Interview
Eric Chan
1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.
I am Eric Chan, the Co-Founder/Design Director of O&O Studio. I studied at The University of Nottingham with a MEng Master degree and graduated with Diploma in Architecture at The University of Westminster with Distinction. In 2007, I joined and spent over 4 years at the highly acclaimed London practice, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) where he qualified as an Architects Registration Board (ARB) registered architect. I was involved on several award-winning education, conservation and residential projects in the UK and South Africa, and had also contributed vastly to public architectural events and public consultation programmes. Moving from London to Shanghai in 2011, I joined the world renowned Safdie Architects, the practice led by the 2015 AIA Gold Medal recipient, Moshe Safdie. I was one of the Safdie
2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?
I love the time and fun when collaborating with others, inspiring each other to create new ideas. But the most interested moment would be working with kids. They always surprise us with the most pure, fantastic and exciting thinking. That's why O&O STUDIO ultimately want to focus on community and kids related placemaking projects in the near future.
3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
Both myself and my wife, Suzanne Li, are UK registered architects. We have been designing award winning buildings for more than 12 years. In 2018 we set up O&O Studio based in our vibrant home city Hong Kong, providing consultancy services on architecture, interior design, pop-up installation and master planning.
4 What does “design” mean to you?
We love to see what kind of
5 What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
I still love architecture. Although O&O Studio
6 To you, what makes a “good” design?
Filled with benevolence, carried with warmth, created with passion, that would make a
7 Tell us about your design process.
We distill client
8 Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
We have spent years in Europe and in the Mainland, and now relocated back to Hong Kong and established our studio. The cultures, climate, and people we met, are certainly very unique among these places. It is interesting to say that the three different languages we spoke (English, Mandarin, Cantonese) helps us a lot in the brainstorming and analytical design process. Each language will bring us fresh and unique ideas in a literature way.
9 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2022 MUSE Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Thank you! We are thrilled to be a winner in the 2022 MUSE Design Award! It means a lot to us as a start-up, as well as most importantly with Siu Kai Fong being a community engagement art installation project. It is a big encouragement to us as we built up stronger and stand firm with our belief upon achieving this recognition.
10 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 MUSE Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
O&O Studio
11 What was the biggest challenge with this project?
At the time during the furniture collection campaign, we had no idea what kind of tables and chairs we would received. Once we had, luckily, received the over 40 pieces of community furniture, we then categorized them and revised our upcycling design accordingly. The tight timing is also another big challenge. Siu Kai Fong is a community engagement public art project and it should really take at least a year from start to completion. We spent a lot of effort for about 4 months from the collection campaign and completion which is to be honest quite an achievement.
12 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
It definitely helped from both the PR and business development perspective. Potential clients approached us in the past after reading the new and article about us on the winners and interviews pages.
13 What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
Interviews, media publications and winning an award. It is not only about our own studio, but it is important for us to share success with our clients, and again that is further added values to our client
14 What makes your country specifically, unique in the design industry?
I think the East meets West aesthetic and the historical context and flavour that the citizens remember and the designers extracted for the creativity use is very unique on our planet.
15 Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?
As a start-up, it is going to be a really challenging time for us. We have to see how the pandemic evolved in the coming one or two years. There are things that have been changing and will evolve more in the near future. Architects create space, and we are talking about real sensual experience. Simple questions comes then, can we and do we still rely on travelling for making site visits? We have been talking a lot on metaverse, VR, etc. How can we make use of the technology while getting a good balance?
16 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring MUSE Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
Be confident, and be professional!
17 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?
Let
18 Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
It would be a really great honour to me if I can be one of the MUSE Design Award judges in the near future!
19 Who has inspired you in your life and why?
From a profession perspective, it has to be the mentors that I met and worked with throughout my career in London and Shanghai. The vast amount of knowledge and experiences that they shared with me with regards to the design industry and the business management have been so valuable. Now that I have set up a studio and I should make good use of all these assets. I aim to be a good mentor as well in the near future to inspire our fellow teammates.
20 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
I think the three
21 Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
I would hope that one day I could design an airport. I am always intrigued and triggered by all the come and go, and all the happy and sad moments. An airport carries so much in it not only on the technical side but also on the humanity aspect. I would love to give a go at creating a unique terminal!
