21st century, there has been a ceaseless advance immersive approach was designed to transform the young Stressing the importance of of technology and electronics infiltrate every part designers’ approach to their work. Several of those who a traditional fashion education, arrived in Hong Kong this of our lives. It sometimes seems as if technology is attended the course were later accepted to Central Saint Natalie and Brodie expect their summer to present their pushing humanity to the margins of the creative Martins at the University of the Arts, London. students to have a comprehensive process as Computer Assisted Design (CAD) and There is something special about the way the Gibsons understanding of the various novel approach to design 3D printers fed by algorithms take over production. and their colleagues teach that distinguishes them production phases, and the skills education, based on a When everyone is racing to abandon the old, from other forms of fashion education. Instead of required to make a piece completely fashion educators Natalie and Brodie Gibson emphasising the use of the latest technology, Natalie and by hand. “If you are a fashion design mixture of international have distinguished themselves by calling for a Brodie prefer students to learn the old-fashioned way. student you should have experience awareness and a hands- retrograde approach to making fashion and educating “The students had no computers but used arts materials LEFT NATALIE of each step of the design and fashion designers. Ironically, their insistence on like sketches and garments to create their ideas,” says GIBSON WITH manufacturing process, and many on approach to tools and sticking to classic principles is beginning to be seen Brodie. “The key element to fashion design is initially (FAR LEFT) ELISA don’t. You should know how to, even PALOMINO OF materials. pui wong reports. as a relatively progressive wave in an increasingly learning and mastering the basic art of drawing, painting THE TRAVELLING if you don’t end up doing it.” mechanised fashion industry. and drafting your ideas. You don’t need technology to be FASHIONISTAS The Gibsons’ proclivity is perfectly AND STUDENTS Natalie and Brodie are no strangers to the intricacies able to make a sample or show your thoughts. ABOVE A DRESS understandable. In this digital age of fashion manufacturing. An eminent textile designer “Without technology, you can still do everything if you DESIGNED BY when most designs are done on

and instructor at the world-leading design institute GIBSON PICTURES NATALIE know the basics. If one day there was an electrical blackout, NATALIE GIBSON computers and garments are mass-

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produced, designers rarely participate in the production circumstances a designer’s first-hand of their creations, which often come to life in factories connection to the production process thousands of miles away. However, the success of a can have a powerful impact upon the design often requires a designer’s thorough knowledge success or failure of the design. of materials and techniques used in production, for As staunch believers in tradition, his familiarity with them helps him envision the the Gibsons have an inclination entire project and greatly impacts his choices, thereby towards non-digital research. contributing to the overall quality of the design. Whether an answer comes from Sometimes the slightest details that weigh in a designer’s books or people, they emphasise the consideration can make or break a design. In these need for one to find it personally

BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE OFTEN VERY SIMPLE THINGS. WE HOPE TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN CREATE A WONDERFUL IDEA FROM VERY LITTLE.

LEFT EXAMPLES OF HAND- and manually instead of relying on the Internet. “If CRAFTED WORK BY NATALIE GIBSON; NATALIE AT HOME you use the Internet, it’ll often come up with the same WITH HER CHILDREN pictures everywhere. Just do your own research in the ABOVE (CLOCKWISE) GIBSON right way.” AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO RECEIVE THE MBE FROM When it comes to making fashion, Natalie likes to QUEEN ELIZABETH II; A FABRIC derive inspiration from the world around her instead of THAT GIBSON DESIGNED a computer screen. Her inspirations come from daily life, FOR TWIGGY, ICONIC BRITISH FASHION MODEL OF THE including her garden, cats, parrots and the miscellaneous 1960S old things in the house that she has lived in since the 1960s. In short, anything but electronics can be a source of delight for her. Natalie frequently travels for inspiration and to collaborate with other artists. She visits India ever year but you do need the right group of to teach Dabu (mud resist printing), a historical art that people to learn from. That is what is slowly disappearing and involves various methods we bring to wherever we go.” for preventing dyes from reaching all parts of a piece Though still rather new, The of cloth. “There are many ancient skills around the Traveling Fashionistas has already world that are dwindling and, once gone, will be very laid out a bigger scheme regarding difficult to revive.” For this reason, Brodie says that The its future development. “Our ideal Travelling Fashionistas is interested in doing projects would be to run longer courses that preserve the skills of local cultures, like Dabu in within each country that we go Jaipur, India. to, giving us more time to interact “It is a strange juxtaposition that people generally love with each local project. This is a and admire handcrafted things but are rarely willing very different scenario with many to pay for them, though they are willing to pay big challenges to set up, but one we money for a ‘brand’,” says Brodie. “We want to show would love to try,” says Brodie. people that with brands ‘ruling the world’ in all aspects “Beautiful things are often very of life, creative individuals can and do make their mark simple things, we hope to show by bringing a touch of personality, fun, inspiration and people that they can create a style that the world really needs. You don’t need to be wonderful idea from very little and in London or any specific city to learn these things, have fun doing it.”

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Council’s Executive Director, Carrie Yau. two decades Koon had a successful career in the financial The Royal Academy was founded in 1754 and was markets, rising to be Co-Head of Institutional Equity originally dedicated to educating artists and craftsman. Sales at Morgan Stanley and Head of Asian Equities at The admission standards are stringent and the cost of Credit Suisse. She is now President Emeritus of Global studying in Denmark is high. And yet the potential Sage, a privately held executive-search firm, where she benefits of the Academy’s programmes are enormous, acts as Senior Adviser of the Pacific Region. helping students to expand their understanding and Professor Kao is the former Professor of Fine Arts and launch successful careers. Past students of the Academy Director of the Art Museum at The Chinese University ANGEL’S include Henning Larsen, who designed the Copenhagen of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on Chinese Opera House and Verner Panton, a product designer painting from the Ming dynasty to the present day. She known for his iconic Panton Chair. is currently the Museum Expert Advisor of the Hong In the arts, theatrical productions are often made Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department, she possible by “angels” who provide funding for plays, chairs the management committee of the Jockey Club which are usually written after the playwright has been Creative Arts Centre and is an advisor of the Hong visited by a literal or metaphorical muse, who implants Kong Society of Education through Art. SHARE the seed of a new drama. These two ideas come together Kao and Koon, whose younger sister Grace Kao is in the Muses Foundation for Culture and Education, the former Head of the HKDI’s Design Section and which provides funding for artists, designers and its Professional Engagement and Education Centre, he strongest growth comes from the most performing artists to reach their dreams. For Cheng and remember their family hosting artists and performers profound experiences, and so for two HKDI Wong the news that they had been awarded funding by at “elegant gatherings”, where a passion for Chinese Tstudents, Cheng Wing Chun and Wong Tsz the Foundation was like a scene from a movie. culture was the main reason to draw them together. The Wai, 2014 is likely to be one of the most important “When I got the phone call I was punching the air like aesthetic experiences they had in their childhood has The Muses Foundation for years of their lives. I had scored a goal and silently saying ‘yes!, yes!’,” says had a profound influence on their later lives. Cheng, a higher diploma student in Architectural Cheng. Wong heard the news on her birthday and she “I am from the financial world,” says Koon. “I would Culture and Education is Design, and Wong, a year 2 student in Product had a noisier celebration. “I was shouting and running get up at six to go to work, and work late, all of our a low-profile organisation Design, spent the first part of the year in around. I am so glad that I got a full scholarship.” energy was consumed by the markets. Eventually you Copenhagen, as exchange students at the Royal The Muses Foundation was founded four years ago by feel there must be something more than selling. I credit founded by May Koon. It has Danish Academy of Fine Arts, courtesy of funding May Koon and is supported by a Board of Councillors, that to my parents. My mother and father put together a a simple ambition, to provide from the Muses Foundation for Culture and which includes her sister Professor Mayching Kao. For huge art collection, but they didn’t do this for monetary Education, founded by May Koon. funding for creative people The Foundation first worked with HKDI in 2013. that will help them realise their The collaboration with the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts was developed by HKDI Principal THIS PAGE MAY KOON, THE potential. daniel jeffreys reports. Leslie Lu with the blessings of Vocational Training FOUNDER OF THE MUSES FOUNDATION FOR CULTURE AND EDUCATION (RIGHT) AND HER SISTER PROFESSOR MAYCHING KAO (LEFT) , A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION’S BOARD OF COUNCILLORS OPPOSITE PAGE A WORK BIKE BUILT BY CHENG WING CHUN, WHO WON A MUSES FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY IN DENMARK PICTURES VANESSA KO & HKDI KO VANESSA PICTURES

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“We want to attract the smartest and most eligible rediscovering its own. candidates, those who have the most to offer and will “This is opening new channels to propagate creativity, make the best use of our awards,” says Kao. “We then and when creative efforts are recognised there is a strong want them to share their experiences.” possibility of becoming successful,” she says. “This is a The Foundation makes sharing experiences with other broad field in which to prosper and emerge.” students a condition of the award. This is designed to There are other large foundations and institutions inspire other students to apply and encourage more that recognise these trends. The Foundation’s goal is not people to follow the foundation’s example and support to compete with them, but to occupy a niche, helping emerging talent in Hong Kong, where the creative to make a creative career something that parents look industry is becoming increasingly important. at more favourably and providing artists with a ladder In recent years Chinese design has seen a revival that takes their careers higher. They have plans for future reward, they did this for their artist friends, to promote and the Muses Foundation sees it has a role to play growth, including continuing to fund HKDI programmes artists whom they admired for their enormous talent. As THE MOST IMPORTANT in rejuvenating China’s reputation as a place where and increasing the number of international exchange children we moved in circles with artists and musicians, craftsmanship and creativity are beyond compare. programmes they support. movie stars and media people. We had this atmosphere THING I DISCOVERED “There was a rush to learn about western things when “We have a personal approach and find people who around us. My sister spent her career in the arts. With the China reopened its doors in 1978 but that passion is slowing need a push but would not get conventional funding,” Muses foundation I have made a return to that world.” IS TO TREASURE EVERY down,” says Kao. “The creativity of the Chinese people is says Koon. “We hope to be there at the right time, to The Foundation devotes its energies to supporting being stimulated by new things and knowledge, giving birth help emerging or aspiring young artists or designers creative people who are not obvious candidates for CHANCE TO LEARN. to new Chinese brands and ideas, but it’s important for realise their full potential.” support from conventional funding. An excellent people to be reconnected to their own traditions.” As Ip, Cheng and Wong can testify, making the best example is their support of soprano Yuki Ip, a graduate Kao sees China going through a process of use of a talent sometimes requires a muse and an angel. of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. Ip was scale of works with very diverse dimensions was very double discovery, exploring foreign cultures and In May Koon and Mayching Kao they found both. introduced to the Muses Foundation by a member of inspiring and encouraging for me,” says Cheng, who its Board of Councillors, Dr Betty Wei. Ip was already was enrolled in the Academy’s design school. “For every performing; singing operas in English, French and project we did I had to prepare a report and I realized OPPOSITE PAGE TOP WONG TSZ WAI’S CLAY STOOL Italian, but German seemed to have eluded her. how important writing is for the design process. It’s a THIS PAGE FROM TOP The angelic muses stepped in. They provided funding new discipline for me and helps to organise my mind.” CHENG WING CHUN WORKING ON for Ip to spend a year in Germany, gaining proficiency During his time at the Academy, Cheng collaborated EXHIBITION PRODUCTS AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY; in the language, having voice lessons and attending on designing an exhibition and a bike and he was able to WONG TSZ WAI MAKING auditions. When Ip returned and performed the work with a design collective in the city centre, where he A STOOL WITH A 3D PRINTER German language opera The Creation by Haydn in Hong perfected his bike project and learned the benefits of an Kong, she received critical acclaim. The notoriously “open source” approach that allows other users to modify difficult oratorio features, appropriately, three angels and the bike to suit their own needs. Ip played Gabriel, the soprano role. “The bike was a start from scratch project,” he says. “Yuki Ip typifies our initiatives to help artists who “I learned how to build a cargo bike from anodised aspire to advance to the next stage of their development,” aluminium tube using the xyz-system. The properties says Koon. “We provide them with a financial award to and details really determine how it looks and how it go for an opportunity that hopefully will open new doors works. It was a great experience of how materials and for them.” construction influence the design process.” The Muses Foundation devotes resources to individual During her time in Copenhagen, Wong was able to scholarships and programmes that enable educators find an internship with the jewellery designer Karen to give a more rounded education to their students Fly. She learned about the Danish sense of humour, and emerging artists. It has sponsored exhibitions of experimented with 3D printing and attended lectures students from the Fine Arts Department, The Chinese that were outside her main field of study. University of Hong Kong and from the Academy of “The most important thing I discovered is to treasure Visual Arts, the Baptist University of Hong Kong. every chance to learn,” she says. “The Academy has a lot The Foundation’s relationship with HKDI was further of lectures that everyone can join. I attended one about developed through the work of another Councillor, lighting and architecture that I found very inspirational. Sandra Lee Suk-yee. Through the scholarships for Expanding the scope of your learning is fun.” Cheng and Wong, the Foundation was able to provide Both Wong and and Cheng returned from their access to a world class programme and the chance time in Copenhagen with enhanced skills and a more to study overseas, which is invaluable for developing profound devotion to their careers. In the future both creative talents. Both students say they returned with a students plan to launch their own businesses. Their deeper understanding of design. successes in Denmark are precisely the kind of result

“Meeting and seeing people working on a different that the Muses Foundation is looking for. & HKDI KO VANESSA PICTURES

48 SIGN | ISSUE NINE 2014 ISSUE NINE 2014 | SIGN 49 EVENT ALENTCARNIVAL The WorldSkills talent sharing competition that began in 1950 has proved to be an international source of inspiration and learning for vocational education. This year the WorldSkills Hong Kong 2014 event paved the way for next year’s “skill olympics” in Brazil. daniel jeffreys reports.

Mixing mocktails, making LED circuits and changing major areas: transportation and logistics, construction tires were among the skills that the public could try and building technology, manufacturing and engineering at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in late June, as Hong technology, information and communication technology, Kong’s latest landmark was transformed into the venue creative arts and fashion, and social and personal services. for the WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition 2014. With the theme of “Discover Skills”, the 2014 This year the organisers decided that demonstrations WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition attracted of skills by accomplished competitors would be some 300 contestants to showcase their talents and complemented by “hands-on” opportunities, so skills, breaking previous records for attendance. The that visitors could compare their skills with young WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition has become professionals. This gave the event a carnival motif, a cradle for nurturing young tradesmen, providing which pointed participants toward 2015, when the 43rd opportunities for them to exchange professional WorldSkills Competition will be held in Sao Paulo, knowledge and broaden their horizons. Winners of the Brazil, the global home of carnival. competition are undergoing further training, with a view The WorldSkills Competition occurs biennially, to becoming representatives of Hong Kong in next year’s attracting more than 1,000 young talents from 67 Brazil WorldSkills Competition. ELEGANCE IS countries and regions to test their skills against The WorldSkills Competition has its roots in 1940s international standards. Hong Kong first took part in Spain, where José Antonio Elola Olaso, who was the WorldSkills Competition in 1997 and has won two General Director of the Spanish Youth Organization ALWAYS IN STYLE Gold, one Silver and 32 Medallions for Excellence. OJE, became concerned about the lack of skilled As one of the organising institutions, HKDI played workers in his country. Olaso believed that “…it was a significant role in this year’s competition, providing necessary to convince young people, as well as their venues for two competition trades and hosting a seminar parents, teachers and employers, that their future FOR MEN. at Kai Tak by graduates from HKDI on product and depended on an effective vocational training system.” technology, which helped to draw more than 25,000 Olaso’s brilliant idea was to inspire young apprentices participants to the vibrant two-day event. and their families by holding skill competitions, and in “Vocational education and skills training plays a 1947 the first Spanish national concourse took place THERE ARE ALL significant role in nurturing the talents needed for with 4,000 competitors. The event was deemed a success the development of Hong Kong,” says Cherry Tse, and soon spread to Latin America, and then throughout Hong Kong’s Permanent Secretary for Education. Europe. It now has over 70 member countries and major DIFFERENT KINDS “The WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition enhances the international sponsors like Samsung and 3M. understanding of vocational training, and strengthens the The WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition has productivity and competitive edge of Hong Kong.” become a magnet for attracting potential talents and the The WorldSkills Competition covers 25 trades in six 2014 event, with its ‘hands-on” component was a perfect OF ELEGANCE. IT platform for enhancing public recognition of the role played by vocational training, “Evolving with the times, vocational skills will become CAN BE SILK, IT CAN increasingly important,” says Matthew Cheun, Hong IMAGE Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare. “Young people equipped with relevant skills will enjoy a head start in the employment market.” And maybe even a trip to BE A T-SHIRT. Brazil, to compete at next year’s skills olympics. DONATELLA VERSACE LEFT THE CREATIVE ARTS AND FASHION SECTION AT THEWORLDSKILS HONG KONG COMPETITION 2014

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